Featured Content

Out with the snow, in with the flowers

NH Antique Co-op welcomes spring with “In Full Bloom” art exhibition

By Mya Blanchard

listings@hippopress.com

The sun is out, the snow is melting and flowers will soon be sprouting with spring now upon us. New Hampshire Antique Co-op in Milford is ringing in the season with the “In Full Bloom” art exhibition, which will be on display through Aug. 31.

Co-owner Jason Hackler described the March 24 opening celebration as a “garden style party,” with cucumber sandwiches, Champagne and lemonade. The family-owned antique shop has been hosting art exhibitions since 2007, with “In Full Bloom” being its latest.

“As New Hampshire Antique Co-op is now in its 40th year in business, we decided [it would] be perfect to do a show to celebrate the spring and summer seasons, symbolizing continued growth,” Hackler said. “The show is … an exhibition on paintings of floral still lifes and garden landscapes … done from the 17th century all the way up to the present.”

Some of the artists whose works are on display at the exhibition include German still life painter Adelheid Dietrich, Emil Carlsen, New Hampshire native Lilla Cabot Perry, a neighbor and friend of Claude Monet, as well as Laura van Pappelendam.

“These are works directly from [van Pappelendam’s] estate, which is really cool,” Hackler said. “There’s some really great, bright floral landscapes and still lifes as part of her works and these are the first time some of [them] have been offered.”

A total of 12 of van Pappelendam’s paintings are on display, one of which is hung on her own personal easel.

In addition to the impressionist-era paintings, contemporary artists will also have their work on display. One such artist is Carol Robey. After retiring from working in pediatrics, Robey began studying under Paul Ingbretson, an artist who learned from The Boston School, a group of painters in Boston during the 20th century.

“What they did, which I love, [was add] impressionist color more to the standard representational art and [made] it more interesting that way,” Robey said.

Robey’s attraction to painting still lifes and floral pieces stems from her interest in gardening.

“As a doctor, I did a lot of science and I actually studied a lot of botany in college,” she said. “I love being able to get the … correct details of a flower, for example, so that … a person who’s looking at it will recognize what it is, [while] at the same time … making it beautiful, so I have to … make it expressive as well as accurate.”

Robey, a friend of Hackler’s, was ecstatic when he asked her to be a part of the show.

“Emil Carlsen and Marguerite Pearson are two of my absolute favorites, so to be among them is absolutely a huge honor,” she said.

The “In Full Bloom” exhibition invokes a fresh, spring-like atmosphere.

“It’s supposed to feel light and airy, and bright and cheery,” Hackler said. “Paintings within this genre express color [and] beauty, as well as a sense of respect, awe and wonderment for nature.”

“In Full Bloom” art exhibition
Where: New Hampshire Antique Co-op, 323 Elm St., Milford
When: On display now through Aug. 31; open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More info: Visit nhantiquecoop.com

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

LIVE! In Nashua

Performers hit the stage at the newly opened Nashua Center for the Arts

After two years of building, 10 years of planning and more than 20 years of dreaming, the Nashua Center for the Arts has finally opened its doors.

“This is going to make a huge difference for our community, for Nashua, for many, many years to come,” said Mayor Jim Donchess at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 1. “Over the decades, people will become very appreciative of everything that was done by all the people here that made this project possible.”

Donors, board members, patrons of the arts, politicians and their families and friends attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. The front rows of the theater held people who had helped organize and plan the theater over the decades, all of whom got recognition from either Richard Lannan, the president of Nashua Community Arts, Mayor Donchess, Sarah Stewart, the commissioner for the department of natural and cultural resources, or Pete Lally, the president of Spectacle Live, the venue management company for the center.

Donchess read letters written by Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Annie Kuster. Stewart applauded the ability to have a place like the center built, and described how it would change the scene of arts in the Gate City and the state as a whole.

“I love that you’re so excited about the impact this place will make in Nashua, but I’m here to tell you you’re impacting the entire state,” Stewart said. She said that the center will be held in the same regard as the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud competition, and the New Hampshire Film Festival in Portsmouth, which was recently named an Academy Award qualifying event. “What you’re doing here is going to be amazing for the state of art in New Hampshire and beyond. You’re going to be the shining star of what the future looks like for arts in Nashua.”

group of people standing on stage, 2 holding ribbon across stage as 1 man cuts it during opening ceremony — Mayor Jim Donchess cuts the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening Nashua Center for the Arts for performances. Photo by Katelyn Sahagian.

The private ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a sold-out show featuring a variety of local talent. New Hampshire performers from the ActorSingers, Safe Haven Ballet, Akwabba Ensemble, Peacock Players, Symphony NH and more graced the stage for the first time, but not the last.

“One of the things we’re trying to establish early on is that this isn’t a venue where you just expect one type of genre or show,” Lally said. “Lots of places get pigeonholed with the type of shows they do. We worked very hard to make sure we’re doing a little bit of everything.”

In addition to national touring acts, like Boz Scaggs, Steve Hofstetter and Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, Spectacle has put an emphasis on making sure that the theater is going to be home to local performers. Safe Haven Ballet’s “Beauty and the Beast” is performing one of its three shows at the theater, and Symphony NH will have its 100-year anniversary show there.

“[Nashua Center for the Arts] isn’t replacing anything in Nashua; it’s adding to it,” Lally said. “It’s also adding to an arts infrastructure and scene downtown.”

Decades in the making

While the steering committee first started holding meetings, public hearings and workshops for this project in 2016, the idea for a citywide theater had already been around for years. The initial proposal for a performing arts center was in the 2000 city’s master plan.

More proposals followed in 2003, 2010 and 2014 before the committee brought in Webb Management Services to see how viable a theater would be for the downtown area and if it would be well-received by other local business owners.

Typically, Webb will determine that cities contacting them don’t have the demand needed to support a theater. Lannan and the rest of the steering committee had hoped the organization would find them in the small percentage of cities in which a theater would thrive.

“The original study from Webb design, I asked the same question, ‘What … percentage of the studies you do actually end up happening?’” Lannan said. “They said that the vast majority of theaters don’t happen. When ours came back, they told us, ‘You’re not going to do a Verizon center or SNHU Arena, but Nashua is clamoring for this.’”

The study suggested a 750-seat theater would be optimal for the area. Instead of settling for just a traditional theater, the steering committee decided to make the orchestra seats fully removable. After folding down the chairs, an operator can push a button and create an empty area in a matter of minutes.

The theater also has two sets of stairs and an elevator, multiple bathrooms on all four stories, and two lobbies that double as concession stands. There is a set-up and prep area for caterers, an outdoor balcony overlooking Main Street, and an art gallery.

Lannan said the board wanted to do something special, something that would be completely unique to the center. Having the ability to turn a theater into a standing-room-only venue or into a 50-table banquet hall would bring variety for theater-goers and performers.

Judith Carlson, a key member of the Nashua Arts Commission and Nashua Community Arts and a member of the center’s steering committee, said that for every meeting, Spectacle Live sent either a representative or its president, Pete Lally, to attend.

“One of the most beautiful things about this, Pete Lally or one of his staff were at every one of the planning committee meetings, not only selecting architect and construction,” Carlson said. “We had goals from Day 1 to make this a place … where both audiences and performers would want to come back to again and again.”

Interior shot of theater showing seats from the side, people milling around and sitting — The Bank of America Theater at the Nashua Center for the Arts filled up with patrons for the first sold-out show on April 1. Photo by Katelyn Sahagian.

Lannan and Carlson both said that having Lally or one of his people present was a game-changer when it came to planning out the design of the theater. Lannan said that having a person who knows the performance industry helped them come up with having all the amenities performers were looking for. Carlson said that it showed, to her, the devotion Spectacle Live put into the project.

Lally said he had been involved with planning the theater for approximately five or six years, and that it was exciting to work from the ground up. His company runs the Colonial Theatre in Laconia and The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center in Plymouth, both of which opened early in the 20th century.

“The Colonial Theatre … opened in 1914, other buildings [we operate] have long history and chapters, but to be at the design phase has been unique,” Lally said. “From meeting the architects and engineers and designers, it’s been nice to be able to talk to those who were designing [the center]. It resulted in a unique building, one that the area will be happy with.”

More than theater

While the theater’s main draw will be live performances, there will be much more for people to enjoy when it comes to the arts.

“Nashua wanted to serve all kinds of art needs, including performance, and the gallery is part of that,” said Carol Robey, the chairwoman of the gallery. “To have community gallery space … people can see what kind of work artists are doing and give [the artists] an opportunity to sell.”

One major part of the new center will be the Sandy Cleary Gallery, a space for up to a dozen two-dimensional art pieces. The art shows will be staged in three-month rotations after an annual call for art.

April through June will usually be a slot for the students of Nashua’s public schools. This year the schools will begin their shows in May. The April show will be honoring the life of Meri Goyette, a longtime patron of Nashua’s, and New Hampshire’s, art scene.

“She was the queen of arts,” said Carlson. She said that, in addition to organizing art events and supporting local artists, Goyette was a founder of the International Sculpture Symposium, and on the board of directors for the Hunt Memorial Building. “For more than 50 years, she was the inspiration and facilitator for arts in Nashua.”

Carlson said it only felt right to have someone like Goyette, who advocated for years for an artistic home base in Nashua, be the subject of the first arts show in the gallery.

Because of Goyette’s friendship with artists, many painted or photographed her portrait. Robey said those paintings were in storage until now. She added that the portraits were less traditional pieces, some having bright colors and unique compositions that made them more exciting. Goyette’s vibrant personality is skillfully captured in the portraits and photographs hanging on the burnt orange walls. Glimpses of the joyful woman can be seen in the photograph of her dressed as Mrs. Claus. The side of her that was an avid art lover is shown in abstract artworks, including an impressionist-style portrait and a mirrored portrait in a graphic pointillism style.

All of the artwork is facing a window overlooking West Pearl Street, a strategic design to show the artwork more than just during operational hours, Robey said. In addition to having artist plaques with information inside the center, on the window outside the gallery there will be a QR code for passersby so they can read the information during off hours.

The gallery isn’t the only space where visual art will be appreciated, Robey said. She and other members of the art selection committee hope to have artists teach classes in part of the older building.

Carlson said that, with the gallery added in, the Nashua Center for the Arts isn’t just a destination for live music and performances; it’s a place where all art can find a home within the city.

While the center took years to be completed, Lally said it will be a part of Nashua for years to come. He said that having a space like the Center for the Arts will bring new opportunities for artists and arts lovers in Nashua.

“So many cities and towns we’re in touch with have the dream of a space like this; 99 percent never get there,” Lally said. “For Nashua to have pulled this off, it’s a real testament to all the work that’s made it happen, and it’s just about time to open the doors.”

Nashua Center for the Arts
Where: 201 Main St. in Nashua
Contact: 800-657-8874, nashuacenterforthearts.com
Parking: See the website for a map and listing of area parking lots. There are also two-hour-limit and no-time-limit street parking spaces within walking distance of the center.

First on stage

Q&A with Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken

The two American Idol alums are touring the country together in honor of the 20th anniversary of their appearances on the show. Studdard was declared the winner during Season 2 of the singing competition in 2003, with Aiken coming in second place by just 134,000 votes out of more than 24 million cast, the closest winning vote margin in American Idol history. Their second stop on their tour, Ruben and Clay: Twenty Years, One Night, is the Nashua Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 13. When they talked to The Hippo, neither had realized that their show was the first non-ceremonial performance scheduled to take place at the new venue.

You guys are the first touring act performing at the Nashua Center of the Arts.

CA (Clay Aiken): That’s cool. Wow. We are going to inaugurate that hell out of that thing.

So now that you guys know that, how does that feel knowing that you’re going to be the first people to really christen that stage?

RS (Ruben Studdard): After such a long, illustrious career, [he laughs] I have inaugurated several theaters.

CA: Have you?

RS: No. [still laughing]

CA: Well, I was about to say, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a theater for the first time. Well, you know what, if you’re going to do it, you do it right, Nashua, and you’ve done it right.

What’s it like going on tour together again 20 years after American Idol?

RS: It’s great. I mean, I’m excited to just spend time with my friend. I had such a great time when we were together planning and putting together the show. It’s so funny to see people’s reaction when they see us together, like at a restaurant. ’Cause of course, I mean like, what’s the odds of you walking into your local Italian restaurant and Clay and Ruben are just sitting there chumming it up?

