Of all the words Carolyn Plummer might use to describe herself, “lucky” isn’t one. As a teenager Plummer won a pair of Grateful Dead passes, only to see the show canceled when Jerry Garcia died. In early 2020, she had the best spring of her comedy career lined up, and everyone knows how that turned out.
Quarantine led to a lot of soul-searching, Plummer said in a recent phone interview.
“I reassessed my whole life,” she said. “Like, why am I doing comedy? Should I have focused on a career? Should I have been a teacher?” Then, in February of this year, Denis Leary called with an invitation for Plummer to appear at the annual Comics Come Home benefit.
“That re-energized me to feel like I was on the right path,” she said. “Now I have a deeper appreciation for live shows and performing. I look at every performance now as an opportunity to meet more people and network and just enjoy it. … There’s a lot of sacrifice, but that kind of just brought everything full circle, that all the sacrifices made sense.”
Of course, the Nov. 13 Boston Garden show has been postponed for another year, but Plummer knows she’ll be on the next one. That’s a more tangible thing to hold on to than that Dead contest back when.
“They were will-call,” she said of the Boston Garden concert. “So I didn’t even have the tickets.”
A few comics mined the pandemic for new jokes, but not Plummer.
“I wasn’t very creative at the beginning. … My whole life just changed; it took a while to work through. I did a few things about contactless delivery; I don’t know why we didn’t have that in the past. I don’t need to have a relationship with the guy bringing the pizza to my house.”
A New Hampshire native — she grew up in Wolfeboro, a minister’s daughter — Plummer got into comedy after responding to an ad.
“This guy was teaching a class out of his mom’s condo in Manchester,” she said, adding with a chuckle, “That seemed safe to me at the time.”
It turned out well, and after a summer of learning, she began hitting open mic nights, eventually spending a lot of time in Portland, Maine.
“I met all the Boston guys; they would come up and do comedy,” she said. “I would watch them and go, ‘Wow, these guys are awesome’ — you know what I mean? Like Don Gavin, and all the greats: Lenny Clarke, Tony V….”
A big early break was the result of misfortune for Plummer.
“True story: On my 30th birthday, I got laid off,” she said. “Kelly MacFarland is one of my best friends, and she’s also a comic. She said, ‘I just met these guys, and they need another roommate, why don’t you go talk to them, and if it works out, move in there?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, I don’t have a job.’ She said, ‘That’s the best time to go.’ I ended up moving back to Belmont, Mass., which I could never afford if I wasn’t in a roommate situation. … It kind of took off from there.”
While she’s performed in New York City, ventured to California for the Burbank Comedy Festival and even thought about moving west once or twice, Plummer is partial to living in and working in New England, particularly her home state.
“What I like about New Hampshire is it surprises you,” she said. “You might go to this tiny town in the middle of nowhere and have all these highly educated people that you’d think wouldn’t be living in the woods, fixing cars, being lumberjacks, and all this other stuff. You can’t make assumptions like that. … All the different towns are different.”
Carolyn Plummer & Friends
When: Friday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Where: Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester Tickets: $25 at palacetheatre.org
Featured photo: Comedian Carolyn Plummer. Courtesy photo.
A present-day young woman with a romantic view of 1960s London suddenly finds herself traveling there nightly in Last Night in Soho, a not-the-best but not-the-worst ghosty story from director Edgar Wright.
Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) loves 1960s London fashion and the 1960s music her grandmother Peggy (Rita Tushingham) listens to. Stories of London are also tied up in Eloise’s mom (Aimee Cassettari), who died by suicide when Eloise was little but whom Eloise still appears to communicate with, such as when Eloise sees her smiling mother just before Peggy brings Eloise the letter saying she’s been accepted into a London fashion school.
Peggy doesn’t know that Eloise is still seeing her mom, but she she worries that the stress of the big city will get to Eloise. Eloise does get a little freaked out when the taxi driver’s chatter gets a little too friendly and she doesn’t quite fit in with her roommate at the school dorm, Jocasta (Synnove Karlsen), who instantly establishes herself as a queen bee.
