Category: Featured Content

News & Notes 26/05/07

Energy week

NH Energy Week continues through Friday, May 8, according to a press release from Clean Energy NH. Throughout the week, which started May 4, more than 30 in-person and virtual events are scheduled, focusing on a range of energy-related topics, the release said. Events on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, include 603 Solar for a “Solar Lunch and Learn” on May 7 in Exeter at noon; Energy Trivia at Rockingham Brewing Co. in Derry on May 7 at 6:30 p.m.; a virtual program on “How to Combat Rising Energy Costs with Solar Panels” on May 8 at 11 a.m., and “Currents of Change: Hydro & Community Power at Amoskeag” in Manchester at noon on May 8, according to nhenergyfuture.org, where you can find details on these and other events those days and register to participate. On Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Lake Region Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hold a “Love Your Earth Day” event at Veterans Square in Laconia, the website said. See cleanenergynh.org for more on Clean Energy NH.

Career Closet

Plymouth State University Student Support Foundation and Academic and Career Advising Center has opened the University’s Career Closet, a program that gives students access to business casual clothing, according to a press release. The program offers the clothes to students at no cost and will accept donations of clean, stain- and tear-free men’s and women’s blazers and jackets, dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, cardigans, suits and matching sets, professional dresses and skirts, professional shoes and accessories such as belts, ties and bags, the press release said. “Clothing donations must be scheduled prior to drop-off; appointments are available Monday through Friday. Anyone interested in scheduling a donation appointment may email career.development@plymouth.edu or call 603-535-3065,” the release said.

Fundraiser for veterans

The Pulse of NH radio stations will hold an on-air fundraiser Wednesday, May 13, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — the Veterans Count “Make 12-Hours Count Radiothon,” according to an Easterseals NH press release. The money raised during the event will support New Hampshire service members, veterans and their families, the release said. The event will broadcast on stations including “News Talk 107.3 WTPL, 98.1 WTSN, and 107.3 WEMJ” and “music stations, including Frank FM, 105.5 JYY, Country 93.3 The Wolf, and Country 95.3 & 107.1 The Wolf,” the release said. “Easterseals NH Veterans Count is joining forces with Binnie Media to present a day of programming by and about veterans to fundraise for the New Hampshire military community. Hosted by Jack Heath of Good Morning New Hampshire and broadcast legend Mike Pomp, listeners will enjoy a day filled with stories, sponsor interviews, celebrity endorsements, and dignitary spotlights,” the release said. Last year’s event raised more than $70,000 according to the press release, which said “close to 100,000 NH residents over the age of 18 are either active-duty service members, in the National Guard or military veterans.” See vetscount.org/donate-now.

Ride for a cause

Iron Legacy Motorcycle Club – Freedom Crew in partnership with American Legion Post 27 and Connor’s Climb Foundation (“an organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiatives”) will host a Charity Ride for Mental Health & Suicide Awareness on Sunday, May 17, at the American Legion Post 27 in Londonderry, according to a press release. “This community-focused event aims to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention while supporting a meaningful cause,” according to the release, which said that 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Connor’s Climb (see connorsclimb.org for more on the organization). Registration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with “kickstands up” at 11:30 a.m. Participation costs $20 per rider, $30 per rider with passenger, and $10 non-rider admission to the party, which will feature food, a cash bar, raffles and more, the release said. Contact abarilone0405@gmail.com for more information.

Twilight tour

The Currier Museum of Art is selling raffle tickets for a private Twilight Tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses for up to six people featuring drinks and light bites, according to currier.org. Tickets cost $100 each and only 150 will be sold, the website said. A winner will be drawn on May 15 and proceeds will go to the Currier’s Annual Fund, according to the website, where you can purchase a ticket.

Evening at the village

The Canterbury Shaker Village will hold “Simply Shaker,” a fundraiser, on Thursday, June 25, starting at 5 p.m., according to shakers.org, where you can purchase tickets. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, live music, an opportunity “to experience traditional printing methods and to create a handmade souvenir,” dinner and a presentation about the Meeting House preservation project and the Village’s new summer internship program, the website said.