CA: It’s kinda like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon hanging out together, right?

RS: Absolutely. That’s what it’s like.

Going off that, how did you become friends on [Idol] in the middle of a competition like that?

CA: It was a competition, but I think there were plenty of times throughout the show when I forgot it was a competition. Idol is not like Survivor, where you have to get someone else kicked off in order to be successful. I wanted to make sure I made it till Week 6 when my mom told me she was coming. I certainly never saw myself as being competitive. We both were on the same number of episodes; we both made it all the way to the end and I just never felt competitive against Ruben.

What can attendees expect for the performance at the Nashua Center for the Arts?

RS: To have a good time. You know, at the end of the day, everybody knows we can sing. The question is, can we entertain people for an hour and a half, two hours? And I think the thing that we’re putting together, the stories that we have, the music that we’re going to share, is going to be fun.

CA: It’s going to be an incredible opportunity to reminisce. You know, just the way we’re talking about the show ourselves, Idol was to our great fortune…. Nostalgia is big right now or has been big for a minute or two. People love the Roseanne reboot and the Will & Grace reboot and the Night Court reboot. I think we as a country are looking for things that are safe and fun that we know make us happy, and Idol made a lot of people happy in 2003.

For the performers

The creators of the center wanted to make the venue as luxurious for performers as it’s set to be for patrons.

“We’re really good about taking feedback,” said Jake Crumb, the facilities manager set up by Spectacle Live to run Nashua Center for the Arts. “When [performers and crew] arrive…they’re looking for a place that is somewhat comfortable and gives them amenities. We’ve taken [that] to heart and given them all the amenities they’d expect to have.”

The center worked with ICON Architecture and OTJ Architects for theater design, Fisher Dachs Associates for theater planning and equipment, Acentech for audiovisual and acoustic design, and Rist Frost Shumway for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, civil engineering and lighting design.

The state-of-the-art light system has LED theatrical lighting and 28 linesight rigging systems. The sound system is by Meyer Sound Laboratories and will have headset and handheld microphones. The center also houses audiovisual equipment for movies, film festivals and presentations, and a Yamaha C6X grand piano for performances.

The stage is approximately 30 feet deep from downstage to upstage and is 60 feet across from wing to wing.

There are many perks for performers and their crews off the stage, as well. The loading dock leads directly to the main stage area for easy access for setting up and taking down shows. There are two dressing rooms designed for stars, community dressing rooms, a lounge room, and a separate room for the crew. There are showers, a kitchenette with a refrigerator and microwave, and a washer and dryer.

See a show

Here are some of the shows on the schedule for the Nashua Center for the Arts. Buy tickets and get updates at nashuacenterforthearts.com.

• Ruben and Clay: Twenty Years, One Night (Thursday, April 13, 8 p.m.; Ticket price range: $49 to $89)

• Suzanne Vega – An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories (Saturday, April 15, 8 p.m.; $49 to $195)

• Dopapod (Thursday, April 20, 8 p.m.; $24)

• Girl Named Tom (Friday, April 21, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)

• Safe Haven Ballet Presents: Beauty and the Beast (Saturday, April 22, 4:30 p.m.; $40 to $45)

• Symphony NH: Momentum! 100 Year Anniversary Concert (Saturday, April 29, 4 p.m.; $12 to $52)

• Champions of Magic (Thursday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.; $39 to $69)

• Gimme Gimme Disco (Friday, May 5, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)

• Broadway Rave (Saturday, May 6, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)

• Boz Scaggs (Thursday, May 11, 8 p.m.; $79 to $279)

• BoDeans (Friday, May 12, 8 p.m.; $29 to $49)

• Recycled Percussion (Saturday, May 13, 3 and 7 p.m.; $39.50 to $49.50)

• Emo Night Brooklyn (Saturday, May 20, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)

• Celebrating Billy Joel: America’s Piano Man (Thursday, June 8, 8 p.m.; $29 to $59)

• Pat Metheny Side-Eye (Friday, June 9, 8 p.m.; $59 to $99)

• Menopause the Musical (Saturday, June 10; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; $31.30 to $69)

• Grace Kelly (Saturday, June 17, 8 p.m.; $25 to $60)

• Toad the Wet Sprocket (Sunday, June 18, 7 p.m.; $49 to $179)

• Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute) (Friday, June 23, 8 p.m.; $29 to $59)

• Tab Benoit (Thursday, July 13, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)

• An Evening with Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa (Friday, July 14, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)

• Jake Shimabukuro (Saturday, July 15, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)

• The High Kings (Sunday, July 30, 7 p.m.; $39 to $69)

• Jesse Cook (Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m.; $39 to $69)

• Mary Chapin Carpenter (Sunday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m.; $49 to $89)

• Ace Frehley (Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.; $49 to $79)

• Tusk (Fleetwood Mac tribute) (Friday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m.; $29 to $49)

• Steve Hofstetter (Saturday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.; $29 to $104)

• The Sixties Show (Sunday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; $29 to $59)

News & Notes 23/04/06

Currier CEO resigns

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

School groundbreaking

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

Trails grants

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

Dental coverage

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

Historic markers

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

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

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

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

Hospitals, beds & staff

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

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

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

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

Joining together

Music and food benefit Ukraine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Featured photo: Hot Skillet Club. Courtesy photo.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (R)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And yet.

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

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

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

Featured photo: John Wick: Chapter 4

Eat on Easter

Brunch buffets, special meals and sweet treats for Easter Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Granite State storytellers

Conversations with Concord Authors returns

By Mya Blanchard

listings@hippopress.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best of 2023

It’s the most important vote you cast all year.

Sure, governmental elections involve, like, the future of your town and its schools and stuff, but this vote had pizza. And doughnuts. And beer.

In the Best of 2023 Readers’ Poll, you not only voted for your favorite pizza place, you weighed in on the correct way to eat pizza (not with a fork and knife, seems to be the general consensus). Readers also voted for their favorite spots to lace up and go for a long run, where to order lunch from when the boss is paying, where to go for a good margarita, who has the prettiest cupcakes and which fitness instructors keep you in top cocktail-drinking, cupcake-eating form.

Here we present you with, generally, the top five winners in each category — though sometimes we have supersized it and let a few more reader faves join the winners court. And we’ve sprinkled some specific reader responses throughout, because they’re fun.

Looking for a place where they make your coffee perfect every time or a restaurant that will make you love vegetables? Here are Hippo readers’ favorites…

Link to Sections

THINGS WE FORGOT TO ASK

The Fine Print

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 advertisers play no role in the determination of the winners. All results are final.

The Best of 2023 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 adiaz@hippopress. com. 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 seriously final. Hey, there’s always next year.

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
Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org/venues/rex-theatre

Best Theatrical Production

Best of the best: Ballet Misha’s production of The Nutcracker, performed by professional dancers and students of Dimensions in Dance, at the Dana Center for the Humanities (St. Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.

A Christmas Carol, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), ran Nov. 25 through Dec. 23, 2022.
Grease, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), ran Oct. 21 through Nov. 12, 2022.
Legally Blonde, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), ran June 3 through June 26, 2022.
The All New Piano Men, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), ran Jan. 20 through Feb. 5, 2023.

Best Local Place to Buy Art

Best of the best: Craftsmen’s Fair, nhcrafts.org/annual-craftsmens-fair. 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.

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.
Mosaic Art Collective, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, Manchester, 512-6209, mosaicartcollective.com. The art cooperative features a gallery with rotating exhibitions and hosts community events and educational programming.
Manchester Craft Market, Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, manchestercraftmarket.com. This year-round gift shop features handmade items by more than 125 local artisans.
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.

Best Publicly Viewable Sculpture or Statue

Best of the best: Abraham Lincoln statue at Central High School, 535 Beech St., Manchester. The original model of this statue depicting our nation’s 16th president was presented to the city of Manchester by sculptor John Rogers in 1895.

General John Stark statue at Stark Park, 550 River Road, Manchester, starkpark.com. Born in Londonderry in 1728, General John Stark was a Revolutionary War hero and the author of New Hampshire’s motto, “Live Free or Die.”
Millie the Mill Girl statue in downtown Manchester’s Millyard, manchesternh.gov. This 10-foot bronze statue commemorates the female employees of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co., who represented one third of Manchester’s population in 1880. The Mill Girl Stairs Rehabilitation project began this past summer and is ongoing — the result will prominently feature the Mill Girl statue and improve public access from Commercial to Bedford streets.
Daniel Webster statue at New Hampshire Statehouse, 107 N. Main St., Concord, nh.gov. According to information from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, this bronze statue of Portsmouth lawyer and Dartmouth College graduate Daniel Webster was designed in 1853, one year after his death.
Ralph Baer statue at Arms Park (between the Merrimack River and Commercial Street), Manchester, manchesternh.gov. Arms Park is home to “Baer Square,” featuring a memorial statue and bench of Ralph Baer, a longtime Manchester native widely considered to be “the father of video games.”

Entertainment

Best Bookstore

Best of the best: Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com

Bookery Manchester, 844 Elm St., Manchester, 836-6600, bookerymht.com
Balin Books, 375 Amherst St., Nashua, 673-1734, find them on Facebook @balinbooks. Balin is the new name of the former Toadstool Bookshop in Nashua.
The Toadstool Bookshop, 12 Depot St., Peterborough, 924-3543, toadbooks.com
Water Street Bookstore, 125 Water St., Exeter, 778-9731, waterstreetbooks.com

Best Bowling Alley

Best of the best: Lakeside Lanes, 2171 Candia Road, Manchester, 627-7722, lakesidelanes.com

Merrimack Ten Pin Center, 698 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-0989, merrimacktenpin.com
Leda Lanes, 340 Amherst St., Nashua, 889-4884, ledalanes.com
Boutwell’s Bowling Center, 152 N. State St., Concord, 224-0941, boutwellsbowl.com
Yankee Lanes, 216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656, manchester.yankeelanesentertainment.com

Best Comic Book Store

Best of the best: Double Midnight Comics, 252 Willow St., Manchester, 669-9636, dmcomics.com.

Merrymac Games & Comics, 550 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com
Jetpack Comics & Games, 37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-9636, jetpackcomics.com
Double Midnight Comics, 341 Loudon Road, Concord, 715-2683, dmcomics.com
Midgard Hobbies and Games, 55 Crystal Ave., No. 21, Derry, 260-6180, midgardhobbiesandgames.com.

Best Mini Golf

Best of the best: Chuckster’s Family Fun Park, 9 Bailey Road, Chichester, 798-3555, chuckstersnh.com. The park is currently closed for the season, but its miniature golf, batting cages and go-karts are scheduled to open on April 14.

Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com. Opening date for the 2023 season TBA. The park offers a wide variety of attractions, including miniature golf, go-kart racing, batting cages, arcade games and more.
Chuckster’s Family Fun Park, 53 Hackett Hill Road, Hooksett, 210-1415, chuckstersnh.com, This Chuckster’s location is also opening on April 14, and the miniature golf course boasts 36 different holes to test your skills on.
The Links at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com. The winery’s onsite 18-hole miniature course is currently closed but is scheduled to reopen in April.
Hilltop Fun Center, 165 Route 108, Somersworth, 742-8068, hilltopfuncenter.com. Miniature golf at Hilltop Fun Center is scheduled to open for the season on April 1.

Best Place to Learn to Make Something Cool

Best of the best: Studio 550 Arts Center, 550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com. Pottery is the name of the game at this art center. Right now Studio 550 is offering a spring cleaning sale on classes through April 1.

Tuscan Market, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 952-4875, tuscanbrands.com. Tuscan Market maintains a monthly schedule of cooking classes, with signups available for all skill levels.
603 Charcuterie, 603charcuterie.com. The charcuterie businesses, which regularly holds charcuterie board building classes at area breweries and wineries, has recently come under new ownership. Leah and Tom Bellemore, who own Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar in Bedford, have taken over the reins of the store, as announced by 603 Charcuterie in a March 22 Facebook post.
Muse Paintbar, 42 Hanover St., Manchester, 607-6873, musepaintbar.com. Paint-and-sip classes are available to all skill levels.