When Eloise sees an ad for a studio apartment, she decides to move out on her own and is, at first, delighted by the space. In addition to an in-the-thick-of-things location, the apartment gives Eloise a psychic connection to a young woman who lived there decades earlier. When Eloise goes to sleep, she finds herself entering the life of Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy), a blonde with ambitions to be a singer. She goes to swanky clubs, wearing beautiful clothes, and she meets Jack (Matt Smith), a handsome man who offers to help her get gigs. Eloise is quickly enamored with this new life, even if it is somebody else’s that she’s sort of virtual-reality-ing her way into. In the waking world, she buys herself a coat like Sandie’s at a vintage shop, starts designing a dress for a class similar to one of Sandie’s cocktail dresses and even gets Sandie’s haircut. Some of Sandie’s flirting abilities even rub off on Eloise, who is slowly making a friend in classmate John (Michael Ajao).
But then Eloise sees some darker scenes from Sandie’s life and starts to wonder if all of these “ghosts” really are in the past or if there are dangers that have carried into the present — and if a mysterious older man (Terence Stamp) who hangs out at the bar where Eloise works is one of those dangers.
Many of the elements of Last Night in Soho are extremely fun — from Eloise’s whole 1960s mod thing (which reminded me of the 1990s swing revival) to everything about the catty Jocasta character. I like the relationship Eloise has with whatever her abilities are — she just sort of accepts that she is seeing ghosts, but she doesn’t entirely know yet how to interpret what she’s seeing. This character could have seemed extremely daffy and fragile but McKenzie makes her seem more just uncertain and sheltered but also aware of her naivete.
The movie also has a delightful-to-see supporting character, which I won’t spoil except to say I was both happy to get to spend time with this person and then sad when I realized it might be the last new role I see that person in.
Other elements of Last Night in Soho feel underbaked. Sandie’s story builds to high drama, but then it resolves sort of too fast. Am I saying I wished the movie had been longer? No? But maybe added to and then edited down again, with some of the choppier bits of the story smoothed out. B-
Rated R for bloody violence, sexual content, language, brief drug material and brief graphic nudity, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Edgar Wright with a screenplay by Edgar Wright & Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Last Night in Soho is an hour and 56 minutes long and distributed by Focus Features.
Army of Thieves (TV-MA)
A group of quirky criminals attempts to crack three of the toughest safes ever created in Army of Thieves, a prequel to Army of the Dead focused on Matthias Schweighöfer’s Dieter.
In this movie, the zombie apocalypse has only just begun in Las Vegas, so while Dieter is worried about zombies and even having nightmares about them, he’s still working his boring job in an idyllic-seeming German town and eating his sad work sandwich under a tiny awning in an alleyway. Then he meets Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel), who has watched his YouTube videos about safe-cracking and believes he just might have the ability to tackle the safes built decades earlier by a man named Hans Wagner. Like the Gotterdammerung, the safe Dieter faces in Army of the Dead, Wagner built three other safes named after parts of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. These safes are supposed to be impossible to crack and if someone tries and fails, the safe is supposed to lock forever.
Gwendoline wants to hit all three safes, which are set to be decommissioned soon. Tens of millions of dollars await all the members of the team if they succeed; those members include hacker Korina (Ruby O. Fee), getaway driver Rolph (Guz Khan) and muscle/crazy guy/Gwendoline’s boyfriend Brad Cage (Stuart Martin). But for Gwendoline and for Dieter, the real prize is in being about to meet the challenge of Wagner’s creations.
For Interpol agent Delacroix (Jonathan Cohen), his grand challenge is finding and catching Gwendoline. He quickly realizes that her plan is to go after all the safes and he is determined to catch her in the act — even though, as his fellow agents point out, there’s this whole zombie apocalypse thing, which might arguably be a bigger deal.
