Teen wellness program at Currier Museum of Art aims to create connections through art
On Monday, Jan. 22, the Currier Museum of Art’s free Creative Connections teen program will begin its winter session, which will run on Mondays through Feb. 12 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
“We actually began this program in 2020,” said Corie Lyford, the manager of art and wellness programs. “The thought was, ‘What can we provide for teens, especially at that time while they [are] at home, that can help with the anxiety that they’re experiencing around the closures and … everything that was happening in society at the time?’ We found it to be really successful. … Our main goals are really about that personal creative development, finding ways of finding creative expression and relationship building.”
Over the course of the program, which began happening in person in 2021, teens will create an open-ended project, drawing from the galleries as inspiration, primarily the Currier’s current exhibition by Saya Woolfalk, ‘Heart of a Museum.’
“They are going to look at how she did this world-building and how she created something where she was inspired by some of our permanent collection here at the Currier,” Lyford said. “They’ll be learning about the exhibition and … about the artist and then taking that idea of being inspired by something here at the collection and taking that in the direction they choose.”
Each session will begin with time in the gallery for tours to learn about the exhibitions. Then participants will have the chance to share what they see with each other. Afterward they will move to the studio to start brainstorming ideas for their project that they will build upon in the subsequent weeks.
“Once they’ve gone through some sketches and … [had] some discussion, they’ll get to the next steps of those creative processes,” Lyford said. “They’ll think about media and they’ll start working with what they choose, so that might be paint, that might be something else. … Our instructor will be there to support them in that to figure out what supplies they’re going to want to use, how they [can] best use them and how they can collaborate with each other, share ideas and create something really wonderful.”
Lyford says wellness means creating a sense of community. Through this program, she hopes teens build relationships with one another while finding respite and relaxation as well as a creative outlet.
“I hope that we have teens who find new ways to express themselves creatively, and I really do hope that they find tools that they can continue to use in their own lives,” Lyford said. “I also hope for [them] to learn something about themselves through the art that makes them want to come back. … When we run Creative Connections again in the spring, it’ll be a whole new curriculum, and so we do hope for teens to engage with us again.”
Creative Connections for teens When: Mondays, Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Where: Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, currier.org
Featured photo: Creative Connections at the Currier Museum of Art. Courtesy photo.
Find a new wine and more fun for the first month of 2024
Holidays and vacations over, weather uncertain and frequently gray, bills due — January can feel like a bit of a letdown after the hoopla of December. But there are oodles of fun things to look forward to during the first month of 2024. Need a reason to get excited about the forthcoming month? Here are 57 of them.
1. We’ll get snow! Or maybe we won’t! This winter, the excitement is in the not-knowing. Experts at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said there is “considerable uncertainty” in the region’s winter outlook, with equal chances for above-, below- or near-normal precipitation. Adding an interesting twist, El Niño years are traditionally associated with increased snowfall; however, with a warmer winter on the horizon, the expected flurry of snowflakes might turn into raindrops. So embrace the element of surprise as we step into a season that could be filled with snowy adventures or cozy rainy days.
2. Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic comes to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com, 644-5000) for seven shows Thursday, Jan. 4, through Sunday, Jan. 7. Tickets cost $23 through $103. See disneyonice.com for images from the show.
3. The Greatest Love of All, a tribute to Whitney Houston with Belinda Davis, comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $53.75 to $79.75. The show is just one of the tribute shows coming to the Cap Center this month: Get the Led Out plays Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. and Dirty Deeds (the AC/DC Experience) plays Friday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord) catch Being Petty (a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Experience) on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. and The Rock and Roll Playhouse: The Music of Tom Petty for Kids on Sunday, Jan. 14, at noon.
4. Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road in Brookline; averillhousevineyard.com) hosts a Fire Tower Winter Wonderland Wine Tasting Experience on Fridays through Sundays with different time slots available to reserve. You’ll enjoy a private, outdoor tasting of four different wines around pellet stoves with a view of the vineyard. Each ticket ($59) accounts for two adults and each additional person will cost $15 for a maximum of eight people. Children under 13 are free and pets are also welcome if on a leash. There is also the option of reserving an igloo or gazebo. Also at Averill House Vineyard is the Vine to Wine Igloo & Gazebo Experience & Wine Pairing on Mondays and Wednesdays through Sundays throughout January. Private Norwegian-themed igloos for two adults and one guest include a manager and tasting associate to serve you, theme lighting, music, a charcuterie board with meat, nuts, cheese and crackers, wine tasting of four wines per person and complimentary parking. Gazebos include all of this as well as a fireplace and fluffy living room. Tickets are $100, which accounts for two people, and can be purchased via eventbrite.
5.Recycled Percussion wraps up its run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) with shows Friday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 7, at 3 and 7 p.m. Find Michael Witthaus’s interview with Justin Spencer in the Nov. 8 issue of the Hippo (e-edition is at hippopress.com).
6. Rivier University Raiders ice hockey will see its next home game at Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive in Nashua) on Friday, Jan. 5, when the women’s team takes on Potsdam at 8 p.m. (they also face Potsdam on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 7:10 p.m.). The women’s team has two additional home games this month. The men’s team next plays at Conway on Tuesday, Jan. 9, when they take on Potsdam at 7:10 p.m. The men’s team has two additional home games in January. See rivierathletics.com.
7. Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437- 5100, tupelomusichall.com) will feature several tribute shows this January: Captain Fantastic (playing music including songs of Elton John) on Friday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.; Eaglemania on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m.; Boogie Wonder Band (playing disco hits) on Friday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m.; Beatle Juice (Beatles songs) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. and The The Band Band (playing a celebration of The Last Waltz from The Band) on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.