Best Place to Totally Geek Out

Best of the best: Boards & Brews, 941 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5184, boardsandbrewsnh.com

Game Knight, 545 Hooksett Road, Unit 18, Manchester, 606-2299, gameknightnh.com
Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org. New Hampshire’s only working museum devoted to aviation history in the Granite State features a variety of exhibits covering important people, places, events and artifacts, and features year-round programming geared toward families.
Double Midnight Comics, 252 Willow St., Manchester, 669-9636, dmcomics.com. In addition to selling comic books, the shop holds game events as well as a day of celebration on Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 6, this year).
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, Concord, 271-7827, starhop.com. This hands-on learning center highlighting astronomy, space and aviation also features a planetarium. During the school year the center is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $12 ($9 for children ages 3 to 12, $11 for 62+ and ages 13 to college, free for children 2 and under); planetarium shows cost $6 for ages 3 and up.
Granite State Comic-Con, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester, 669.9636, granitecon.com. Granite State Comic-Con is scheduled to return from Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17.
Midgard Hobbies and Games, 55 Crystal Ave., No. 21, Derry, 260-6180, midgardhobbiesandgames.com. In addition to having board games and tabletop role playing games for sale, Midgard has open gaming spaces, a private game room and a regular tournament gaming schedule.

Best Place to Make New Friends

Best of the best: The Collective Studios, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 216-2345, thecollective-studios.com. The Collective Studios boasts a regular schedule of yoga, meditation and fitness classes. See their website for details on how to join a class.

The Nest Family Cafe, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 404-2139, thenestfamilycafe.com. This Londonderry cafe, which opened in June 2022, was specially designed to cater to families with young children, with a variety of built-in amenities like a Montessori-style play area, a “treehouse” reading nook, a chalk wall, changing tables and a bottle-warming station, all in addition to a menu of coffees, teas, smoothies, baked goods, kid-friendly snack dispensers, bento boxes and more. The roughly 1,500-square-foot space includes traditional cafe seating that’s adjacent to the gated play area, designed to look like a bird’s nest.
The Dam Brewhouse, 1323 Route 175, Campton, 726-4500, dambrewhouse.com. The Dam Brewhouse hosts music bingo on Fridays from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. and maintains a regular schedule of other events, like Paint and Pint on the third Sunday of every month.
Strive Indoor Cycling, 10 Hills Ave., Concord, 513-9464, striveindoorcycling.com. This indoor cycling center maintains a regular schedule of classes. See their website for the full calendar.
Feathered Friend Brewing Co., 231 S. Main St., Concord, 715-2347, find them on Facebook @featheredfriendbrewing. Feathered Friend Brewing Co., which opened in March 2022, is a popular spot for its pop-ups with local restaurants, as well as its live music and video game nights. See their Facebook page for details on upcoming events and happenings.

Nightlife

Bar Where You Feel Relaxed as Soon as you Sit Down

Best of the best: Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com

Stumble Inn Bar and Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com
The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com
The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com
815 Cocktails & Provisions, 815 Elm St., Manchester, 782-8086, 815nh.com

Best Live Music Venue

Best of the best: Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com

Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, 293-4700,
banknhpavilion.com
Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com
The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com

Best Restaurant, Bar or Brewery for Live Music

Best of the best: Stumble Inn Bar and Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com

The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com
Area 23, 254 N. State St., Concord, 552-0137, thearea23.com
The Goat Bar and Grill, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 844-603-4628, goatnh.com
Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net

Best Bar with an Outdoor Deck

Best of the best: The Derryfield Restaurant, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com

Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
Stumble Inn Bar and Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com
KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
The Dam Brewhouse, 1323 Route 175, Campton, 726-4500, dambrewhouse.com

Best Pub or Bar

Best of the best: The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com

Stumble Inn Bar and Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com
Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com
The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com
Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net

Best Weekly Bar Event

Best of the best: Trivia Heather, with Heather Abernathy, find her on Facebook @triviaheather. Held various weeknights, most often at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester) and The Farm Bar & Grille (1181 Elm St., Manchester).

Open Mic Nights with Paul Costley and Nate Comp. Held Tuesday nights, from 8 to 10 p.m., at KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net.
Trivia Nights with Bill Seney, see “Trivia Night with Bill Seney” on Facebook.
Held Thursday nights, at 8:30 p.m., at The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com
Trivia Nights at Area 23, 254 N. State St., Concord, 552-0137, thearea23.com. Held Tuesday nights, at 7 p.m., with prizes awarded. See the Facebook page for an updated list of trivia categories each week.
Ruby Room Comedy, rubyroomcomedy.com. Held Wednesday nights, at 9 p.m., at The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com, and featuring a rotating lineup of up-and-coming comics from across the country.

Best Spot for Some Friendly Competition

Best of the best: Axel’s Throw House, 4 Bud Way, Unit 2, Nashua, 318-9987, axelsthrowhouse.com

The Rugged Axe, 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com
RelAxe Throwing, 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com
Game Changer Sports Bar & Grill, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 216-1396, gamechangersportsbar.com. Named after one of the popular brand names of cornhole bean bags, Game Changer Sports Bar & Grill opened in May 2020 and features its own indoor cornhole lanes, with tournaments available for the chance to win prizes.
Par 28, 23 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-7078, par28.com. Par 28 opened in November 2022. The full-service restaurant and bar also features virtual indoor golf and ax throwing with projected targets, and is also home to Rae’s Coal Fired, featuring pizza and appetizers cooked out of a custom-built coal-fired oven.

Best Spot for a Cheap Date

Best of the best: The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

Tandy’s Pub & Grille, 1 Eagle Square, Concord, 856-7614, tandyspub.com
The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com
Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St., Concord, 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org
RelAxe Throwing, 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com

Best Spot for a Group Outing

Best of the best: Axel’s Throw House, 4 Bud Way, Unit 2, Nashua, 318-9987, axelsthrowhouse.com

Boards & Brews, 941 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5184, boardsandbrewsnh.com
Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, 893-3506, canobie.com. Featuring more than 100 rides, games, live shows and attractions, Canobie Lake Park is expected to reopen later this spring.
RelAxe Throwing, 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com
603 Brewery & Beer Hall, 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com
The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

Best Place to Meet a Blind Date

Best of the best: The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

Boards & Brews, 941 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5184, boardsandbrewsnh.com
City Hall Pub, 8 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-3751, cityhallpub.com
Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar, 25 S. River Road, Unit 107, Bedford, 935-8464, vinethirtytwo.com
RelAxe Throwing, 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com

Restaurants

Best Restaurant

Best of the best: Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com

The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
Revival Kitchen & Bar, 11 Depot St., Concord, 715-5723, revivalkitchennh.com
Buckley’s Great Steaks, 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com
The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

Best New Eatery

Best of the best: Rambling House Food & Gathering, 57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com. Featuring seasonally inspired menus — with a diverse offering of meat, seafood and vegetarian options — and an outside dining area with unparalleled rooftop views of the Nashua River, Rambling House Food Gathering opened its doors in early March 2022. It’s co-owned and co-founded by members of the Gleeson family, who have also run 2nd Nature Academy (formerly known as The Nature of Things) since 1997. On the first floor below Rambling House you’ll find its sister company, the TaleSpinner Brewery, which can be accessed at the opposite end of the building on Water Street.

The Nest Family Cafe, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 404-2139, thenestfamilycafe.com. This Londonderry cafe, which opened in June 2022, was specially designed to cater to families with young children, with a variety of built-in amenities like a Montessori-style play area, a “treehouse” reading nook, a chalk wall, changing tables and a bottle-warming station, all in addition to a menu of coffees, teas, smoothies, baked goods, kid-friendly snack dispensers, bento boxes and more. Owners Jamie and Ryan Getchell, themselves the parents of three kids, said the idea for the business came to them following their own experiences visiting cafes and coffee shops with their kids in tow. The roughly 1,500-square-foot space includes traditional cafe seating that’s adjacent to the gated play area, designed to look like a bird’s nest.
Pressed Cafe, 216 S. River Road, Bedford, 606-2746, pressedcafe.com. Pressed Cafe, a local chain known for its scratch-made menu of paninis, sandwiches, smoothies and bowls, opened its fourth New Hampshire location inside the former Canoe Restaurant & Bar space in Bedford in March 2022. It’s open for breakfast all day and features a double drive-thru and a full bar.
Ansanm, 20 South St., Milford, 554-1248, ansanmnh.com. Chris Viaud, owner of Greenleaf in Milford and a Season 18 contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, opened this Haitian restaurant with his family in October 2022 in the former Wicked Pissah Chowdah storefront on South Street, just a stone’s throw away from the Milford Oval. Ansanm, which gets its name from the word meaning “together” in Haitian Creole, continues the success of the family’s restaurant concept following nearly a year and a half of hosting monthly pop-up dinners. Ansanm’s menu continues to include items that were main staples at the pop-ups — the griot, or a marinated twice-cooked pork, and the poule nan sós, or braised chicken in Creole sauce, to name a couple — as well as all kinds of authentic dishes totally new to the space, and a few new spins on classic flavors.
Los Reyes Street Tacos & More, 127 Rockingham Road, Derry, 845-8327, losreyesstreettacos.com. Manchester couple Jose and Isabel Reyes opened this Mexican restaurant inside Derry’s Hillside Plaza in April 2022. They’re perhaps best known for their birria — Jose Reyes comes from multiple generations of street food vending in Mexico, serving authentic birria, most commonly served on a plate in the form of goat meat. You won’t find goat on their menu, but you can try quesabirras, inspired by the traditional stew and featuring beef, onion, cilantro and a side of consommé, or the stewed broth. Los Reyes is also known for its street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and chimichangas.

Best Fine Dining

Best of the best: Hanover Street Chophouse, 149 Hanover St., Manchester, 644-2467, hanoverstreetchophouse.com

Buckley’s Great Steaks, 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com
Bedford Village Inn, 2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com
Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.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 Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com

Goldenrod Restaurant, 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com
Lilac Blossom Restaurant, 650 Amherst St., Nashua, 886-8420; 385 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua, 888-9588; lilacblossom.us
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 N. Main St., Concord, 410-4161, dosamigosburritos.com

Best Date Night Restaurant

Best of the best: Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com

The Foundry Restaurant, 50 Commercial St., Manchester, 836-1925, foundrynh.com
The Crown Tavern, 99 Hanover St., Manchester, 218-3132, thecrownonhanover.com
Cotton Restaurant, 75 Arms St., Manchester, 622-5488, cottonfood.com
Buckley’s Great Steaks, 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com

Restaurant where the Meal Always Lifts your Mood

Best of the best: Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com

The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com
KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
Surf Restaurant, 207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293, surfseafood.com

Best Food Truck

Best of the best: Messy Mike’s Barbecue & Catering Co., messymikesbbq.com. Messy Mike’s reopened for the season on March 16 — find them in the parking lot of Rockingham Acres Greenhouse (161 Rockingham Road, Derry).

B’s Tacos & More, nhtacotruck.com. Find them outside the BP gas station (2 Mohawk Drive, Londonderry) from May through October. B’s Tacos, meanwhile, has a brick-and-mortar location on Manchester’s West Side, at 372 Kelley Street.
Up In Your Grill, upinyourgrill.com. When he’s not catering for an event, Up In Your Grill owner and pitmaster Dan DeCourcey of Merrimack can often be found in the parking lot of Vault Motor Storage (526 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) — the dates and times vary but are regularly updated on Facebook.
The Sleazy Vegan, thesleazyvegan.com. Find this plant-based food truck at pop-ups across southern New Hampshire — the dates and locations vary but are regularly updated on the website and on Facebook. The truck also offers delivery and catering services.
One Happy Clam Seafood & More, find them on Facebook @onehappyclam. Operated by longtime former Clam Haven owner Rick Metts, One Happy Clam has multiple public events on the schedule this spring and summer across southern New Hampshire.
Buxton’s Pizza, find them on Facebook @buxtonspizza. Find this Derry-based brick oven pizza truck at several pop-up locations mostly throughout the spring and summer months.