Maybe having absolutely no expectations for this thing after the “good ideas but long and sort of scattered” Army of the Dead helped because I kind of enjoyed this. Not loved it, not “wheeeee!” the whole time, just had some fun, some of the time. As this movie itself points out, the machinations of a heist in a heist movie, with its sleight of hand and misdirection and wigs, is always fun and we get a couple of examples of those in this movie. I also enjoyed the group dynamic. Everybody on this team is some kind of oddball and portrayed as such but with a light touch. Dieter is an excellent “talented dork” character, having gained his criminally useful safe-cracking skills from a love of puzzles and a childhood spent as an outsider.
The performances here also bring a good energy to this endeavor, which is peppy despite an over two-hour runtime. Emmanuel is the movie’s big star; I know her mostly from supporting roles on Game of Thrones and in the Fast and Furious movies but here she shows her ability to really carry off the blend of action, humor and general bad-assery that is needed for an action movie lead. Surely there’s some spy thing, some Marvel movie that can capitalize on this.
Army of Thieves feels like a perfect “let’s just watch something fun” movie that doesn’t require too much attention or brain power and delivers a reasonably good time. B-
RatedTV-MA. Directed by Matthias Schweighöfer with a screenplay by Shay Hatten, Army of Thieves is two hours and nine minutes long and is available on Netflix.
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (R)
A young woman makes a documentary about her search for her biological mother in Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, a universe expansion sidequel/reboot thing.
It also took me a minute to remember that the intentional documentary as setup for a horror film was the premise of 1999’s The Blair Witch Project, not 2007’s original Paranormal Activity, which was largely home video camera footage. Here, Margot (Emily Bader) and her friend Chris (Roland Buck III) are making a documentary about an Amish family that she believes is related to her. Margot was adopted and all she initially knows about her birth mother comes from some hospital security footage showing her leaving baby Margot in a doorway. Now, 25-ish Margot has found Samuel (Henry Ayres-Brown), a 20-something Amish man that 23andMe says is related to her. Samuel, living apart from his family during his rumspringa, agrees to meet up with Margot and travel with Margot and Chris to the Baylor family farm, where Margot can learn more about her mother. The film team is joined by Dale (Dan Lippert), a big doofy sound guy, and a van loaded with equipment.
At first the family, represented by Jacob (Tom Nowicki), who we eventually learn is Margot’s biological grandfather, doesn’t want these outsiders hanging around. But he decides to let them stay and Margot and Chris try to uncover more about Margot’s mother from the fairly tight-lipped community. But along with the usual cultural differences between these filmmaker kids and the Amish farmers, Margot and Chris start to notice oddities — a middle-of-the-night meeting of torch-carrying farmers, odd noises from the supposedly uninhabited attic — that hint at something spookier.
At one point late in the film, Dale and Chris debate whether the Baylor family really is Amish at all, or just using it as a cover. But to what end, Chris asks. And that was kind of my feeling about the whole movie: to what end does the movie make any of the choices it does — from elements as large as the use of the documentary to set the plot in motion to smaller details, like specific creaks and “there was something else in the room” that don’t make much sense once you find out the nature of the Scary Thing.
Especially earlier on, the Paranormal Activity movies did a good job of letting its characters use video technology to freak themselves out; I remember watching (in the second one maybe?) footage of a pool cleaner for a while. Scary pool cleaner footage. Next of Kin feels like it has a lot more “things” happening, not just one small element of spookiness per scene, but the result is that the movie often gets in its own way and doesn’t offer a clear idea of why it’s showing us what it’s showing us. C
Rated R for violence and bloody images and language throughout, according to the MPA on filmratings.com (actually, the rating seems largely swear-word based, with some goriness shoved in at the end). Directed by William Eubank with a screenplay by Christopher Landon, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin is an hour and 38 minutes long and is distributed by Paramount Pictures on Paramount+.
FILM
Venues
Bank of NH Stage 16 S. Main St., Concord 225-1111, banknhstage.com
The Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth 436-2400, themusichall.org
Red River Theatres 11 S. Main St., Concord 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org
Shows
• A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984) part of the Film Frenzy $5 Classics series at O’neil Cinemas with multiple daily screenings through Thursday, Nov. 4.