8. Catch comedy most weekends at Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Manchester (707 Huse Road) and Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.). This weekend see Steve Bjork in Manchester on Friday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8:30 p.m. and Will Noonan in Nashua on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20.
9. The Contoocook Farmers Market offers live music from the NH Music Collective (on Saturday, Jan. 6, it’s Mikey G) as well as locally made treats, produce, soaps and more. (A post from December showed Batulo’s Kitchen serving its meat and veggie hand pies.) Find them at the Maple Street School (194 Maple St. in Contoocook) on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through April.
10. Cheer Saint Anselm Hawks basketball on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road on Saint Anselm College campus in Manchester). The women’s team plays Adelphi at 1:30 p.m. and the men’s team plays Adelphi at 3:30 p.m. Tickets to either game cost $10 (kids 5 and under get in free to regular season games) and are available for purchase starting one hour ahead of game time at the Gymnasium ticket booth. Each team has four additional home games in January; see saintanselmhawks.com for the schedule.
11. You can also catch Saint Anselm Hawks ice hockey at home — Sullivan Arena on the college campus — this month. The men’s team will next play at home on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. versus Anna Maria College. The women’s team’s next home game is Friday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. versus Long Island University. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the ticket booth one hour ahead of game time. See saintanselmhawks.com.
12. See electric violinist Mia Asano and bagpiper/multi-instrumentalist Ally the Piper when Mia X Ally play Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437- 5100, tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40; for an additional $75 attend a VIP meet and greet after the show.
13. Pats Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road, Henniker) is lighting up Saturday nights with its POP (Pay One Price) tickets, available through the end of the season in 2024. The POP offer includes skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, rentals and lesson tips, with prices varying by time of entry: $99 for 4 to 10 p.m.; $89 for 5 to 10 p.m;, and $79 for 6 to10 p.m. Lesson tips are offered from 4 to 6 p.m., and snow tubing runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Groups of 15 or more can receive discounts with advance reservations. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit patspeak.com.
14. Lace up those sneakers and go for a run with the 2024Freeze Your Buns 5K Series run by the Gate City Striders on a relatively flat low-traffic path that kicks off on the road between Conway Arena and Nashua YMCA on five Sundays over the next three months at 9 a.m., starting Sunday, Jan. 7. The cost to join is $20 ($12 for 17 and under); see gatecity.org/freeze-buns-5k-series for details and to register.
15. Find your fixings for Sunday dinner at the Salem NH Farmers Market, which runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and through April is at the LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111), according to salemnhfarmersmarket.org where you can find a list of vendors.
16. The Pizzastock Battle of the Bands 2024 comes to the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) on Sunday, Jan. 7. Doors open at noon. The show will feature Glue, Tree Streets and Porcelain Jumpsuit, special guest Sotah and hosts Cozy Throne, according to the Tupelo website, where you can purchase the $20 tickets. Pizzastock is a production of the Jason R. Flood Memorial, which seeks to raise awareness about mental health; see pizzastock.org.
17. The Golden Globes will air Sunday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+ with comedian Jo Koy hosting. Looking for a list of 2023 films worth catching, you could do worse than checking out the nominees at goldenglobes.com/nominations/2024.
18. The next home game for Rivier University Raiders basketball is Monday, Jan. 8, at 4 p.m. when the men’s team takes on Lesley University at Muldoon Fitness Center (440 Main St. in Nashua). The women’s next home game is Saturday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. versus Saint Joseph. The men’s team has seven additional home games in January; the women’s team has five. See rivierathletics.com.
19. If holiday carols reminded you how much you like singing, audition for theNew Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church (508 Union St. in Manchester). New singers are asked to stay for rehearsal from 7 to 9:30 p.m, according to nhgmc.com, where you can find details about auditioning. The chorus seeks singers who are men over the age of 18 (who are gay, straight and male-identifying), the website said. The chorus will have a spring concert series “Putting it All Together” in May.
SNHU Penmen Basketball, Courtesy photo.
20. Southern New Hampshire University Penmen basketball has its next home games Wednesday, Jan. 10, when the women’s team plays at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s team at 7:30 p.m., both against American International College. The games take place at Stan Spiro Field House (at the Southern New Hampshire University campus, 2500 River Road in Manchester); regular season games are free to attend. Both teams have two additional home games in January. See snhupenmen.com.
21. Consider roller derby at Granite State Roller Derby’s recruitment night on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Concord YMCA (15 N. State St. in Concord). The program is the first night of a skating boot camp open to all levels of experience. See granitestaterollerderby.org.
22. Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard will be the final performance at the current location of the Hatbox Theatre at Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord. See the show Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and stay tuned to hatboxnh.com for updates on the theater’s search for a new venue. Tickets to the Jan. 10 show cost $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors.
23. Southern New Hampshire University Penmen men’s ice hockey has its next home game at The Ice Den Arena (600 Quality Drive in Hooksett) on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7:40 p.m. versus SUNY Potsdam. The team has two additional home games this January; see snhupenmen.com.
24. Crotched Mountain (615 Francestown Road, Bennington) is set to host the Over the Moon Rail Jam on Friday, Jan. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. This no-cost event invites skiers and riders to showcase their talents with competitive divisions for Under-13, 14 to 17, Adult Male Skiers, Adult Male Riders, Adult Female Skiers and Adult Female Riders. Registration begins at 6 p.m. at the ATC deck, followed by a practice session, final course prep and the main event. Prizes will be awarded at 8:15 p.m. on the ATC deck. While entry is free, a valid pass or lift ticket is required, with mandatory helmets and signed waivers. Call 588-3668 or visit crotchedmtn.com.