Night at camp

The New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough will host its fundraiser, “Night at the Museum: Up to Camp,” on Friday, June 5, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The event is a tribute to New Hampshire youth camps and will feature “camp-themed cuisine with a modern twist” as well as dancing, auctions and more, the release said. Guests are encouraged to wear camp-inspired attire, the release said. Tickets cost $150; see nhbm.org.

Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth will hold Springfest: A Celebration of Gardens and Baby Animals on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will feature animals, artisan vendors, sheep shearing demonstrations, hands-on activities, food trucks and a bake-off of Portsmouth orange cakes on Sunday, according to strawberybanke.org, where you can purchase tickets.

Families in Transition will hold its Walk Against Hunger on Sunday, May 17, starting at noon in Veterans Park in Manchester, according to fitnh.org, where you can register to participate in the 2.5-mile loop and find details about the after-party.

The NH Humanities Council and the New Boston Historical Society will host a program on “African American Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire During the American Revolution” with speaker Glenn Knoblock on Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at the New Boston Community Church, 2 Meetinghouse Hill Road, according to newbostonhistoricalsociety.com.

Keith O’Brien will be at Balin Books in Nashua on Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. to discuss his new book Heartland, about the life of Larry Bird and his “unlikely rise from a struggling small-town life in Indiana to college basketball stardom,” according to balinbooks.com.

Downtown sounds

Concord First Friday 2026 unveils six months of music

The rich music scene in Concord will be on display through early November, with the help of a local musician who’s also a local business owner. Eric Reingold was inspired to volunteer for the monthly First Friday series after catching one of its events last year.

Sensing an opportunity to add his expertise to the mix, he reached out to Intown Concord, the organization behind First Friday, Market Days and other downtown events. Reingold has worked with Intown for many years, both as the owner of Endicott Furniture on Main Street, and as a performer in acts like JamAntics, Up and People Skills. Stressing the many hats he wears, Reingold offered his services.

“I’m basically a full-time musician, I know all the bands around here, I run sound, and I can put on a huge festival with equipment I’ve accumulated over the years,” he told them. “By way of shortening the story, they were like, ‘Well, if you think you can do it, why don’t you?’”

That was last summer, and he’s been booking bands since, assembling a lineup that serves as a love letter to the Capital City’s music community.

“I have seen every single one of these bands,” Reingold said. “My opinion is that the music in Concord is incredible. There’s so much good talent here that I’ve been both lucky to be part of and also just experience.”

On May 1, the inaugural First Friday of 2026 will offer live music on two stages. In Bicentennial Square, RGB Trio will kick things off at 4 p.m., followed by Chasing Ghosts from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Over at City Plaza, near the capitol building, Wandering Souls take the stage at 4 p.m.

RGB Trio consists of drummer Ryan King, Gary Smith on bass and a unique eight-string guitar, and singer/guitarist Bob Dwyer. They’re booked at this year’s Strange Creek Campout and are a favorite at Penuche’s and other local night spots. They mix originals and eclectic covers ranging from Phish to Hendrix.

Chasing Ghosts is a young, high-energy ’90s cover band out of Henniker whose drummer once stepped in last-minute for one of Reingold’s own gigs without knowing any of the songs.

“He was a real trooper; it was kind of a legendary move,” he recalled. “They’re young and fresh. They haven’t kicked around too much yet.”

With a setlist touching on the ’90s pop side with songs like Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me,” Wandering Souls is 10-member band that also hosts a weekly jam session at Christ the King Church. “They’ve been supporting Intown Concord for a long time,” Reingold said. “So it was important to continue using them.”

Upcoming in June are Kyle Erickson, Ashborne and Trade, one of two bands including guitarist Scott Solsky that are part of the series. The latter is organ-forward trio J3ST, on a jam-forward Sept. 4 quadruple bill with Supernothing, Bosey Joe and Superbug.

In deference to Intown’s citywide multi-stage street festival running June 27 through June 29, there’s no July event. “I think that’s kind of their big break,” Reingold said. “It’s kind of a mini-vacation after Market Days because they’re so straight out during that weekend.”

August’s First Friday welcomes the return of Senie Hunt, a local favorite who relocated to Tennessee a few years back but comes back every summer for local dates. Celtic rockers Rebel Collective join Hunt on the Bicentennial Stage, while a band of local doctors called No Copay play from 4 to 8 in City Plaza.