• French Dispatch (R, 2021) on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 7, at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Red River Theatres.
• Spencer (R, 2021) on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 7, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord.
• The Bolshoi Ballet — Spartacus, a broadcast presentation captured live, Sunday, Nov. 7, at 12:55 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord. Tickets $15.
• The Big Parade (1925), a silent film with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey. Tickets start at $10.
• Hot Water (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, a silent film with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Admission is free; $10 donation suggested.
• Warren Miller’s Winter Starts Nowat The Music Hall in Portsmouth, Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 19, at 6 and 9 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20, at 4 & 7 p.m. Tickets start at $28.
• National Theatre Live No Man’s Land,a broadcast of a play from London’s National Theatre, screening at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 12:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 ($12 for students).
Singin’ in the Rain
See Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse and Rita Moreno in 1952’s musical film Singin’ in the Rain on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), a Senior Movie Mornings screening. Tickets cost $10.
Featured photo: Last Night in Soho. Courtesy photo.
A new business based in Bedford is aiming to take away the stress of planning a special event while turning celebrations into uniquely customizable experiences.
Boho Pop-Up Picnic — short for “bohemian,” which is the style of the company’s locally built picnic tables — is owned and operated by Tanya Tobin and her husband, Matt. Since their launch earlier this year, the couple has provided elevated picnic setups for events large and small with all kinds of themes and add-ons to fit the occasion. They’ll also often partner with local businesses for small food enhancements like cakes, cupcakes and charcuterie boards.
Tobin, who has always had a passion for the holidays and for hosting events, said she became inspired after following other similar luxury picnic setup concepts out on the West Coast.
“I hadn’t seen anything like this on the East Coast and in New Hampshire, so I wanted to bring it to this area,” she said. “It has had a bigger and quicker response than I anticipated. … I’ve found that a lot of people either didn’t know about it or they came across it during a search of trying to find ways to celebrate an anniversary or a birthday or a bridal or baby shower.”
Whether it’s a romantic indoor or outdoor picnic for two or a more involved gathering in a public park, Tobin has handled it all. Inquiries can be filled out on Boho Pop-Up Picnic’s website.
A standard picnic setup would include low sitting tables and all plates, utensils, placemats and napkins, plus any wine glasses, baskets, and small chalkboards with a custom written message. Umbrellas, fresh flowers, bar carts, cornhole sets and ice buckets can be added too.
“They tell me what the theme is, and I try to incorporate their idea the best that I can to match what’s being celebrated,” Tobin said. “I do the setup about an hour before the event, and then they have the event for two hours. Then I pick up and clean up everything after.”
Tobin has also formed relationships with local bakeries like Frederick’s Pastries, Queen City Cupcakes and the Bearded Baking Co., as well as 603 Charcuterie and The Grazing State, which offer customizable charcuterie boards and boxes to go. Personal snack-sized charcuterie boxes, boxed waters or seltzers are provided to each member of the party.
While many of the more specialized picnics take place at clients’ homes, Tobin has done setups in public places. A recent picnic she organized overlooked Lake Massabesic in Manchester, and she’s also travelled to the Seacoast to put together picnics by the beach.
You don’t even need to wait for someone’s birthday or baby shower to come up either, as Tobin offers a few of her own preset picnic themes. The “Game Day” pop-up, for instance, is football-themed with a faux green grass football field table runner and a mini chalkboard scoreboard, while the “Popcorn & Movie Night” pop-up, available for up to four hours, features a popcorn machine, a movie projector and a 10-foot screen all provided by Tobin herself. She has also done sleepover pop-up parties for kids that will often have themes of their own.
Indoor and outdoor events can still be booked both now and during peak dates early next year.
Boho Pop-Up Picnic
Visit bohopopuppicnic.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @bohopopuppicnicnh to submit an event inquiry.