25. Get some Satisfaction, The International Rolling Stones Show on Friday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu, 641-7700). Tickets cost $45.
26. Friday Night Comedy at the Rex will feature Corey Rodrigues and Maya Manion on Friday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $25.
27. Get some locally made cheese or bread, locally grown meat or produce — and of course look for some tasty baked treats at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market which runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at 7 Eagle Square. Find live music from the NH Music Collective (see the schedule at nhmusiccollective.com for a look at who will be playing on Saturday, Jan. 13). Find a list of vendors and more at downtownconcordwinterfarmersmarket.com.
28. Catch The British Invasion, an evening of music from the bands of the mid-1960s, at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469) on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20.
29. Symphony NH and the Spartan Drum & Bugle Corps will present Brass to the Max on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua) — a concert that promises to be loud (ear plugs will be offered) and is described as a “high-octane performance of brass and percussion favorites.” Tickets cost $10 to $63. See symphonynh.org.
NH Symphony presents Brass to the Max. Courtesy photo.
30. Headliners Comedy Club’s weekly shows at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester continue on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8:30 p.m. with comedian Steve Bjork and others. Tickets cost $20. Find a complete lineup of upcoming shows at headlinersnh.com.
31. Run in the HPM Insurance Snowflake Shuffle, a 3-mile race in Bedford, on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 9:30 a.m. Registration costs $35 ($30 for under 21). See millenniumrunning.com.
32. Marek Bennett, author of graphic novels such as the The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby series and The Most Costly Journey, presents “Drawing Community: Creating Comics from Shared Stories,” on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. at Tucker Free Library (31 Western Ave., Henniker, 428-3471) and again Saturday, Jan. 20, at 9:45 a.m. at Peterborough Town Library (2 Concord St., Peterborough, 924-8040). See nhhumanities.org.
33. Culinary Playground (16 Manning St. in Derry; culinary-playground.com), a recreational culinary school in Derry, has plenty of classes planned for January, including new additions and popular favorites, like the single-day Intro to the Mediterranean Diet on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 4 p.m. led by a registered dietitian. On Jan. 28 their three-class artisan bread series begins, in which students will learn the fundamentals and techniques of bread making and baking through the crafting of a wheat sandwich loaf, a boule, an olive rosemary loaf, a cranberry walnut loaf and a sourdough.
34. Learn about the wines of the Rhone and Loire valleys in France at Wine on Main (9 N. Main St. in Concord; wineonmainnh.com, 897-5828) on Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. or Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Taste wine from six bottles, accompanied by light snacks. The cost is $35 per person.
35. The Educational Theatre Collaborative at Plymouth State University will present GypsyWednesday, Jan. 17, through Sunday, Jan. 21, with shows Wednesday through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Flying Monkey (39 S. Main St. in Plymouth; flyingmonkeynh.com, 536-2551). Tickets cost $25 to $38.
36. LaBelle Winery (labellewinery.com) can teach you how to make a cozy soup (Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Derry location, 14 Route 111) or warm you up with a five-course whiskey dinner (Friday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Amherst location, 345 Route 101). Go online to sign up for these and other LaBelle events.
37. Dancing Queens, billed as the Ultimate ABBA and Disco Tribute, opens Friday, Jan. 19, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, plus Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 to $49.
38. Spend an Evening with TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds, Dave Matthews’ collaborator, on Friday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $39 to $49.
39. Saturday, Jan. 20, (the third Saturday in January) is one of two annual Free Fishing Days in New Hampshire. Residents and non-residents can fish in any inland water or saltwater in New Hampshire without a fishing license (though season dates and bag limits are still in effect), according to wildlife.nh.gov, where you can find details about the day and getting a fishing license if you get (sorry, not sorry) hooked on the sport.
40. McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester) presents the Mac Parks Rail Jam on Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 4 p.m. Test your skills in the terrain park with a chance to win prizes. Registration is $25, including a lift ticket and two runs, with a discounted rate of $15 for season pass holders. Competitive age categories include under-12, 13 to 17, 18 to 29, and 30+. On-site registration opens at 11 a.m., closing 15 minutes before the event. Helmets are required. For details and to secure your spot visit mcintyreskiarea.com.
41. Author Joseph Carrabis will hold a workshop called “Write Your History, Change Your Life” on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m. at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com). The event is free; register online to save a spot.
Terrain Park at McIntyre Ski Area. Courtesy
42. Celebrate the best of local theater when the 19th New Hampshire Theatre Awards are handed out on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $45. See nhtheatrealliance.org.
43. Hear the music of Springsteen played live when Bruce in the USA comes to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $29 through $59.
44. The 21+ show Life’s a Drag, described as a fiercely hilarious drag show, comes to Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 9 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets to this approximately two-hour show cost $25 (plus fees).
45. The Last Command (1928), a silent film starring Emil Jannings, who won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor for his role, will screen with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St., Wilton, wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456). See silentfilmlivemusic.blogspot.com for more on the film.
46. See Bobby Rush with the Eric Lindner Band opening on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $43.75 to $63.75.