Restaurant With the Best Outdoor Seating

Best of the best: Downtown Cheers Grille & Bar, 17 Depot St., Concord, 228-0180, cheersnh.com

KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
The Crown Tavern, 99 Hanover St., Manchester, 218-3132, thecrownonhanover.com
Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
The Derryfield Restaurant, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com

Delicious Dishes

Best Bakery

Best of the best: Bearded Baking Co., 819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com

The Crust & Crumb Baking Co., 126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com
Bread & Chocolate, 29 S. Main St., Concord, 228-3330, find them on Facebook @breadandchocolateconcordnh
Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe, 436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com
Klemm’s Bakery, 29 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 437-8810, klemmsbakery.com

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, smokeshowbarbeque.com. In March 2022, Smokeshow Barbeque relocated into a new space in Concord’s South End, nearly tripling its seating capacity and sharing a building with Feathered Friend Brewing Co.
Smokehaus Barbecue, 278 Route 101, Amherst, 249-5734, smokehausbbq.com
Messy Mike’s Barbecue & Catering Co., messymikesbbq.com. Messy Mike’s reopened for the season on March 16 — find them in the parking lot of Rockingham Acres Greenhouse (161 Rockingham Road, Derry).
Goody Cole’s Smokehouse & Catering Co., 374 Route 125, Brentwood, 679-8898, goodycoles.com

Best Blueberry Muffin

Best of the best: Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com

Hotrize Bagel Cafe, 634 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-3367, find them on Facebook
Klemm’s Bakery, 29 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 437-8810, klemmsbakery.com
O’Shea’s Caife & Tae, 44 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 540-2971, osheasnh.com
The Crust & Crumb Baking Co., 126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com
Bearded Baking Co., 819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com

Best Breakfast

Best of the best: Tucker’s, 80 South St., Concord, 413-5884, tuckersnh.com

Tucker’s, 95 S. River Road, Bedford, 413-6503, tuckersnh.com
Tucker’s, 1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 206-5757, tuckersnh.com
MaryAnn’s Diner, 29 E. Broadway, Derry, 434-5785, maryannsdiner.com
The Post Restaurant, 58 N. Main St., Concord, 227-6686; 125 Fisherville Road, Concord, 228-0522; postrestaurantnh.com

Best Brunch

Best of the best: The Foundry Restaurant, 50 Commercial St., Manchester, 836-1925, foundrynh.com

Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com
Firefly American Bistro & Bar, 22 Concord St., Manchester, 935-9740, fireflynh.com
Rambling House Food & Gathering, 57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com

Best Burgers

Best of the best: The Barley House Restaurant & Tavern, 132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363, thebarleyhouse.com

Vibes Gourmet Burgers, 25 S. Main St., Concord, 856-8671, vibesgourmetburgers.com
The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery, 58 Route 27, Raymond, 244-2431, tuckaway.com
Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen, 237 South St., Milford, 672-9130, papajoeshumblekitchen.com
River Road Tavern, 193 S. River Road, Bedford, 206-5837, riverroadtavern.com

Best Chicken Tenders

Best of the best: The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com

Goldenrod Restaurant, 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com
Charlie’s, 1 Pinard St., Goffstown, 606-1835, charliesgoffstown.com
The Red Blazer Restaurant & Pub, 72 Manchester St., Concord, 224-4101, theredblazer.com
T-Bones Great American Eatery, 39 Crystal Ave., Derry, 434-3200, t-bones.com
Vintage Pizza, 241 Candia Road, Manchester, 518-7800, vintagepizzanh.com

Best Fish & Chips

Best of the best: The Lobster Boat Restaurant, 453 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-5221, lobsterboatrestaurant.com

The Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com
Lobster Claw II, 4 S. Main St., Derry, 437-2720, lobsterclaw2.com
Goldenrod Restaurant, 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com
Rambling House Food & Gathering, 57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com
Petey’s Summertime Seafood & Bar, 1323 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 433-1937, peteys.com

Where the French Fries Are So Good They Could Be a Meal

Best of the best: The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
River Road Tavern, 193 S. River Road, Bedford, 206-5837, riverroadtavern.com
Goldenrod Restaurant, 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com
603 Brewery & Beer Hall, 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com

Eatery with Home Cooking Like Grandma Used to Make

Best of the best: Local Baskit, 10 Ferry St., Suite 120A, Concord, 219-0882, localbaskit.com

Diz’s Cafe, 860 Elm St., Manchester, 606-2532, dizscafe.com
Chez Vachon, 136 Kelley St., Manchester, 625-9660, chezvachon.com
The Common Man, 1 Gulf St., Concord, 228-3463, thecman.com
The Common Man, 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088, thecman.com

Best Lasagna

Best of the best: Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop, 815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com

Angelina’s Ristorante Italiano, 11 Depot St., Concord, 228-3313, angelinasrestaurant.com
Villaggio Ristorante, 677 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 627-2424, villaggionh.com
Fratello’s Italian Grille, 155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022, fratellos.com
Ralphie’s Cafe Italiano, 91 S. Broadway, Salem, 893-3777, ralphiescafeitaliano.com

Best Mac & Cheese

Best of the best: Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese, 497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com

The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery, 58 Route 27, Raymond, 244-2431, tuckaway.com
The Common Man, 1 Gulf St., Concord, 228-3463, thecman.com
O Steaks & Seafood, 11 S. Main St., Concord, 856-7925, osteaksconcord.com
Pressed Cafe, 216 S. River Road, Bedford, 606-2746, pressedcafe.com
The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com

Best Pizza

Best of the best: 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, 50 Dow St., Manchester, 641-0900, 900degrees.com

Alley Cat Pizzeria, 486 Chestnut St., Manchester, 669-4533, alleycatpizzerianh.com
New Hampshire Pizza Co., 76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, newhampshirepizzaco.com
Constantly Pizza, 39 S. Main St., Concord, 224-9366; 108 Fisherville Road, Penacook, 227-1117; constantlypizza.net
Vintage Pizza, 241 Candia Road, Manchester, 518-7800, vintagepizzanh.com

Best Sandwich

Best of the best: Steak Bomb at USA Subs, 66 Crystal Ave., Derry, 437-1550, usasubs.com. Available in three sizes, this tried and true classic features tender shaved steak that’s grilled with peppers, onions, mushrooms, cooked salami and your choice of American or provolone cheese.

The Cardiac Sam at KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net. This sandwich is stacked with pulled chicken, pulled pork, bacon, cheese, roasted red peppers, lettuce and a garlic and herb mayonnaise.
Roast beef sub at Bentley’s Roast Beef, 134 Route 101A, Amherst, 883-2020, bentleysroastbeef.com. Bentley’s uses eight ounces of freshly thin-sliced USDA choice Midwestern beef for its subs, which are served on a toasted 12-inch Piantedosi sub roll.
Messy 3-Way at Messy Mike’s Barbecue & Catering Co., messymikesbbq.com. “If it ain’t messy, it ain’t barbecue” — that’s the motto of Messy Mike’s. The Messy 3-Way features melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork, served on a bun with mayonnaise, American cheese and James River barbecue sauce. Messy Mike’s reopened for the season on March 16 — find them in the parking lot of Rockingham Acres Greenhouse (161 Rockingham Road, Derry).
Fried chicken sandwich at Ansanm, 20 South St., Milford, 554-1248, ansanmnh.com. Putting a new spin on traditional Haitian flavors, this sandwich features chicken thigh marinated in epis (a blend of peppers, garlic and herbs) and topped with a house epis aioli, crispy plantain and pikliz (a spicy slaw) on a house-made adobo brioche roll.

Best Subs

Best of the best: Nadeau’s Subs, 776 Mast Road, Manchester, 623-9315; 110 Cahill Ave., Manchester, 669-7827; 673 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 644-8888; 1095 Hanover St., Manchester (inside the Kwik Stop Mobil), 606-4411; 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
Great American Subs, 44 Nashua Road, Unit 3, Londonderry, 434-9900, greatamericansubsnh.com
Jeannotte’s Market, 2 Courtland St., Nashua, 882-0161, jeannottesmarket.com

Best Tacos

Best of the best: Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 791 Second St., Manchester, 782-8762, vallartamexicannh.com

Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 N. Main St., Concord, 410-4161, dosamigosburritos.com
La Carreta Mexican Restaurant, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 628-6899; 1875 S. Willow St., Manchester, 623-7705; lacarretamex.com
Hermanos Cocina Mexicana, 11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669, hermanosmexican.com
Los Reyes Street Tacos & More, 127 Rockingham Road, Derry, 845-8327, losreyesstreettacos.com

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

The Sleazy Vegan, thesleazyvegan.com. Find this plant-based food truck at multiple pop-ups across southern New Hampshire — the dates and locations vary but are regularly updated on the website and on Facebook. The truck also offers delivery and catering services.
Greenleaf, 54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com
Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro & Bar, 35 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, 427-8344, greenelephantnh.com
Buckley’s Great Steaks, 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com
The Green Beautiful Gourmet Vegan Cafe, 168 Wilson St., Manchester, 606-1026, greenbeautifulcafe.com

Sweet Treat

Best Chocolate or Candy 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
Granite State Candy Shoppe, 832 Elm St., Manchester, 225-2591, granitestatecandyshoppe.com
Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery, 53 Washington St., Suite 100, Dover, 343-1799, lickeesnchewys.com
Nelson’s Candy & Music, 65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com

Best Cookies

Best of the best: The Crust & Crumb Baking Co., 126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com

Bearded Baking Co., 819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com
The Black Forest Cafe & Bakery, 212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestcafe.com
Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe, 436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com
Frederick’s Pastries, 109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725, pastry.net
Pats Peak Ski Area, 686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com

Prettiest Cupcakes

Best of the best: Queen City Cupcakes, 816 Elm St., Manchester, 624-4999, qccupcakes.com. In January, Queen City Cupcakes moved all its operations a few doors down, joining forces with its sister gift shop, Pop of Color, at 816 Elm St.

Bearded Baking Co., 819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com
Carina’s Cakes, 14B E. Broadway, Derry, 425-9620, find them on Facebook @carinas.cakes
Cupcakes 101, 132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 488-5962, cupcakes101.net
Wild Orchid Bakery, 836 Elm St., Manchester, 935-7338, wildorchidbakery.com
Frederick’s Pastries, 109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725, pastry.net

Best Doughnuts

Best of the best: Klemm’s Bakery, 29 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 437-8810, klemmsbakery.com

Brothers Donuts, 426 Central St., Franklin, 934-6678, find them on Facebook @brothersdonuts
New Hampshire Doughnut Co., 2 Capital Plaza, Concord, 715-5097, nhdoughnutco.com
Flight Coffee Co., 209 Route 101 West, Bedford, 836-6228, flightcoffeeco.com
New Hampshire Doughnut Co., 410 S. River Road, Bedford, 782-8968, nhdoughnutco.com. The company’s newest shop, which opened on South River Road in Bedford in September 2022, expanded the menu offerings to include yeast ring and filled doughnuts for the first time, in addition to fritters and French crullers.

Best Ice Cream

Best of the best: The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com

Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream, 27 Crystal Ave., Derry, 425-0100, moosplace.com. Moo’s opens for the season on April 1.
Ilsley’s Ice Cream, 33 S. Sugar Hill Road, Weare, 529-6455, find them on Facebook @ilsleysicecream. Opening date for the 2023 season TBA.
Hayward’s Homemade Ice Cream, 7 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 888-4663, haywardsicecream.com
Goldenrod Restaurant, 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com

Drinks

Best Beer Selection in a Shop

Best of the best: Bert’s Beer & Wine, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 413-5992, bertsnh.com

Lazy Dog Beer Shoppe, 27 Buttrick Road, Suite B4, Londonderry, 434-2500, lazydogbeer.com
The Beer Store, 433 Amherst St., Nashua, 889-2242, thebeerstorenh.com
The Packie, 581 Second St., Manchester, 232-1236, thepackienh.com
East Derry General Store, 50 E. Derry Road, Derry, 432-5302, eastderrygeneralstore.com

Best NH Brewery

Best of the best: 603 Brewery & Beer Hall, 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com

Pipe Dream Brewing, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751, pipedreambrewingnh.com
Spyglass Brewing Co., 306 Innovative Way, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com. In late January, Spyglass Brewing Co. moved all of its operations across Nashua to its current location at 306 Innovative Way, where a full kitchen is now available featuring smash burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, appetizers and more.
Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
Concord Craft Brewing Co., 117 Storrs St., Concord, 856-7625, concordcraftbrewing.com

Best NH Winery

Best of the best: LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898, labellewinery.com

LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com
Zorvino Vineyards, 226 Main St., Sandown, 887-8463, zorvino.com
Flag Hill Distillery & Winery, 297 N. River Road, Lee, 659-2949, flaghill.com
Fulchino Vineyard, 187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis, 438-5984, fulchinovineyard.com
Appolo Vineyards, 49 Lawrence Road, Derry, 421-4675, appolovineyards.com

Best Cocktail

Best of the best: Cosmo at Copper Door Restaurant, 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033, copperdoor.com. The Copper Door’s signature Cosmo features Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Gran Gala orange liqueur, freshly squeezed lemons, pomegranate juice and a sugar rim.