In October, Reingold does double duty, performing both in his band Up and with his old JamAntics mate in Lucas Gallo & the Guise.

“Intown told me I could play as much as I wanted, but I didn’t want to abuse my position, especially because I know so many bands that are better than I am around here,” he said. “But it was important to get my ‘Guise’ up there.”

Heather Smith & the Constants and Robin Gaming round out October’s First Friday, with Lee & Dr. G and Andrew North & the Rangers along with Martha Hubbard in November. Reingold’s overall goal is to reinforce downtown Concord as a go-to hotspot: “Cool and inviting to the locals, but also people that want to visit.”

Concord First Friday Music
When: Friday, May 1
Where: Bicentennial Square – RGB Trio, 4 p.m., Chasing Ghosts, 6:15 p.m. / City Plaza – Wandering Souls, 4 p.m.
Full schedule: firstfridayconcord.com

Featured photo: Chasing Ghosts. Courtesy photo.

Food trucks on Friday

Concord’s First Fridays kick off another season

Beginning Friday, May 1, Main Street in Concord will host a celebration on the first Friday of every month until November.

“Except July,” Berit Brown said. “We’re skipping July, because the first Friday falls right on the Fourth of July, and that would be a little too intense.”

Brown is the events and marketing manager for InTown Concord, the nonprofit organization that sponsors First Friday events as well as other celebrations, like Concord’s Winter Festival, Market Days, Halloween Howl and a holiday celebration in December called Midnight Merriment. First Fridays feature live entertainment and special activities, and downtown businesses stay open until 8 p.m. Art galleries open late with special viewings, wine and cheese, and so on. And, of course, there are food trucks.

Brown said food trucks are a natural fit for First Fridays.

“It’s a good way for somebody to kind of try out their food truck idea,” she said. “They can test out menu items and see what people respond to the best and do it on a much lower budget than opening a brick and mortar restaurant. For a lot of the food trucks that we work with, [First Fridays] are their first forays into selling their food. A lot of their stories are pretty similar. They tell us that family members and friends have always said that they’re good cooks and then they end up opening a food truck. For a lot of them First Fridays in Concord are their first ever food truck experience.”

The food trucks offer the public a variety of types of food to choose from on any given First Friday, Brown said.

“It’s definitely a nice vibe while you’re waiting for your food. You’re able to listen to live music on City Plaza. We’ve actually expanded the number of food trucks,” she said. “Last year we were doing two per event, and this time our goal is to have three to four per First Friday. We’ve definitely opened it up a little bit more and we’ve also tried to find a balance between sweet and savory foods. So you can get a cupcake or a brownie, and you can also get a hot dog or a hamburger.”

“We have a new vendor this year who’s coming in November and they are a gluten-free food truck,” she said. “We have Teenie Wienies, who serve sausage sandwiches. I love their food. They’re fantastic. They have the largest sausage sandwiches you’ve ever seen. This year they’re actually coming to the October First Friday, so they’ll be serving Oktoberfest-inspired sandwiches. I think some of the first events that they ever did were at our First Fridays and they kind of were able to troubleshoot and see how much sausage they needed to bring to different events. And now they’re permanently stationed at one of the breweries around town.” See page 22 for a look at the music planned for First Fridays.

First Friday
The first First Friday of 2026 will take place along Main Street in Concord on Friday, May 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. The theme will be “Petals and Pedals.” The food trucks will be Carly’s Kitchen (a mobile bakery), New Hampshah’s Mini Donuts, and Stacy’s Grill, which will serve hamburgers, hot dogs and other grilled favorites. Visit firstfridayconcord.com/may.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Teenie Wienies food truck.

Plant-based May

The Vegan Chef Challenge returns to Manchester

During the month of May a number of Manchester restaurants will compete in the 2026 Vegan Chef Challenge. Each restaurant will feature one or more vegan dishes on its menu. These might be existing dishes or new experimental dishes developed for the competition. Customers will vote on which dishes stand out the most. Similar competitions take place in cities across the country.

Joan O’Brien is the president of the New Hampshire Animal Rights League, the group organizing Manchester’s Vegan Chef Challenge. She said last year’s Challenge, the first in Manchester, was an eye-opener for the city’s restaurant community.