47. Enjoy some wine and learn to curate the cheeses, salame and other treats to create a charcuterie board at Vine 32 Wine and Graze Bar (25 South River Road, Unit 107, in Bedford; vinethirtytwo.com) on Monday, Jan 22, at 6:15 p.m. The class costs $125 (plus fees) and includes local NH charcuterie products for the boards, a New Hampshire-made 20-inch wooden serving board to keep, a $10 wine card and samples during the class, according to the website where you can register.
48. Nominations for the 96th Annual Oscars (which will air on Sunday, March 10) will be announced Tuesday, Jan. 23; the announcement is usually around 8 or 8:30 a.m. Until then, check out the short list of nominee contenders in categories such as documentary feature, international feature, music and sound categories, shorts and more. See oscars.org.
49. Lloyd Sederer, a Concord author and a doctor, will discuss his book Caught in the Crosshairs of American Healthcare, described as “an inspiring true story of how a small group of dedicated leaders achieved radical and relentless change to save McLean, Harvard’s historic psychiatric hospital,” at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m.
50. After you see the feature film musical (slated for release Wednesday, Jan. 17), see the Palace Youth Theatre’s take on Mean Girls Jr. with performers in grades 2 through 12, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15.
51. The Black Ice Pond Hockey Festival and Tournament begins with youth hockey night on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. in White Park in Concord, with games starting at 6 p.m. and a heated spectator tent and concessions. The event continues with games and special events through Sunday, Jan. 28, all in White Park — activities include fireworks on Friday evening, bonfires on Friday and Saturday and public skate on Friday, according to blackicepondhockey.com where you can find the complete schedule and get updates.
Led Zeppelin. Courtesy photo.
52. Find a new wine — specifically, a malbec at WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; 204-5569, winenotboutique.com) which will hold a blind tasting of seven malbec wines on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. The cost to attend is $40 (plus fees) and the wines will be served with cheeses, salami and chocolate, the website said.
53. Drum Tao, a show with costumes and staging centered on Japanese Taiko drums, will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $44 through $76. See drum-tao.com/en for a look at the performance.
54. Concord NH Winterfest takes place Friday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 28, with events including the Art & Bloom show and Concord Garden Club show at Kimball Jenkins Estates (opening reception is Thursday, Jan. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m.); ice carvings on the Statehouse lawn; food trucks and vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and a Winterfest Family Dance Party with Mr. Aaron at the Bank of NH Stage on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. See all the details at intownconcord.org.
55. See Lez Zeppelin, the all-girl tribute to Led Zeppelin, on Friday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. at Angel City Music Hall (179 Elm St. in Manchester; angelcitymusichall.com). Tickets to this 21+ show cost $25.
56. The Majestic Academy (majestictheatre.net) will present Footloose — Youth Edition at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) on Friday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 27, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 to $15.
57. Get some laughs at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437- 5100, tupelomusichall.com) monthly comedy night, this month on Friday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. and featuring comedians Kenny Rogerson, Jody Sloane and David Lamb. Tickets cost $22.
58. Get some local produce at the Milford NH Indoor Farmers Market which runs Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Milford Town Hall Auditorium (One Union Square). The market runs five Saturdays through early March; the other markets are Jan. 13, Feb, 10, Feb. 24, and March 9. See milfordnhfarmersmarket.com.
59. Jeanne Dietsch, former New Hampshire senator from Peterborough, will discuss her report New Hampshire: Battleground in the Fight to Dismantle Democracyat Balin Books (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St., in Nashua; balinbooks.com, 417-7981) on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m.
60. Sing your heart out at Rockstar Karaoke on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Admission to this 18+ show is free; sign up to sing on a first come, first served basis.
61. It’s a night of metal at Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819- 9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) with Pyrexia, Immortal Suffering, Goreality, Necronomichist, and Maidenhead on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25.
62. Celebrate 85 years of the yellow brick road, ruby slippers and flying monkeys at a screening of The Wizard of Oz(1939) presented by Fathom Events. Catch the movie Sunday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. at AMC Londonderry, Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem, O’neil Cinemas in Epping and Regal Fox Run in Newington and also at 7 p.m. at AMC Londonderry and Regal Fox Run; on Monday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at all of those theaters and on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at AMC Londonderry, Cinemark and Regal Fox Run.
63. See the professional dance company Step Afrika! on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com, where you can see videos of the company’s performances). The show is part of the William H. Gile Concert Series, so tickets are free, but go online to reserve seats.
In the aftermath of a massive storm system on Dec. 18, 2023, which brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to New Hampshire, both the state’s Congressional delegation and the Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) have requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to a press release, the New Hampshire Congressional delegation, led by Sens. Jean Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell expressing their support for the affected local communities. The storm resulted in extensive road closures, infrastructure damage and home destructions in northern New Hampshire, leading to the rescue of some residents by National Guard helicopters. The delegation urges FEMA to be prepared to conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments in collaboration with state and local officials, should the state request it, especially as impending snowfall could complicate the assessment of the full extent of the damage. On the state level, the HSEM, on behalf of Gov. Chris Sununu, initiated joint Preliminary Damage Assessments with FEMA to document the impact on communities, which is crucial for securing federal disaster relief funds. HSEM had nine teams visiting affected communities to assess initial damage estimates, working closely with communities to determine whether they meet the state threshold of $2.53 million in damages.