Frozen mudslides at The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com. The Puritan’s original mudslide features Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua coffee liqueur and vodka, while other variations include an Almond Joy Slide, a Milky Way slide, a Snickers slide and a Peanut Butter Cup slide.
C.R.E.A.M. at Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com. Standing for “Cucumber Rules Everything Around Me,” the C.R.E.A.M. cocktail at Industry East is one of the bar’s signature offerings, featuring Mi Campo tequila, ancho verde liqueur, Dolin Blanc, a cucumber shrub, lemon juice and jalapeno tincture. It’s then garnished with a cucumber ribbon, salt and pepper.
Squam Shrub at New Hampshire Pizza Co., 76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, newhampshirepizzaco.com. Changing its flavors with the seasons, from cranberry in the fall or blueberry in the summer to other combinations like apricot rosemary, this craft cocktail features Ice Pik vodka, a simple syrup and soda water.
Painkiller at KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net. Known for being the KC’s Rib Shack’s best-selling specialty drink, the Painkiller features a blend of Cruzan aged Virgin Island rum, coconut cream, pineapple and orange juices, topped with freshly grated nutmeg.

Best Margaritas

Best of the best: Hermanos Cocina Mexicana, 11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669, hermanosmexican.com

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 628-6899; 1875 S. Willow St., Manchester, 623-7705; lacarretamex.com
El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria, 10 Lake Ave., Manchester, 232-4530, elrinconnh.com
Puerto Vallarta Mexican Grill, 865 Second St., Manchester, 935-9182, vallartamexicannh.com
Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 791 Second St., Manchester, 782-8762, vallartamexicannh.com

Restaurant with the Most Innovative Cocktails

Best of the best: Tandy’s Pub & Grille, 1 Eagle Square, Concord, 856-7614, tandyspub.com

The Farm Bar & Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com
The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com
Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com
T-Bones Great American Eatery, 404 S. Main St., Concord, 715-1999, t-bones.com

Where They Make your Coffee Perfect Every Time

Best of the best: Revelstoke Coffee, 100 N. Main St., Concord, revelstokecoffee.com

Flight Coffee Co., 209 Route 101 West, Bedford, 836-6228, flightcoffeeco.com
A&E Coffee & Tea, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 578-3338, aeroastery.com
O’Shea’s Caife & Tae, 44 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 540-2971, osheasnh.com
Hometown Coffee Roasters, 80 Old Granite St., Manchester, 703-2321, hometownroasters.com

Outdoors

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 the season and 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 the season and on availability, include apples, pumpkins, peaches and pears.
Lull Farm, 65 Broad St., Hollis, 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com. Pick-your-own opportunities,
depending on the season and on availability, include strawberries and apples. The farm has additional locations in Milford and Nashua.
Apple Hill Farm, 580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com. Pick-your-own opportunities include several varieties of apples.
Carter Hill Orchard, 73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on the season and on availability, include blueberries, apples and peaches.

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.

Livingston Park, 156 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. This park includes a walking trail that circles Dorrs Pond.
Benson Park, 19 Kimball Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov. Benson Park is a 166-acre public park that opened in 2010. The former property of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a private zoo and amusement park open for much of the early half of the 20th century, the park is now a popular area for hiking, dog walking, fishing and picnicking.
Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, nashuanh.gov. A public city park spanning 125 acres, Greeley Park features a stage, playgrounds, picnic areas and more, and is a popular spot for outdoor festivals.
Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. This park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and a canal system on the north side.

Best State Park

Best of the best: Bear Brook State Park, 61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874, nhstateparks.org. At more than 10,000 acres, this is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. There are around 40 miles of trails that run through this heavily forested park, offering a variety of options for hikers and dog walkers. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground and on the trails only — not in the beach area.

Pawtuckaway State Park, 128 Mountain Road, Nottingham, 895-3031, nhstateparks.org. 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.
Franconia Notch State Park, 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia/Lincoln, 823-8800, nhstateparks.org. Franconia Notch State Park is located in the White Mountain National Forest and is home to the Franconia Notch, a mountain pass crossed by a parkway extending from Echo Lake to the Flume Gorge. Visitors can enjoy hiking, swimming, fishing, biking, horseback riding, camping and more.
Wellington State Park, 614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197, nhstateparks.org. Wellington State Park offers hiking trails, picnic areas and volleyball and horseshoe courts, and is known for having the largest freshwater swimming beach in the New Hampshire state park system.
Ellacoya State Park, 266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821, nhstateparks.org. Ellacoya State Park is located on the southwest shore of New Hampshire’s largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee. It features a 600-foot-long sandy beach area open for swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, with views of the Sandwich and Ossipee mountains across the lake, as well as picnic areas, a playground and an RV campground.
Wallis Sands State Beach, 1050 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 227-8722, nhstateparks.org. Wallis Sands State Beach is a sandy beach with ocean swimming and views of the Isles of Shoals. Amenities include a store with food and drinks, a bathhouse with hot and cold showers, walking trails and a grassy area with picnic tables.

Best Hike in Southern New Hampshire

Best of the best: Mount Monadnock, 169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862, nhstateparks.org. The 3,165-foot mountain features more than 35 hiking trails of various levels of difficulty leading to the summit.

Mount Major, Alton, forestsociety.org/mtmajor. 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.
Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. This park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and a canal system on the north side.
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.
Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, New Boston Road, Bedford, plcnh.org/pulpit-rock-trails. The 338-acre conservation land features 10 marked trails totalling 3 miles, including a connector trail from the gorge and ledge called Pulpit Rock, through Amherst to Bedford’s Joppa Hill Conservation Land.

Best Bike Trail

Best of the best: Granite State Rail Trail, from Londonderry through Salem, gsrtnh.org. The southern portion of the trail network connects the Londonderry Rail Trail, Derry Rail Trail, Windham Rail Trail and Salem Bike-Ped Corridor, ending in Salem at the Massachusetts border.

Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua. This paved trail is 12.5 miles and runs along the Nashua River, connecting Nashua to Ayer, Mass.
Northern Rail Trail, fnrt.org. The 59-mile trail runs from Boscawen to Lebanon, crossing nearly a dozen towns across two counties.
Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. This park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and a canal system on the north side.
Goffstown Rail Trail, Goffstown, goffstownrailtrail.org. The 5.5-mile trail runs between Goffstown and Manchester, connecting Pinardville, Grasmere and Goffstown Village.

Best Spot for a Long Run

Best of the best: Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. This park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and a canal system on the north side.

Manchester rail trails, manchesternh.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks-trails-and-facilities/recreational-trails. The City of Manchester is working to develop a rail trail network, with four rail trails in various stages of planning and development. Rockingham Rail Trail is 3.1 miles and runs from Tarrytown Road to Lake Massabesic; South Manchester Rail Trail runs 2.4 miles parallel to South Willow Street; Heritage Trail runs for 6.1 miles along the Merrimack River and includes the Riverwalk in the Millyard; and Piscataquog Trail runs for 2.4 miles through the West Side of Manchester and connects to the Goffstown Rail Trail.
Goffstown Rail Trail, Goffstown, goffstownrailtrail.org. The 5.5-mile trail runs between Goffstown and Manchester, connecting Pinardville, Grasmere and Goffstown Village.
Londonderry Rail Trail, londonderrytrails.org. The 4.5-mile trail runs through North Londonderry, ending at Harvey Road in Manchester near the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua. This paved trail is 12.5 miles and runs along the Nashua River, connecting Nashua to Ayer, Mass.

Best Ski Hill

Best of the best: Pats Peak Ski Area, 686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com

Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln, 745-8111, loonmtn.com
McIntyre Ski Area, 50 Chalet Way, Manchester, 622- 6159, mcintyreskiarea.com
Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury, 763-3500, mountsunapee.com
Cannon Mountain Ski Resort, 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia, 823-8800, cannonmt.com

Best Lake for Canoeing or Kayaking

Best of the best: 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.

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.
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.
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.
Canobie Lake, Salem and Windham, canobielake.org. The 375-acre lake is known for its peaceful waters and resident loons. Canoes and kayaks can be carried into the water from the North Policy Street parking lot.
Lake Winnisquam, Water Street, Laconia, winnisquamwatershed.org/public-access. With 4,264 acres, the lake, fed by Lake Winnipesaukee, is the state’s fourth largest, spanning across the towns of Laconia, Tilton, Sanbornton, Belmont and Meredith. There are two public boat ramps and a floating dock in Laconia.

Happenings

Best Food Festival

Best of the best: Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, Route 1A, Hampton, seafoodfestivalnh.com. The festival will be back Friday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 10, with shopping, live music, entertainment and, of course, lots of seafood.

Taco Tour in Manchester. According to tacotourmanchester.com, the self-proclaimed “World’s Largest Taco Tour,” organized by the Greater Manchester Chamber, will be coming back on Thursday, May 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Manchester and will include more than 60 restaurants selling tacos for $3 each.
Glendi, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St, Manchester, 622-9113, stgeorgenh.org. This festival will take place Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17, and will feature a wide selection of Greek food, including lamb, gyro, pastries and more.
Great American Ribfest at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 595-1202, greatamericanribfest.com. The food truck festival that features barbecue, live music, kids attractions and more is back Friday, July 21, through Sunday, July 23.
Concord Multicultural Festival, Keach Park, Concord Heights, 2 Newton Ave., Concord, 568-5740, concordnhmulticulturalfestival.org. Scheduled this year for Sunday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Concord Multicultural Festival features food, music and live entertainment, artists and makers and more — all with the goal of showcasing the many cultures of the community, according to the website.

Best Farmers Market

Best of the best: Concord Farmers Market, which runs Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Capitol Street between North Main Street and State Street (next to the lawn in front of the Statehouse). The farmers market opens for the season on May 6 and will run through Oct. 28, according to concordfarmersmarket.com.

Contoocook Farmers Market, which runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The winter market takes place November through April at Maple Street School (194 Maple St.); the summer mark et runs from May through October at the Contoocook gazebo, according to the market’s Facebook page.
Salem Farmers Market, which takes place year-round on Sundays starting at 10 a.m., according to salemnhfarmersmarket.org. The market’s Easter Market will be held Sunday, April 2; the market will be closed on Sunday, April 9, the website said. The winter market, which runs November through April, is at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry, 833-2311) and goes until 1 p.m.; the summer market will open May 7 at the Mall at Rockingham Park (77 Rockingham Park Blvd. in Salem).
Bedford Farmers Market, which takes place at Murphy’s Taproom (393 Route 101 in Bedford) on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The market will open for the season on June 13 and will run through Oct. 17, according to bedfordnhfarmersmarket.org.
Derry Homegrown Farm and Artisan Market, which runs Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at 1 West Broadway in Derry. The season will open on June 7, according to derryhomegrown.org.

Event That Puts the Fun in Fundraiser

Best of the best: Penguin Plunge for Special Olympics. This year’s Penguin Plunge took place in February at Hampton Beach, where 720 participants jumped into the cold ocean to raise funds to support Special Olympics New Hampshire, according to sonh.org/events/penguin-plunge.

Rock ‘N Race. This race, which features 5K walk, 5K run and 1-mile run options, takes place in downtown Concord and supports Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care. The race will kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 (with a pre-race program at the Statehouse Plaza at 5:45 p.m.), according to giveto.concordhospital.org.
Glendi, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St, Manchester, 622-9113, stgeorgenh.org. This festival will take place Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17, and will feature a wide selection of Greek food, including lamb, gyro, pastries and more.
Abby Lange’s Walk for the Animals, which raises funds for Pope Memorial SPCA (94 Silk Farm Rd, Concord, 856-8756, popememorialspca.org). It’s slated for Sunday, Oct. 1, and will start at Northeast Delta Dental in Concord; details are to come.
Wags to Whiskers Festival, a day of dog demonstrations, kid activities, pet vendors and more to support The Humane Society of Greater Nashua (24 Ferry Road, Nashua, 889-2275). This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack.

Best Community Event

Best of the best: Concord Market Days Festival. Concord’s downtown celebration with music, food, live entertainment, family activities, vendors and more will take place Thursday, June 22, through Saturday, June 24. See marketdaysfestival.com.