“Last year was the inaugural challenge,” she said. “It was very successful. It was fun. It brought in a new customer base for the participating restaurants.” Even now, a year later, several of last year’s participating restaurants still have last year’s vegan dishes on their menus, she said. “That was the goal, to bring more vegan options to Manchester and show people that the food can be delicious, and the fact that they kept some of these dishes on their menus is proof of that, that there’s actually a demand for it. It’s been really, really good feedback.”

“[The Vegan Chef Challenge] is an event that was created by a national organization called Vegan Outreach,” O’Brien said, “and their goal is to raise awareness around vegan lifestyle. They host these challenges in cities across the country, including Manchester. The overall winner, the best overall in Manchester was Stashbox. They had a miso-glazed avocado dish, and their cashew cream gnocchi was outstanding. I’ve been looking through some of the things that diners said last year, and people said things like, ‘Delicious!’ and ‘We wouldn’t know it was vegan. I’m not someone who eats vegan. This is the best gnocchi I’ve ever had.’ — comments like that.”

The 2025 Vegan Chef Challenge in Manchester was a bit of a revelation for the city’s restaurant community, O’Brien said — first, that there is a demand for plant-based dishes, even in a traditionally food-conservative state like New Hampshire.

“I can’t confirm it yet,” O’Brien said, but I know that Manchester is attracting more young people, more young professionals, and those people are usually looking for healthier food, and more inventive, creative food.” The success of last year’s challenge is an indication of a change in Manchester’s food culture, O’Brien said, showing that Manchester can participate on a level with much bigger, more cosmopolitan cities in other parts of the country.

Another lesson O’Brien has taken from the success of last year’s Challenge is that a non-confrontational exposure to vegan cuisine is a gentle and persuasive way to change people’s conception of vegan food.

“I think that the whole [vegan] movement is realizing, is learning that most of us were not born vegan,” she said. “So you have to be welcoming and not judge people. And sometimes what happens is when people realize that they can still get delicious, satisfying food that happens to be meat-free, then they’re open to considering the other benefits of a vegan lifestyle. People have a lot of things in their lives that they’re trying to get done, and to think that, ‘Ugh! Now I have to change my whole diet!’ is daunting.”

“May will be a big month for going out to eat, for Mother’s Day and graduations,” O’Brien said. “So we do hope that those people who are going out will visit the participating restaurants, try some of these vegan offerings and see that we have some new players, some very talented chefs.”

2026 Vegan Chef Challenge
Manchester’s Vegan Chef Challenge will take place throughout May. For a list of participating restaurants, visit veganchefchallenge.org/manchester.

Featured photo: Jeremy Hart, co-owner of Stashbox, last year’s overall winner of the Vegan Chef Challenge, with his trophy, the coveted Golden Spatula.

Tequila and community

Arts Alley hosts a celebration of agave

The tequila-themed event, called Agave in the Alley, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown Concord.

“We’re very excited about our event on Friday,” Jen Abou Raad said. “We’re hosting a pre-Cinco de Mayo party on Friday, in our courtyard.” Abou Raad is the Director of Sales & Programming for Arts Alley, an event space on Main Street in Concord.

“We’ll have 20+ tequila vendors there who will be handing out samples,” Abou Raad said. “[Attendees will] get a memorable collective glass to use for the sampling. Tickets include three tacos as well, that people will be able to redeem out of the diner space. We’ll have a fun DJ who will spin Latin-style music. There will be a photo booth set up, which is going to be awesome, and we have some giveaways and swag and all the fun stuff.”

Abou Raad said the courtyard space at Arts Alley, which opened last August, was designed to host events like Agave in the Alley.

“[The designers of the space] wanted it to be a multi-purposeful space,” she said. “The goal was to create a space for people to come and gather and just hang out and enjoy their time together out in the summertime in the open air. The vision was to be a community-focused spot. We find the space works really well for a variety of different events. We’ve had some dance parties out there. We have people rent the space for birthday parties. Now that the weather’s been nicer again, we can put it to more use. It’s very multi-purposeful and it’s just a really relaxed chill vibe down there. The courtyard’s like a little oasis back there that people don’t even realize is there.”