Food help
NH Hunger Solutions and other anti-hunger advocates plan to attend a public hearing in Concord on Jan. 3 for SB499, the Hunger Free NH Act. According to a press release, this bipartisan legislation, led by Sen. Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) and introduced for the 2024 session, aims to address food insecurity in New Hampshire. Key objectives of the act include increasing participation in Federal Nutrition Programs (FNPs), removing administrative barriers for accessing these programs and improving participation in School Breakfast and Summer Meals programs. The act also focuses on making it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to access food and nutrition benefits.”Our food and nutrition support system is designed to work like a power grid that can move healthy food to communities and households — the problem is that the grid is well-powered in some areas and patchy or even non-existent in others,” Executive Director of NH Hunger Solutions Laura Milliken said in the release. “At the same time, rising costs of goods, housing and child care are straining household budgets. For many, it is increasingly difficult to meet basic needs.” Milliken noted that over half of New Hampshire children and 46 percent of adults live in households with insufficient food as of Oct. 30. “The Hunger Free NH Act will connect more Granite Staters with nutritious food and bolster our food support system in NH,” she said.
Historic registry
The Bald Peak Colony Club in Moultonborough has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a notable example of a rural country club from the 1920s, according to a press release. Located with views of Lake Winnipesaukee and surrounded by the Belknap and Ossipee mountain ranges, the club was founded in 1921. It stands out as one of New Hampshire’s most preserved historic golf clubs, featuring 93 contributing buildings, sites and structures that maintain the Colonial Revival architectural style. The club’s facilities include a symmetrical clubhouse, early cottages near the clubhouse, a variety of recreational buildings, and an 18-hole golf course that has kept its original layout since 1919. The listing on the National Register, administered by the National Park Service, recognizes the property’s historical significance without imposing new restrictions on it. It also makes the property eligible for certain state grants aimed at conservation and heritage investment.
Corrections training
The New Hampshire Department of Corrections has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire (NAMI NH) for a training initiative funded by a grant from the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs. According to a press release, this collaboration aims to equip all corrections staff with specialized skills through programs like Building a Trauma-Responsive Correctional Setting and Crisis Intervention Training, with a focus on application in correctional environments. This move comes after a significant number of individuals were referred for behavioral and substance use services upon booking, highlighting the need for enhanced staff training. The initiative, starting in Fiscal Year 2025, seeks to improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals with mental illness and support corrections staff in managing complex issues within the criminal justice system.
Pembroke received approval from the NH Public Utilities Commission to proceed with the Pembroke Community Power Energy Aggregation Plan, set to launch on March 1, 2024. According to a press release, the plan aims to provide residents and businesses with more affordable and cleaner electricity. Residents will receive information letters starting Jan. 22, detailing the benefits and explaining how to participate or opt out of Pembroke Community Power. The Pembroke Energy Committee will hold an informational public meeting on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pembroke Academy auditorium.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has announced the closure of the temporary E-ZPass Walk-In Center (WIC) at Exit 16 on the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16) in Rochester, according to a press release. The center, which was set up to assist travelers in transitioning to the All-Electronic-Toll (AET) system implemented in September 2023, will cease operations permanently on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. Walk-In Centers in Concord, Nashua and Portsmouth will continue to serve the public from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Upper Room, a family resource center in Derry, is launching a six-week series titled “Is This Crossing The Line?” to educate teen women on boundary setting, consent, sexting and personal confidence. According to a press release, the free program will run Mondays, Jan. 22 through March 4, from 3 to 4 p.m. Sessions will be facilitated by Valerie Mazzola, LICSW, from Clear Balance Counseling, to provoke insightful discussions among participants about maintaining healthy relationships. Attendance for all six sessions is required for participants. To register, call 437-8477.
When Dawes steps on the Music Hall stage Dec.30, it will be only their fourth appearance in the Granite State, and their first in almost five years. Taylor Goldsmith, Dawes guitarist, lead singer and main songwriter, hopes the night-before-New Year’s Eve scheduling will add to the impetus for locals to check them out.
“I’m very excited for that; I mean, obviously, it’s good to get back to anywhere we haven’t been for a while,” Goldsmith said by phone from his home in Altadena, California. “I feel like everything is kind of shut down that week, and no one ever has anything to do. So I’m kind of eager to see how that feels.”
Goldsmith is a creature of the road.
“When I’m standing still, I seem to disappear,” he wrote over a decade ago in “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” but these days that notion is tempered by new fatherhood. With his wife, This Is Us actress Mandy Moore, he has two sons; Gus, born February 2021, and Ozzie, who arrived in October of last year.
“Back in the day it was, ‘How do we stay on tour, how do we not keep a house at home?,’ and now it’s, ‘How do I make these tours as fast as possible?’” he said. “I definitely feel like an essential part of myself … only comes to life on stages [and] I’ve never had the inclination of, ‘maybe I’d like to step away from this’ — I just need to be a little more strategic. Because when I’m away from the guys, even the first hour hurts really bad.”
The change has impacted his songwriting — up to a point.
“My world is so much smaller, and that is cool; I think it’s something to be embraced rather than rejected,” he said, while noting that he’s not keen on writing an entire album about being a dad. “Even though that’s very much what I think about and deal with on a minute-to-minute basis, I definitely have to make sure that I’m thinking outside of that.”
That said, his worldview has shifted.
“When I was young … those Jackson Browne songs about heartache were all I wanted to hear,” he said. “That’s not my experience now, and it’s a little harder for me to jump into that place. Now I want to hear observations on culture, politics … the existential crisis that goes beyond romance.”
With fewer and longer songs, Dawes’ most recent album, Misadventures of Doomscroller, was a departure. Musically adventurous, it was recorded following a tour backing Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh. More than a few likened it to so-called jam bands, but for Goldsmith it really wasn’t that at all.