Glendi, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St, Manchester, 622-9113, stgeorgenh.org. This festival will take place Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17, and will feature a wide selection of Greek food, including lamb, gyro, pastries and more.
Milford Pumpkin Festival. This celebration of pumpkins and Halloween in downtown Milford will run Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, and historically features live music, a haunted trail, a pumpkin weigh-in, pumpkin carving, scarecrow making, a rubber duck race, live entertainment, a pumpkin catapult, vendors, kids’ activities, food and more, according to milfordpumpkinfestival.org.
Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off and Regatta. Run by Goffstown Main Street, the Regatta has in the past taken place over two days in October and has featured as its highlight a race of carved pumpkin boats in the river. See goffstownmainstreet.org.
Derry After Dark, a celebration of breweries and restaurants that in the past has been scheduled to coincide with Derryfest in September. For information, contact Cask and Vine (1 East Broadway in Derry; 965-3454, caskandvine.com).
Winter Holiday Stroll. This downtown Nashua celebration takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving (this year, that’s Saturday, Nov. 25). Taking place in the evening (in 2022 it ran from 5 to 10 p.m.), the Stroll in the past has featured the lighting of the holiday tree, a Santa’s Village, live entertainment, vendors and more. See downtownnashua.org.

Best Event Celebrating a Holiday

Best of the best: Winter Holiday Stroll. This downtown Nashua celebration takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving (this year, that’s Saturday, Nov. 25). Taking place in the evening (in 2022 it ran from 5 to 10 p.m.), the Stroll in the past has featured the lighting of the holiday tree, a Santa’s Village, live entertainment, vendors and more. See downtownnashua.org.

Midnight Merriment. Organized by Intown Concord (intownconcord.org), the Capital City’s holiday event is usually the first Friday in December and has in the past run from 5 p.m. to midnight. The evening features music, kids’ activities, Santa Claus, shopping and more, according to the website.
Halloween Howl. In 2022, this Halloween event from Intown Concord (intownconcord.org) took place the Friday before Halloween and featured trick-or-treating on Main Street in the downtown, family activities and a trunk-or-treat, according to the website.
LaBelle Lights at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111 in Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com). In 2022 this lights display was twice the size as in the first year’s, with artistic sculptures that the winery commissioned exclusively for the event, which ran through the holiday season and into January.
Milford Pumpkin Festival. This celebration of pumpkins and Halloween in downtown Milford will run Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, and historically features live music, a haunted trail, a pumpkin weigh-in, pumpkin carving, scarecrow making, a rubber duck race, live entertainment, a pumpkin catapult, vendors, kids’ activities, food and more, according tomilfordpumpkinfestival.org
Manchester St. Patrick’s Parade. The parade traditionally takes place a week or so after St. Patrick’s Day (this year it was Sunday, March 26) and steps off at noon, running down Elm Street through the city’s downtown. See saintpatsnh.com for the countdown clock to next year’s parade.

Beauty & Wellness

Best Barber Shop

Best of the best: Lucky’s Barbershop and Shave Parlor, 50 S. State St., Concord, 715-5470, luckysbarbershop.biz/concord

The Polished Man, 707 Milford Road, Unit 3A, Merrimack, 718-8427, thepolishedman.com
Varnished Gentlemen’s Salon & Shave Parlor, 1019 Hanover St., Manchester, 782-8628, varnishednh.com
Dude’s Barbershop, 1328 Hooksett Road, Unit 14, Hooksett, 626-0533, dudesbarbershop.com
HomeGrown Barber Co., 18 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 818-8989, homegrownbarber.com

Best Salon

Best of the best: Blank Canvas Salon, 1F Commons Drive, No. 38, Londonderry, 818-4294, blankcanvassalon.com

Mari Lossi Hair Studio, 40 S. River Road, Unit 63, Bedford, 782-3908, marilossihairstudio.com
Cachet Beauty Lounge, 44 Bridge St., Suite 100B, Manchester, 782-8030, cachetbeautylounge.com
Salon North, 102 Bay St., Manchester, 483-3011, 102salonnorth.com
Salon Bogar, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 434-2424, salonbogar.com

Best Spa

Best of the best: Renew MediSpa, 23 Crystal Ave., Derry, 931-4345, renewmedispa.com

Pellé Medical Spa, 159 Frontage Road, Manchester, 627-7000, pellemedicalspa.com
Serendipity Day Spa, 23 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, 229-0400, serendipitydayspa.shop
Chill Spa, 1224 Hanover St., Manchester, 622-3722, chillspa.com
Innovations Salon & Spa, 228 Naticook Road, Merrimack, 880-7499, innovationsnh.com

Where They Do a Good Brow

Best of the best: Beauty Works, 123 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 275-8672, beautyworksnh.com

Renew MediSpa, 23 Crystal Ave., Derry, 931-4345, renewmedispa.com
Chill Spa, 1224 Hanover St., Manchester, 622-3722, chillspa.com
Mari Lossi Hair Studio, 40 S. River Road, Unit 63, Bedford, 782-3908, marilossihairstudio.com
Pellé Medical Spa, 159 Frontage Road, Manchester, 627-7000, pellemedicalspa.com

Where They Make your Nails Look Fabulous

Best of the best: Glossy Nails, 1 S. River Road, Bedford, 935-8383, glossynails.net

Glossy Nails, 655 S. Willow St., Manchester, 518-5557, glossynails.net
Chill Spa, 1224 Hanover St., Manchester, 622-3722, chillspa.com
Karma Nails Lounge, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd., Unit B, Merrimack, 420-8699, karmanailslounge.com
Exotic 9 Nails, 30 Crystal Ave., Suite 6, Derry, 425-7731, exotic9nails.com

Best Tattoo Shop

Best of the best: New Inkland Tattoo Co., 1358 Elm St., Suite C, Manchester, 518-7493, new-inkland-tattoo-co.business.site

Tattoo Angus, 179 Elm St., Unit C, Manchester, 935.9398, tattooangus.com, This shop is owned by Jon Thomas, the founder of the Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo, who also owns Spider-Bite Body Piercing in the same location.
Capital City Tattoo, 8 N. Main St., Concord, 224-2600, capcitytat.com
Blood Oath Tattoo, 15 Pleasant St., Concord, 227-6912, find them on Facebook @bloodoathtattoo
Underworld Tattoo Co., 282 Main St., Salem, 458-7739, find them on Facebook @underworldtattoocompany
Buzz Ink Shop, 85 Manchester St., Concord, 715-1808, buzzinkshopnh.com

Best Workout Space

Best of the best: Get Fit NH, 41 Terrill Park Drive, Suite A, Concord, 848-6138, getfitnh.com

Strive Indoor Cycling, 10 Hills Ave., Concord, 513-9464, striveindoorcycling.com
The Collective Studios, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 216-2345, thecollective-studios.com
SPENGA, 493 Amherst St., Nashua, 324-0355, nashuanh.spenga.com. A combination of spin, strength and yoga, SPENGA focuses on three 20-minute sessions of each activity.
Executive Health & Sports Center, 1 Highlander Way, Manchester, 668-4753, ehsc.com

Family Fun

Best Place to Take Your Kids

Best of the best: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org. New Hampshire’s only working museum devoted to aviation history in the Granite State features a variety of exhibits covering important people, places, events and artifacts, and has year-round programming geared toward families.

The Nest Family Cafe, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 404-2139, thenestfamilycafe.com. This Londonderry cafe, which opened in June 2022, is specially designed to cater to families with young children, with a variety of built-in amenities like a Montessori-style play area, a “treehouse” reading nook, a chalk wall, changing tables and a bottle-warming station, all in addition to a menu of coffees, teas, smoothies, baked goods, kid-friendly snack dispensers, bento boxes and more. Owners Jamie and Ryan Getchell, themselves the parents of three kids, said the idea for the business came to them following their own experiences visiting cafes and coffee shops with their kids in tow. The roughly 1,500-square-foot space includes traditional cafe seating that’s adjacent to the gated play area, designed to look like a bird’s nest.
Cowabunga’s Indoor Kids Play & Party Center, 725 Huse Road, Manchester, 935-9659, cowabungas.com
Fun City Trampoline Park, 553 Mast Road, Goffstown, 606-8807, funcitygoffstown.com
Krazy Kids Indoor Play and Party Center, 60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, 228-7529, krazykids.com

Best Outdoor Spot to Let Kids Get Out Their Energy

Best of the best: Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark. Benson Park is a 166-acre public park that opened in 2010. The former property of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a private zoo and amusement park open for much of the early half of the 20th century, the park is now a popular area 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. This park includes a walking trail that circles Dorrs Pond.
Griffin Park, 101 Range Road, Windham, 434-7016, windhamnh.gov. Amenities include a playground and basketball and tennis courts.
Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com. Opening date for the 2023 season TBA. The park offers a wide variety of attractions, including miniature golf, go-kart racing, batting cages, arcade games and more.

Best Spot for All-Ages Family Fun

Best of the best: The Nest Family Cafe, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 404-2139, thenestfamilycafe.com. This Londonderry cafe, which opened in June 2022, is designed to cater to families with young children, with a variety of built-in amenities like a Montessori-style play area, a “treehouse” reading nook, a chalk wall, changing tables and a bottle-warming station, all in addition to a menu of coffees, teas, smoothies, baked goods, kid-friendly snack dispensers, bento boxes and more. Owners Jamie and Ryan Getchell, themselves the parents of three kids, said the idea for the business came to them following their own experiences visiting cafes and coffee shops with their kids in tow. The roughly 1,500-square-foot space includes traditional cafe seating that’s adjacent to the gated play area, designed to look like a bird’s nest.

Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, 893-3506, canobie.com. Featuring more than 100 rides, games, live shows and attractions, Canobie Lake Park is expected to reopen later this spring.
Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com. Opening date for the 2023 season TBA. The park offers a wide variety of attractions, including miniature golf, go-kart racing, batting cages, arcade games and more.
Funspot, 579 Endicott St. N, Laconia, 366-4377, funspotnh.com. With more than 600 games including classic arcade cabinets, 10-pin and candlepin bowling and indoor minigolf, Funspot is the largest arcade in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org. New Hampshire’s only working museum devoted to aviation history in the Granite State features a variety of exhibits covering important people, places, events and artifacts, and features all kinds of specialty year-round programming geared toward families.

Best Restaurant for the Whole Family

Best of the best: The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com

Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
T-Bones Great American Eatery, 39 Crystal Ave., Derry, 434-3200, t-bones.com
Tucker’s, 95 S. River Road, Bedford, 413-6503, tuckersnh.com
The Red Blazer Restaurant & Pub, 72 Manchester St., Concord, 224-4101, theredblazer.com
T-Bones Great American Eatery, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 641-6100, t-bones.com

Pets

Best Dog Groomers

Best of the best: Sarah’s Paw Spa, 16 Manning St., Derry, 512-4539, find them on Facebook @sarahspawspa

Grooming at Tiffany’s, 127 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-8000, groomingattiffanys.com
Bark Now!, 237 S. Main St., Concord, 229-3700, barknow.com
Honey Dog Salon & Bakery, 501 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 674-9718, salonhoneydog.com
Hollywood Hounds Pet Spa, 250 Wallace Road, Bedford, 472-7387, hollywoodhoundsnh.com
Pawtopia Pet Grooming Salon & Boutique, 244 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 227-6140, pawtopiapets.com

Best Doggie Daycare

Best of the best: All Dogs Gym & Inn, 505 Sheffield Road, Manchester, 669-4644, alldogsgym.com

Superdogs Daycare, 637 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-1515, superdogsdaycare.com
The Barking Dog, 208 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 833-688-0745, thebarkingdog.com
American K9 Country, 336 Route 101, Amherst, 672-8448, americank9country.com
Pawquet’s Play & Stay, 302 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 216-1147, pawquetsplaystay.com
Chewie’s Playland, 472 Amherst St., No. 24, Nashua, 921-1875; 217 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 921-0745; chewiesplayland.com

Best Pet Retail Store

Best of the best: Woofmeow, 19 Manchester Road, Suite A, Derry, 965-3218, woofmeownh.com

Sandy’s Pet Food Center, 141 Old Turnpike Road, Concord, 225-1177, sandyspetfood.com
Pets Choice, 454 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-7297, petschoicenh.com
The Wholistic Pet, 341 Route 101, Bedford, 472-2273, thewholisticpet.com
State Line Pet Supply, 137 Plaistow Road (Route 125), Plaistow, 382-6873, statelinepetsupply.com

Best Place to Let Your Dog Off Leash

Best of the best: Hooksett Dog Park, 101 Merrimack St., Hooksett, 485-8471, hooksett.org. This park is open daily from 6 a.m. to dusk.