This will be one of the first vendor-centered events that Arts Alley has held there. Abou Raad said Friday’s event will give tequila fans a chance to compare and contrast different brands and labels of tequila and mezcal in a way that might be difficult to do under other circumstances. “We have a nice mix [of tequila companies],” she said. “Obviously, everyone’s heard of Patron, but we also have smaller brands like Chica Chida, which is really popping up right now, G4, Ocho, Tapatio, Lost Lore, Casa Azul, Ghost, and a bunch more. We have a really nice variety, with brands you’ve heard of, but also brands you haven’t heard of, which we want to show off. Different vendors across the state will be able to represent their brands that they’ve worked so hard on.”

For extremely serious tequila fans there will be a VIP package available, Abou Raad said. “It gets you early entry into the event. You get some premium samples from the vendors. The vendors will also be giving out a swag bag for the VIP ticket holders. And then regular GA holders, it’s from 7 to 9 [p.m.]. And they still, of course, get to come and do the sampling, but without a swag bag. And premium samples are for the VIPs. These are just a little bit of a higher end, maybe a tequila that they haven’t even put on the shelves yet. Something a little special.”

Arts Alley has reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Comfort Inn, Abou Raad said.

“On our website, there is a link, if anyone did want to secure a room and kind of make it a fun night in downtown Concord. We offer a discounted rate, so there is that option as well. We want to make sure people can enjoy their time and do it responsibly too.”

Agave in the Alley
When: Friday, May 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. (VIP ticket-holders can enter at 6 p.m.)
Where: Arts Alley, 20 S. Main St., Concord, 406-5666, artsalleyconcordnh.com
Tickets are available through the Arts Alley website at artsalleyconcordnh.com/event/agave-in-the-alley. General admission tickets are $50. VIP tickets are $90. Tickets at the door will be $20.

Featured photo: Courtyard. Courtesy photo.

Lambs, lathes and lumberjacks

Lots to see and do at the NH Farm, Forest & Garden Expo

Kelly Bryer is the manager of the New Hampshire Farm, Forest & Garden Expo taking place Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at the Deerfield fairgrounds. She said the yearly Expo has changed considerably over the past several years.

“We’re in our 43rd year,” she said. “It’s put on by three agencies: the UNH Extension, the New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands, and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. We were in Manchester for 40 years, as a winter event. Then, three years ago, we moved out to the Deerfield fairgrounds in the spring, and the Expo is a whole new animal now.”

“Now,” she said, “we pretty much take over an entire end of the Deerfield fairgrounds. We’ve got tractors that will be running. We’ve got running sawmills. We’ll have a team of oxen running lumber between the sawmills — it’s a really cool thing. We have free horse-drawn wagon rides. There’s a barn space for the animals. There’s an open exhibition space. … We bring in a lot of partners to hold their events within our bigger event. The Dark Horse Lumberjack Show will go off on Friday. We’ll have the Wildlife Heritage Foundation’s ‘Forever Locked’ display there — that’s the two big taxidermied moose that are engaged in battle.”

Each exhibit or demonstration at the Farm, Forest & Garden Expo will be centered around New Hampshire’s agriculture, Bryer said, from general themes to very specific topics.

“For instance,” she said, “Concord Tractor is doing [a presentation] about safe loading of tractors, which is really fascinating. … We’ll have a chainsaw maintenance and sharpening workshop. We’ll have cider making for kids and maple sugaring for beginners. Averill House Vineyard is coming to talk about growing grapes and vine management.”

“[The Department of Transportation] will have their big trucks there. We’ll have lots of different types of machinery. Kids can sit on the tractors. We have a ‘Playpen’ running so you can actually try out a tractor,” she said.

The Expo will also showcase larger issues in modern agriculture, Bryer said. “Another really popular session that always fills up quickly is the homestead food rules, so if you want to make and sell your own products.”

Other organizations will make presentations of different rural skills, Bryer said. “We have demonstrators coming in. We have rug braiders and some spinners and some chair caners who will be coming in. The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers will put on some demonstrations, and they’ll have an opportunity for people to join in. There will be beekeepers. And they usually bring bees with them.”

“We are jam-packed,” she said.

The New Hampshire Farm, Forest & Garden Expo
When: Friday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Deerfield Fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road, Deerfield, 463-7421.
Tickets will be on sale at Gate E. Admission is $10 per person, free for children 12 and younger. Visit nhfarmandforestexpo.org.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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