“We went in with an objective and more or less accomplished it,” he said, adding that it was different from past albums where plans for a certain mood — more ballads, a softer sound for instance — were waylaid. “I like that the record tells us what it is rather than the other way around, more or less. But with Misadventures, it was like, let’s go for one of those five or six songs, yet 45-minute, albums, like so many rock ’n’ roll bands that we love.”
Goldsmith shrugged off the label given to them by some critics. “There are bands that deserve the moniker but don’t have it,” like Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, he said. “I don’t see us as a jam band in the same way that I see the Grateful Dead…. I almost feel like that’s more of a cultural observation [that] has more to do with who shows up than what we’re doing on stage.”
Missing from the upcoming show will be founding member Wylie Gelber, who left the band last year to focus on his handmade guitar company, and keyboard player Lee Pardini, who announced his departure earlier this month.
“Things change, and I’m excited in a way about embracing this newer identity,” Goldsmith said.
It’s an interesting response from someone who wrote, “I hope all your favorite bands stay together” a while back.
“Well, people have said that to me before … so much for that,” he replied. “That song is more about the REMs and the Replacements, bands that truly are not playing shows … there’s heartbreak there. Dawes is on tour … I’m singing these songs, Griffin’s playing the drums. We were there on Day 1, and we’re still here. I think that is still the thing worth celebrating that that song tries to speak to.”
Considering the many facets of the cinematic landscape in 2023
Barbie is my favorite movie of 2023.
Why pretend otherwise? It’s solid gold (solid pink gold) all the way to its core, with excellent performances, writing, casting, camera work, production design and use of music. It has great details happening in every shot. It excellently captures the toy element of the Barbie world, from the way people move (that Margot Robie sideways flop when she sits down despondently is perfect) to how extremely secondary Ken is in kid Barbie play. I rewatched Barbie recently (it’s available for rent and purchase and streaming on Max) and caught little moments that I don’t think I did the first time. I also gained a new appreciation for the absolutely knockout performance by Ryan Gosling; if ever Oscar wants to award a comedic (at least, on the surface) performance, this would be the one. Watch it — watch it and be impressed that Greta Gerwig could get this all done and put so much of her own sensibility in a toy tie-in movie.
As much as 2023 is the year of Barbie and as much as a Barbie is a movie I’m certain I’ll watch again, probably before we even make it to this March’s Oscar ceremony, which better have some serious Barbie representation among the nominees, that wasn’t the only delightful, gleeful memorable movie watching experience I had this year. I speak, of course, of Slotherhouse, a Hulu movie about a killer sloth. No, let me back up, Slotherhouse is a mostly (at least for its first two-thirds) played-straight movie about sorority house drama where some of the sorority sisters mysteriously disappear and also a sloth adopted by one of the girls is giddily murderous. I described the sloth, named Alpha, in my review thusly: “Alpha is a little shy of standard teddy bear size and has a ‘sloth puppet stretched over Teddy Ruxpin frame’ look.” This movie perfectly balances tone and it is an absolute blast.
What else is worth a mention from 2023?
• Movie is absolutely, wonderfully, as advertised: Part of what is great about Slotherhouse is that it is exactly what you think it is and it does that — that being sorority-sister-murdering sloth — perfectly. And, I will take that over half-assed execution of Serious Film That Wants to Say Something any day. (Is it unfair to put Oppenheimer, now available for rent or purchase, in that latter category? You watch and decide; I thought it was well-made but also, just, sigh, eyeroll, OK, movie, calm down.)Other movies that do well with a goofy, as-stated concept include Plane (rent or purchase and streaming on Starz), the Gerard Butler movie about action on and related to an airplane. Sometimes Butler is doing “plane” (he says stuff like “thrust” and “landing gear”), and sometimes he is off the plane fighting bad guys in order to save the plane passengers. Sink into this dumb movie like a comfortable chair and enjoy how little thought it requires of you.
Also in this category: Cocaine Bear (rent, purchase and on Prime Video). As is stated by Alden Ehrenreich’s character in the trailer “the bear, it did cocaine.” Elizabeth Banks masterfully directs this movie where, yeah, there are some side plots about drug dealers and a cop and forest rangers and some kids cutting school, but mostly a bear does cocaine and chases people. Adults like the late Ray Liotta and Margo Martindale and Keri Russell show up and have an absolute blast.
• Horror and comedy — two great tastes that taste great together: That you might hurt yourself laughing is the scariest element of nominal horror movie Slotherhouse. But several movies this year proved that comedy and horror work great together. The Blackening (rent, purchase and streaming on Starz) features a group of friends spending Juneteenth weekend together and finding themselves the target of both systematic racism and a murderous psycho. Leave the World Behind (Netflix) is not as big in its comedy but you can’t convince me that comedy isn’t largely what it’s doing in this seemingly cool psychological thriller about, maybe, the end of the world? Totally Killer (Prime Video) takes a modern teenager (played by Kiernan Shipka) back to 1987 to the Halloween when her mother’s high school friends were murdered — and back to her mother as a teenage Heathers-esque jerk. From the Gen Z shock at the “Hooters waitress”-like gym uniforms to the perfect fringed white jacket Shipka wears, the movie is a hoot. Of course, the blend of absurdity and horror this year truly belongs to M3gan (rent, purchase and on Prime Video), the early-year release about a kid-sized robot doll and the horrors of same. This movie seems to hate technology and have no redeemable characters and I enjoyed both of those aspects. As I said in my review: “When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I probably thought something like ‘ugh, what ridiculous nonsense.’ After seeing it, though, my reaction is ‘What ridiculous nonsense! 10 out of 10! Four stars! No notes!’”