Hudson Dog Park, located inside Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov. This dog park is securely fenced in and located just inside Benson Park as you enter. It features two separate areas, large and small, for dogs to play leash-free.
Derry Dog Park, Fordway and Transfer Lane, Derry, 432-6136, derrynh.org. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, this dog park also contains a designated area for smaller dogs.
The Dam Brewhouse, 1323 Route 175, Campton, 726-4500, dambrewhouse.com. Well-behaved dogs are welcome off leash outdoors.
Dog Park at Terrill Park, Old Turnpike Road, Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. This fenced in dog park is maintained by the Pope Memorial SPCA and open daily from dawn to dusk.

Best On-leash Dog Outing

Best of the best: Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark. Benson Park is a 166-acre public park that opened in 2010. The former property of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a private zoo and amusement park open for much of the early half of the 20th century, the park is now a popular area for hiking, dog walking, fishing and picnicking.

Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. This 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.
Livingston Park, 156 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. This park includes a walking trail that circles around Dorrs Pond.
Bear Brook State Park, 61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874, nhstateparks.org. At more than 10,000 acres, this is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. There are around 40 miles of trails that run through this heavily forested park, offering a variety of options for hikers and dog walkers. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground and on the trails only — not in the beach area.
Head’s Pond Trail, off Post Road, Hooksett, 485-5322, hooksett.org. This roughly 1.5-mile trail runs adjacent to Head’s Pond in Hooksett and features mostly flat terrain.

Shopping

Best Independent Clothing or Shoe Store

Best of the best: Alec’s Shoes, 1617 Southwood Drive, Nashua, 882-6811, alecs-shoes.com

Gondwana & Divine Clothing Co., 13 N. Main St., Concord, 228-1101, gondwanaclothing.com
Joe King’s Shoe Shop, 45 N. Main St., Concord, 225-6012, joekings.com
Alapage Boutique, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 622-0550, alapageboutique.com
George’s Apparel, 675 Elm St., Manchester, 622-5441, georgesapparel.com
Kelly’s Kloset, sales are coordinated through the Facebook group “Kelly’s Kloset LLC,” with pick-ups and drop-offs based in Hooksett

Best Secondhand Store

Best of the best: Corey’s Closet, 1329 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 722-2712, coreyscloset.org

M&C Clothing and Gifts, 135 Route 101A, Amherst, 886-6727, mcclothingandgifts.com
Lilise Designer Resale, 7 N. Main St., Concord, 715-2009, liliseresale.com
Kelly’s Kloset, sales are coordinated through the Facebook group “Kelly’s Kloset LLC,” with pick-ups and drop-offs based in Hooksett
Chic Boutique Consignments, 126 S. River Road, Bedford, 935-7295, chicboutiqueconsignments.com

Best Shop for Browsing and then Spending More than You Planned

Best of the best: Manchester Craft Market, Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, manchestercraftmarket.com. This year-round gift shop features handmade items by more than 125 local artisans.

Junction 71, 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 213-5201, junction71.wixsite.com/mysite. The shop sells an eclectic mix of home decor and gifts.
The Terracotta Room, 1361 Elm St., Suite 102, Manchester, 935-8738, theterracottaroom.com. This downtown sustainable lifestyle boutique features a wide selection of botanicals as well as sustainably sourced, ethically made clothing and accessories, jewelry, beauty and wellness products, home decor and gifts.
Viking House, 19 N. Main St., Concord, 228-1198, vikinghouse.com. This European imports shop carries food, clothing and gifts from more than 10 European countries.
Deja Vu Furniture & More, 113 Hillside Ave., Londonderry, 437-5571, dejavufurniture.net. This warehouse boutique sells high-end new and used furniture, lighting fixtures and architectural pieces in a variety of styles.

Go-to Store for Making Your Outdoor Space Awesome

Best of the best: Seasonal Specialty Stores, 120 Route 101A, Amherst, 880-8471, seasonalstores.com

House by the Side of the Road, 370 Gibbons Hwy., Wilton, 654-9888, housebythesideoftheroad.com
Manchester Craft Market, Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester,manchestercraftmarket.com.This year-round gift shop features handmade items by more than 125 local artisans.
Bedford Fields Home & Garden Center, 331 Route 101, Bedford, 472-8880, bedfordfields.com
Cyr Lumber & Home Center, 39 Rockingham Road, Windham, 898-5000, cyrlumber.com
Demers Garden Center, 656 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 625-8298, demersgardencenter.com
Empire Pools & Hot Tubs, 655 Mast Road, Manchester, 668-7665, empirepoolsnh.com
Grasshoppers Garden Center, 728 River Road, New Boston, 497-5788, grasshoppersgardencenter.com

Work Life

Best Spot for a Quick but Tasty Lunch

Best of the best: Pressed Cafe, 216 S. River Road, Bedford, 606-2746, pressedcafe.com

The Bridge Cafe, 1117 Elm St., Manchester, 647-9991, thebridgecafe.net
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
Pressed Cafe, 108 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 718-1250; 3 Cotton Road, Nashua, 402-1003 (this location is drive-thru only); pressedcafe.com
The Works Cafe, 42 N. Main St., Concord, 226-1827, workscafe.com
Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 N. Main St., Concord, 410-4161, dosamigosburritos.com

Best Place for Lunch when the Boss is Buying

Best of the best: Pressed Cafe, 216 S. River Road, Bedford, 606-2746, pressedcafe.com

Pressed Cafe, 108 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 718-1250; 3 Cotton Road, Nashua, 402-1003 (this location is drive-thru only); pressedcafe.com
The Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
The Bridge Cafe, 1117 Elm St., Manchester, 647-9991, thebridgecafe.net
Pressed Cafe, 1 Artisan Drive, Salem (inside Tuscan Village), 458-5922, pressedcafe.com

Best Happy Hour Hangout

Best of the best: Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com

815 Cocktails & Provisions, 815 Elm St., Manchester, 782-8086, 815nh.com
Chuck’s BARbershop, 90 Low Ave., Concord, 856-7071, find them on Facebook @chucksbarbershopnh
New Hampshire Pizza Co., 76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, newhampshirepizzaco.com
Rambling House Food & Gathering, 57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com

Personalities

Most Inventive Chef

Best of the best: Chris Viaud, Greenleaf, 54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com

Corey Fletcher, Revival Kitchen & Bar, 11 Depot St., Concord, 715-5723, revivalkitchennh.com
Bobby Marcotte, The Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery, 58 Route 27, Raymond, 244-2431, thetuckaway.com
Rylan Hill, New Hampshire Pizza Co., 76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, newhampshirepizzaco.com
Troy Ward Jr., Troy’s Fresh Kitchen and Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com

Restaurant with the Friendliest Staff

Best of the best: Rambling House Food & Gathering, 57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com

The Nest Family Cafe, 25 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 404-2139, thenestfamilycafe.com
KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen and Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com

Butt-Kicking-est Fitness Instructor

Best of the best: Ashley Daigle (Ashley Frosher), Get Fit NH, 41 Terrill Park Drive, Suite A, Concord, 848-6138, getfitnh.com

Courtney Giddis, Strive Indoor Cycling, 10 Hills Ave., Concord, 513-9464, striveindoorcycling.com
Laura Collins, The Collective Studios, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 216-2345, thecollective-studios.com
Emily Corbin, Pure Barre, 79 S. River Road, No. 4, Bedford, 218-3817, purebarre.com
Megan Ferns, Strive Indoor Cycling, 10 Hills Ave., Concord, 513-9464, striveindoorcycling.com

Best Barber

Best of the best: Hannah Coleman, Ritual Grooming, 557 Daniel Webster Hwy., Unit 3, Merrimack, 365-4319, ritualgroomingnh.com

Emilio Risoni, Belair Beauty and Barber, 19 Nashua St., Milford, 554-1704, find them on Facebook @belairbeautyandbarber
Jesus “Zeus Cuts” Lajara, Rossi’s Barbershop, 1D Commons Drive, Londonderry, 404-3447 rossisnh.com
Benny D’Ambrosio, The Polished Man, 707 Milford Road, Unit 3A, Merrimack, 718-8427, thepolishedman.com
Kelly Smith, HomeGrown Barber Co., 18 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 818-8989, homegrownbarber.com
Rick Lindof, The Polished Man, 707 Milford Road, Unit 3A, Merrimack, 718-8427, thepolishedman.com

Best Hairstylist

Best of the best: Mari Bartalossi, Mari Lossi Hair Studio, 40 S. River Road, Unit 63, Bedford, 782-3908, marilossihairstudio.com

Katie Terrio, Cachet Beauty Lounge, 44 Bridge St., Manchester, 782-8030, cachetbeautylounge.com
Desirae Burdick, Cachet Beauty Lounge, 44 Bridge St., Manchester, 782-8030, cachetbeautylounge.com
Taylor Parker-Suprey, Blank Canvas Salon, 1F Commons Drive, No. 38, Londonderry, 818-4294, blankcanvassalon.com
Coco Lever, Blank Canvas Salon, 1F Commons Drive, No. 38, Londonderry, 818-4294, blankcanvassalon.com
Tashia Landry, Salon North, 102 Bay St., Manchester, 483-3011, 102salonnorth.com

Friendliest Dentist

Best of the best: Dr. Nicholas Rizos, 103 Riverway Place, Bedford, 669-4384, drnickdmd.com

Dr. Elizabeth Spindel, Spindel General and Cosmetic Dentistry, 862 Union St., Manchester, 669-9049, elizabethspindel.com
Doug Duval, Vanguard Dental Group, 1142 Somerville St., Manchester, 622-9225, book.vanguarddentalgroup.com
Dr. Larry Puccini, Puccini & Roberge, 505 Riverway Place, Bedford, 622-3445, pucciniroberge.com
Ray Orzechowski, 280 Pleasant St., No. 4, Concord, 228-4456, orzechowskiarndt.com

Friendliest Mechanic

Best of the best: Tony Morin at Motor-Sport Tire & Auto Repair Center, 3 Tinkham Ave., Derry, 434-1561, motorsportsderry.com

Bill Morin, Morin’s Service Station, 1091 Valley St., Manchester, 624-4427, morinsservicestation.com
Dave Keith at Sunoco, 8 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 437-6530
Dan Weed at Weed Family Automotive, 124 Storrs St., Concord, 225-7988, weedfamilyautomotive.com
Will Chestnut at Will’s Auto Service of Manchester, 720 E. Industrial Park Drive, No. 10, 222-9296, wills-auto-service-of-manchester.business.site

Best Musical Act

Best of the best: Jennifer Mitchell, 236-1015, jennifermitchellmusic.com. Also known as “JMitch,” Mitchell is a singer and instrumentalist who has been winning awards since she was in high school. Mitchell specializes in classic rock, Southern rock, today’s hits and original music.

Justin Jordan, 721-9548, find him on Facebook @justinjordanmusic. Jordan, a Manchester-based singer, bassist and acoustic guitarist, is known for his country and rock stylings. He performs solo as Justin Jordan Music, in the duo 21st and 1st, and in his band Small Town Stranded.
Recycled Percussion, recycledpercussion.com. The Laconia-based band placed third on Season 4 of America’s Got Talent, the highest for a non-vocalist group.
Nicole Knox Murphy, 339-0732, nkmsings4u.com, The country singer-songwriter has three Nashville-recorded studio albums and has won several accolades from the New Hampshire Country Music Awards. Her song “My 603” was recognized in 2020 by the New Hampshire Senate.
Kevin Horan, kevinhoranmusic.com, In addition to being a solo artist performing everything from high-energy rock to stripped down acoustic, Horan gives in-person lessons on guitar and drums and runs summer rock camps for kids ages 8 to 10 and 11 to 14 through the Merrimack Parks and Recreation department.
Brad Myrick, bradmyrick.com, A composer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer and educator, Myrick has released four albums of original music and has had multiple successful tours in the United States and Italy, as well as touring as a guitarist for singer Vinx.

Best Local Comedian

Best of the best: Juston McKinney, justonmckinney.com. With two Comedy Central specials, two Amazon Prime specials and multiple appearances on the Tonight show with both Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, McKinney has been making audiences cry with laughter across the country since he retired from his sherriff job in the late 1990s.

Bob Marley, bmarley.com. Besides holding the Guinness World Record for the longest stand-up comedy show, Marley is known for being a fairly regular presence on Sirius XM radio.
Matt Barry, mattbarrycomedy.com. Since landing third place at “Last Comix Standing” in 2015, Barry has opened for national acts including Tom Green, Gilbert Gottfried and Harland Williams.
Jay Chanoine, find him on Facebook @jay.chanoine. The Manchester-born and -raised stand-up comedian has been performing since 2009. His most recent comedy album, The Texas Chanoinesaw Massacre, reached No. 1 on the Amazon comedy chart.
Jimmy Dunn, jimmydunn.com. The actor and comedian has performed at some of the biggest events in comedy, including Denis Leary’s Comics Come Home, Montreal’s International Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Most recently, Dunn co-starred on the CBS comedy The McCarthys, as Sean McCarthy.

Living Here

Most Photo-worthy Public Spot

Best of the best: Cat Alley, Dean Ave., Manchester, orbitgroup.com/cat-alley-revival. Located between the Bookery and Wild Orchid Bakery, just off Elm Street, Cat Alley features the unique works of more than a dozen local muralists.

Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark. Benson Park is a 166-acre public park that opened in 2010. The former property of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a private zoo and amusement park open for much of the early half of the 20th century, the park is now a popular area for hiking, dog walking, fishing and picnicking.
Flume Gorge, 852 Daniel Webster Hwy., Lincoln, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/flume-gorge. This natural gorge extends 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. It’s located within Franconia Notch State Park, which was also the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain.
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.
Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, nashuanh.gov. A public city park spanning 125 acres, Greeley Park features a stage, playgrounds, picnic areas and more, and is also a popular spot for outdoor festivals.

Coolest Historical Site or Monument You Can Visit for Free

Best of the best: New Hampshire Statehouse, 107 N. Main St., Concord, nh.gov. Built between 1816 and 1819, the New Hampshire Statehouse is the oldest state capitol in which both houses of the legislature meet in their original chambers, according to a document from the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.

Robert Frost Farm Historic Site, 122 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-3091, robertfrostfarm.org. This historic site was home to acclaimed New Hampshire poet Robert Frost from 1900 to 1911. Seasonal programs are available to the public from May to October. Admission is free for New Hampshire residents 65+ and under 17; admission costs $4 for residents ages 18 to 64.
9/11 memorial at Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark. This monument was unveiled in September 2011 during a memorial service for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. One of the twin structures contains a steel beam from the elevator shaft of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. A grassy structure in the shape of a pentagon surrounds the two beams (representative of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.), and the sidewalk that leads into the memorial was shaped to represent the path of United Airlines Flight 93 before it crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Stark Park, 550 River Road, Manchester, starkpark.com. One of the first public parks to be incorporated in the Queen City, Stark Park occupies a 30-acre tract that was once the site of the Stark family farm in Manchester’s North End. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth, 433-1100, strawberybanke.org. Located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke is an authentic nearly 10-acre outdoor museum featuring several historic buildings, preservation programs and more, with an overall collection of around 30,000 artifacts. According to its website, the historic houses will reopen for tours on May 1. Though there are admission fees for the historic houses ($19.50 for adults gets you admission for two days; admission for a family of two adults and children ages 5 to 17 costs $48), veterans and active military (including the families of activie military members up to five people) receive free admission. The Museum’s StoryWalk project is free and open to the public.

Attraction Worth Visiting Again and Again

Best of the best: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org. New Hampshire’s only working museum devoted to aviation history in the Granite State features a variety of exhibits covering important people, places, events and artifacts, and features all kinds of specialty year-round programming geared toward families.

Mt. Washington Auto Road (Route 16, Gorham, mt-washington.com) and Cog Railway (thecog.com). You can get to the summit of Mt. Washington — the highest peak in the Northeast, at 6,288 feet — by driving up the Auto Road or by taking the Cog Railway. See each website for scheduling and ticket pricing details.
Flume Gorge, 852 Daniel Webster Hwy., Lincoln, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/flume-gorge. This natural gorge extends 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. It’s located within Franconia Notch State Park, which was also the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain.
Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, 893-3506, canobie.com. Featuring more than 100 rides, games, live shows and attractions, Canobie Lake Park is expected to reopen later this spring.
Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline, 673-7441, andresinstitute.org. Co-founded in 1998 by engineer Paul Andres and master sculptor John M. Weidman, the Andres Institute of Art spans more than 10 miles of trails over 140 acres and features more than 100 sculptures representing dozens of countries. Trails are open daily, from dawn to dusk.
Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org. Founded in 1929, the Currier is known for its exhibits featuring paintings, sculptures, photographs and other works from internationally renowned American and European artists.

NH Organization You’d Give $1 Million to if You Won the Lottery

New Hampshire SPCA, 104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 772-2921, nhspca.org. The oldest and largest animal shelter in the area, the New Hampshire SPCA celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022 and serves more than 120 communities across New Hampshire, southern Maine and northern Massachusetts.
Manchester Animal Shelter, 490 Dunbarton Road, Manchester, 628-3544, manchesteranimalshelter.org. For more than two decades the Manchester Animal Shelter has provided more than just homes for animals. The nonprofit has sheltered, provided medical care for and spayed or neutered more than 25,000 animals since its founding.
Families in Transition, 122 Market St., Manchester, 641-9441, fitnh.org. With headquarters in Manchester and additional locations in Concord, Dover and Wolfeboro, Families in Transition is dedicated to preventing and breaking the cycle of homelessness in New Hampshire. The organization has served thousands of individuals and families with everything from serving meals to providing emergency shelters, and holds a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, including the annual Walk Against Hunger, which returns for the 33rd year on May 21. Families in Transition also includes the Outfitters Thrift Store and Willows Treatment Center brands.
CASA of New Hampshire, 138 Coolidge Ave., Manchester, 626-4600, casanh.org. Founded in 1989, Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, is a nonprofit that recruits, trains and supports community volunteers to serve as advocates for New Hampshire children who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA volunteer advocates get to know a child and the important people in that child’s life to provide vital information to help a judge make decisions based on the child’s best interests.
Pope Memorial SPCA, 94 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 856-8756, popememorialspca.org. Pope Memorial SPCA is dedicated to protecting and advocating for abandoned and homeless pets and promoting the humane treatment of all animals. Qualified staff medically and behaviorally evaluate all animals that come through the shelter’s doors, provide necessary veterinary care and work closely with prospective adopters to create successful matches and place pets in loving homes that are committed to lifetime care.

Things We Forgot to Ask About

Best Homemade Jams and Jellies: Laurel Hill Jams & Jellies, Bedford, laurelhilljams.com. Newly owned and operated by Bedford sisters Rachel Mack and Sara Steffensmeier, Laurel Hill features more than 50 flavors of gourmet jams and jellies, made from local fruits, wines and teas — see the website for a full list on where to find them locally.
Best Dance Studio: Dimensions in Dance, 84 Myrtle St., Manchester, 668-4196, dimensionsindance.com. Founded in 1995 by Michele Leslie, a professional dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dimensions in Dance was taken over in 2007 by current director Amy Fortier, who also founded the nonprofit dance company Ballet Misha that same year. The studio offers a wide range of dance programs and classes, including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, acro, hip-hop, tap, partnering, contemporary and more.
Best Massage Therapist: Bethany J. Chabot. Chabot is a licensed massage therapist and the owner and founder of 444 Hands Innately Integrative Massage and 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. See 444hands.com for a full list of her services; new clients are by referral only.
Best Florist: Flowers by Jennifer, Manchester, flowersbyjennifer.com. A freelance floral artist based out of Manchester, Flowers by Jennifer specializes in artistic floral arrangements for special occasions and events, as well as weekly subscriptions for local businesses.
Best Cigar Shop: Twins Smoke Shop, 80 Perkins Road, Londonderry, 421-0242, twinssmokeshop.com. Twins Smoke Shop’s Londonderry location houses more than 20,000 cigars and is also home to the 7-20-4 Lounge upstairs, offering a wide range of premium tequilas, bourbons, whiskeys and more.

News & Notes 23/03/30

Outstanding service

The New Hampshire School Administrators Association has named Kearsarge Regional School District Assistant Superintendent Michael Bessette the recipient of NHSAA’s 2023 Outstanding Service Award. According to a press release, the award is given to an outstanding New Hampshire school system leader who is not a Superintendent of Schools, who works to improve district educational programs and services, contributes to workplace climate and high morale, anticipates and acts to resolve emerging problems and demonstrates professional growth and involvement. Bessette has served as Assistant Superintendent for seven years. Previously, he worked as a school administrator and principal in the Hopkinton, Timberlane and Derry school districts. “New Hampshire’s public schools offer students the critical skills, content, and competencies necessary to prepare them for college and career readiness,” Bessette said in the release. “There is nothing more professionally rewarding for me personally than to assist students seeking to achieve their educational goals.”

Cleaner air

The Nashua School District recently completed a nearly $800,000 project to install high-tech air purification systems in eight of its 17 schools. According to a press release, the district contracted with Sanalife of Tyngsborough, Mass., to upgrade the air purification systems, which use a new kind of technology to not only remove harmful pollutants and bacteria from the air but also release air-scrubbing molecules throughout a space to reduce airborne and surface contaminants. Nashua School District is one of the first school districts in New Hampshire to install this type of air quality technology in its schools.

Meals for kids

The New Hampshire House voted on March 22 to pass HB 572, a bill that would allow more New Hampshire families to qualify for their children to receive free school meals. According to a press release, eligibility requirements for families would be expanded from 130 percent of the federal poverty level to 300 percent. “No child should go hungry because of circumstances beyond their control,” Rep. Muriel Hall, prime sponsor of the bill, said in the release. “The importance of food in a child’s education is obvious. School meals play a critical role in a student’s attendance, well-being, and academic success. A healthy diet can give a child the energy to think, work and play.” The bill will now go to the Senate.

Food help

Limited-income New Hampshire residents have until April 9 to apply for the Northeast Organic Farming Association’s 2023 Farm Share Program, New Hampshire Bulletin reported. The program allows qualifying residents to access community-supported agriculture shares, commonly known as CSAs, for discounted prices across the state. NOFA-NH covers 50 percent of the cost of each farm share while the recipient contributes 25 percent and local farms donate the rest. The program has partnered with 15 farms and provided 167 shares to more than 550 community members since its inception in 2017. For more information and to apply, visit nofanh.org/farm-share-program.

More beds

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has received approval from the Executive Council on two new contracts that will expand acute inpatient mental health bed capacity in the state. According to a press release, an agreement with SolutionHealth will support the construction of a new facility in southern New Hampshire that will have 120 beds: 72 for adults, 24 for older individuals with gero-psychiatric issues and 24 for children and adolescents, voluntarily or involuntarily admitted for care. An agreement with Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital will support the construction of the first five beds in the Lebanon region designed to serve adult patients involuntarily admitted for care. “In 2019, the Department set an ambitious course to fundamentally rebuild New Hampshire’s behavioral health system,” DHHS Interim Commissioner Lori Weaver said in the release. “Together with our partners, we are building a more comprehensive, high-value, integrated system. As a result, we are making significant progress on the 10-Year Mental Health Plan and remain committed to full implementation.”

The second annual Evolution Expo will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord (70 Constitution Ave.) on Sunday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to a press release, the expo, presented by Nashua Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry and hosted by Holistic Pros, will feature 20 presentations and workshops and more than 70 exhibitors and vendors highlighting wellness, spirituality and holistic health. Admission is free with advance reservations or $10 at the door. Visit holisticnh.org/evolution-expo.

The Michael LoVerme Memorial Foundation will host its annual free computer clinic Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Merrimack Public Library (470 Daniel Webster Hwy.). According to a press release, volunteer technicians will be available to sit down with participants one-on-one to answer technology-related questions, troubleshoot a computer problem or provide training and instruction on how to use computers and technology, including Macs, PCs, tablets and mobile devices. Visit mlmf.org/events/computer-clinic to register.

The Londonderry Senior Center (535 Mammoth Road) and the Londonderry Arts Council present For the Love of Music, a new acoustic jam session featuring local musicians, with a first session Sunday, April 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. Members of the Londonderry Senior Center and Londonderry residents over age 55 are welcome to attend. “This is a great opportunity … and we hope to make this a regular event,” Ilona Arndt, Senior Affairs Director, said in a press release.

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