• The freshest popcorn: It was not a banner year for sequels, in my opinion. I left movies like Magic Mike’s Last Dance (rent, purchase, Hulu and Max) andCreed III (rent, purchase, Prime Video, Sling, Philo and, ha, MGM+) feeling like they were fine, a notch above OK, but not quite up to the standards of their predecessors. I had warmer feelings toward John Wick: Chapter 4 (rent, purchase and Starz), TheEqualizer 3 (rent or purchase) and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (rent or purchase), both of which deliver rollercoaster fun even if they aren’t the standouts of their series. My favorite of the sequel-franchise outings from this year is probably The Marvels (still in theaters; the internet predicts February as when it will land on Disney+). The Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel-focused series Ms. Marvel is the only one of those Disney+ Marvel TV shows I’ve been able to bring myself to watch all episodes of and I loved it. Though this movie, a sequel to the story of Capt. Marvel/Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and a movie introduction to adult Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), didn’t have as much Kamala and the Khans as the show, we do still get her excellent mother Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff) and we get these three women working together and learning how to be part of a team. Carol and Kamala also have some of that Tony Stark and Peter Parker mentor/mentee energy, which is cute. And there are some nice weird moments that make this feel like more than just another interlocking piece of the MCU (unlike this year’s Ant Man and Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which I found to be a slog — they’re both on Disney+ if you want to see for yourself).
• “I am the fury”: The hands down best action-packed, save-the-day movie I saw this year was not part of a major franchise but it was part of what I think of as the Nida Manzoor cinematic universe. Manzoor is the creator of the excellent TV show We Are Lady Parts (worth the price of a month of Peacock, where you can find all six episodes of the so-far sole season; it is also available for purchase). She also wrote and directed this year’s Polite Society (rent, purchase and Prime Video). Would-be stuntwoman teenage Ria (Priya Kansara) is horrified when her big sister Lena (Ritu Arya) seems to be putting aside her art to settle for a marriage to a too-perfect Salim (Akshay Khanna), son of the suspicious (but awesome in her evilness!) Raheela (Nimra Bucha).
• “Let me be normal and regular like everybody else”: There is a spectacular triple feature to be had in Barbie, Polite Society and, to kick it off, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (rent, purchase and Starz). This excellent adaptation of the Judy Blume classic features three strong performances in three stories of characters finding their way — Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) dealing with being 12 in a new school and the horrors of “your changing body” along with big questions about religion; her mom Barbara (Rachel McAdams) trying to figure out her place as the mom of an older kid and as a newly stay-at-home mom, and Margaret’s grandma/Barbara’s mother-in-law Sylvia (Kathy Bates), whose family is no longer in the city and who has to reconstruct her life for herself. Strong work all the way around, from the acting to the story adaptation.
• “You are so not invited…”: Honorable mention in the “taking tween/young teen girls and their feelings seriously” category goes toYou Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah(Netflix), starring Adam Sandler and his real-life daughters Sadie and Sunny. The way this comedy portrays the highs and lows of 13-year-old girl friendships is smart and funny and — triggering? Let’s just say it left me very happy to be decades away from 13.
• Animated: When I made my Vulture Movie Fantasy League picks (vulture.com; Joe Reid of This Had Oscar Buzz runs it and it’s great fun), I found myself struggling to limit my animated films. I personally loved Nimona (Netflix), a plucky adventure with a sophisticated heart about what makes a hero and what makes a monster. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (rent, purchase and Paramount+) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse(rent, purchase and Netflix) both feature solid storytelling and eye-catching animation that play with the visuals of their respective comic book origins. My kids loved Trolls Band Together (in theaters and available for purchase) because they love all loud, bright Trolls content and they cracked up at Leo (Netflix), the Adam Sandler-starring/co-written weird but sweet animated tale of a classroom pet lizard.
• Big Important Movies: There are a fair number of Big Important Movies from the end-of-the-year rush that I haven’t caught up with yet, either because I haven’t had the nearly three hours (looking at you, Napoleon, which is still in theaters but, honestly, I’m waiting for its Apple TV+ debut in the hopefully near future) or because they only recently became available locally (Wonka, Poor Things, The Color Purple, Ferrari, ha Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom — all in theaters now) or on streaming (Maestro and Nyad on Netflix). But, if you’re looking for some serious fil-uhm, may I recommendThe Holdovers (in theaters and available for purchase), a bittersweet Alexander Payne-directed dramady starring Paul Giamatti as a seemingly unlikeable professor at a boys prep school in 1970s New England. Da’Vine Joy Randolph gives an excellent performance as a grieving mother in this “found family at Christmas” tale. Asteroid City(rent, purchase and Prime Video) is an extremely Wes Anderson Wes Anderson movie, all typewriters and rotary dial phones, that folds a stage play into a teleplay into, I don’t know, a music box of melancholy. The more I think about Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla(rent or purchase) the more impressed I am about what she’s saying about the 14-year-old girl who is pulled into Elvis Presley’s orbit. Flora and Son(Apple TV+), another movie from Once and Begin Again writer-director John Carney, is a delightful movie about a mom and teenage son working through their own life stuff and their difficult relationship with each other by making music (it is way less corny than that sounds).
My favorite of the Big Deal movies in 2023 — after Barbie, which I’d put up against auteur production — might be Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon (rent and purchase). This is not a perfect movie; it has its issues in structure, in focus and in how it tries to compensate for the struggle between the most compelling character (Lily Gladstone’s Molly) and the central characters (played by screen charisma runner-ups Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro). But Gladstone’s performance is one of the year’s best and when she’s on the screen the movie holds your attention absolutely.
2024, maybe, at the movies With all the usual caveats about movie schedules being as unsettled as weather predictions at this point, here are some of the 2024 films I’m excited about:
Mean Girls (Jan. 12) The film adaptation of the stage musical adapted from the 2004 movie was “meh” to me until I saw the trailer; now I’m excited (and for the return of Tim Meadows and Tina Fey in their original parts, along with the addition of gym teacher Jon Hamm). Lisa Frankenstein (Feb. 9) It’s a new Diablo Cody-penned movie! Dune: Part Two (March 1) I guess I’ll be seeing this one — which is hopefully as visually dazzling as the Part One — on the big screen. Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 8) Always good to have a reliable kid movie during the cabin fever part of winter. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (April 12) These movies have thus far been fun.
We asked some local food experts to talk about their year in food.
While she has been baking all her life, 2023 marked two years in the bakery business for Lindsey Bangs of I Whisked It, specializing in custom cakes, cupcakes and cake jars as well as hot chocolate bombs with homemade marshmallows for the winter season. Here’s how the year went for her.
What was the most delicious thing you made in 2023?
That has to be my apple cider doughnut cake! [This was] the biggest experiment/surprise of the year for me. It is an apple cider doughnut flavored cake, coated in cinnamon sugar with layers of apple filling and cinnamon buttercream. I knew it would be good but I had no idea how good! It’s everything I love about cider doughnuts in the fall but in flavor-packed cake form.
What was the most delicious dish or meal you had from another New Hampshire food business in 2023?
The Kang Luang from Daw Kun Thai in Manchester, which is a chicken curry dish with pineapple. It is always so fresh, filling without being heavy and is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy for me!
What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
My husband and I are planning a vacation for 2024 and I’m looking forward to trying new meals and desserts. Whenever we travel I always find inspiration to bring home and incorporate into my cakes.
Ann Marie Baril of Pastry Dream cooks up individual-size pastries with flavors like ginger spice cake, lemon raspberry, chocolate peanut butter, cheesecake and more. Here’s what Baril has been up to this year and what plans she has for the new year.
What was the most delicious thing you made in 2023?
We transformed our original Chocolate Dream by topping with chopped pecans and coconut. Really yummy.
What was the most delicious dish or meal you had from another New Hampshire food business in 2023?
My delicious meal was at the Sea Ketch in Hampton. The view is spectacular and the clam chowder, scallops and clams were perfect for a birthday dinner.
What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
We are looking forward to working with local caterers to provide our delicious desserts for functions, parties and special events.
With an ever-changing menu, Kerry Fay isalways cooking up something new in Kerry’s Culinary Creations & Curb Appeal Meals Food Truck — with tacos, paninis and sliders being staples — and 2023 was no exception.
What was the most delicious thing you made in 2023?
The one most delicious thing I made is a hard choice. I guess my favorites were probably the items that weren’t as common on my regular menu. Most people in the kitchen will tell you that eating the same things, no matter how delicious they are, will get boring after a while. So my tops for this past year, in no particular order, [are] falafel taco made young green chickpeas, tahini sauce [and] Asian coleslaw; chili lime butter shrimp taco with avocado sauce, cotija cheese and slaw; and gnocchi stuffed with Asiago cheese in a cream sauce with roasted shallots, roasted butternut squash topped with bacon and shaved Parmesan.
What was the most delicious dish or meal you had from another New Hampshire food business in 2023?
The most delicious thing I had from another food place is also difficult, as I have several places [and] things I love. [One is] brisket from Up in Your Grill food truck. [It’s] tender and dry-rubbed [and] yummy! [I] hate it when it’s still chewy or when it completely disintegrates, [and] this stuff is spot on. [I] also love the bibimbap from Street in Portsmouth. This is such a satisfying meal with your choice of protein and all the perfectly cooked veggies, and their house-made gochujang sauce is outstanding. Kume sushi in Seabrook, Kashmir Indian in Salem, pretzel bread and delicious burger at Sawbelly in Exeter, wings and beer at Smuttynose in Hampton [are] also my go-to places.
What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
What I’m looking forward to most in 2024 is slowing down a little bit and having more time outdoors and with friends and family.
In 2022 Abbey Morrison transitioned her meal prep business into Fresh Chef Press, a cafe on Canal Street in Manchester, along with her friend Shauri Gilo-Oquendo, with the intention of making food that is as nutritious as it is delicious. Here’s what Morrison had to say about Fresh Chef Press’s second year in business.
What was the most delicious thing you made in 2023?
Our Cherry Garcia smoothie we had launched in February as our monthly special was hands down the best thing we created this year. The special was planned to end March 1; however, customers loved the smoothie so much they ordered it all the way into May until we finally put a stop to it, allowing our other monthly specials to shine. The Cherry Garcia smoothie was eye-appealing, nutritious, flavorful and nostalgic all in one sip.
What was the most delicious dish or meal you had from another New Hampshire food business in 2023?
The best meal we had from another New Hampshire food business in 2023 came from Campo Enoteca. Their Pistachio Pesto entree with local cream and homemade tagliatelle is to die for. We love that the dish is made farm to table (similar to what we represent). The dish provides a mouth-watering effect, leaving you wanting more with each bite. We haven’t come across anything else like it!
What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
In 2024 we are looking forward to expanding our menu and opening our consumers’ palates, providing both a nutritious and delicious experience.
Food in 2024 Here are some events to look out for in early 2024.