Exhibits, make-and-take crafts, demos and more on the Route 3 Art Trail
Building on a small but successful inaugural event, the second annual Route 3 Art Trail returns with more artists, more demonstrations and more hands-on activities at three anchor locations — Kimball Jenkins, Twiggs Gallery and MakingMatters — plus a cluster of small studios in between. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Adele Sanborn, owner of Twiggs Gallery in Boscawen, came up with the idea last year to create the art trail as sort of a replacement for NH Open Doors, which the gallery used to take part in.
Doug Egounis handcrafts furniture and holiday decorations. Courtesy photo.
“We are connecting [the public] with local artists this way instead,” Twiggs Gallery Manager Laura Morrison said. “The ultimate idea is to create an arts corridor that’s north of Concord.”
During the event, Twiggs will open its annual holiday exhibit Sleighbell Studio for the season.
“During November and into mid-December we kind of turn it into more of a shop for people to pick up gifts,” Morrison said.
If weather permits, the gallery will also host a bonfire from 1 to 3 p.m., where people can roast marshmallows, drink hot chocolate and listen to caroling, and it will offer free kits for making holiday cards.
MakingMatters in Penacook is another of the tour’s anchor stops, and MakingMatters Treasurer Sandra May said they’ll have 10 or 11 demonstrators.
“We’ve more than doubled what we had last year,” she said. “We [also] have a full house of resident artists.”
Some of the demonstrations will be done by non-resident artists, including a bowl turner and a wood carver from the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers and a sculpturist. There will be some hands-on activities, including happiness rocks, collage painting and two free classes: posca pen paint art for all ages, and cyanotype image printing for mature kids and adults. For the posca pen class, people are welcome to bring objects from home to paint on.
Jo Shields incorporates recycled objects into her work. Courtesy photo.
May said she’s looking forward to “sharing the energy of the arts community that’s north of Concord.”
“I think Penacook doesn’t always get the love it deserves,” she said.
Also in Penacook, mixed-metal artist Jo Shields is back on the art trail after getting a lot of traffic last year at her studio, located inside her house. Shields was just juried into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and is starting to get some of her pieces into the League stores. She uses all kinds of recycled objects in her jewelry, including old knitting needles, pieces of metal she’s found on the road, old porcelain dolls and cut-up silver-plated trays.
“I like to work with copper, and I make a lot of earrings. I love making necklaces. My stuff is very different, kind of funky and fun,” she said.
Also at Shields’ studio will be her friend Diane Fishel of Ofishel Designs!
“She makes some of the most awesome handbags,” Shields said.
Both will be doing demonstrations; Shields will be doing repousse, a metalworking technique, while Fishel will be painting on fabric.
Back in Boscawen, glass artist Karen Mehos will open her studio and home retail shop, Gadzooks Glass, for tours and shopping, as well as demonstrations if the weather is warm enough. Mehos makes fused glass ornaments, bowls, votive holders and night lights. Up until now it’s mostly been just for fun, but she was intrigued by the idea of opening up her home and studio for the tour.
“I’ve never done this before, [but I thought] I should really sell [my work] because it’s piling up,” she said. “I just want to make pretty things that other people can enjoy.”
Mehos has been working with fused glass for about eight years, having done stained glass in college.
Small glass bowl by Karen Mehos. Courtesy photo.
“Life happened, then I [eventually] moved into my own place with my own little shed, and that’s where I work,” she said.
Mehos will have something for every price range; most will be less than $50, and many are in the $10 to $25 range.
“The more complex they get, the price goes up,” she said. “I can spend anywhere from an hour to a day just putting the glass in place and making it go the way I want it to.”
Her priciest item is a bowl that features a sunset, which she spent three months working on.
“That bowl is a labor of love and passion,” she said. “That image popped into my head and it was my job to get that image out of my head and into the glass.”
Several other artists will open up their shops for the Route 3 Art Trail, as will the third anchor location, Kimball-Jenkins, which is in the northern part of Concord. It will have its Salon 2021 exhibit open for viewing.
Each of the locations will have an item to raffle off; pick up your Passport at your first stop, then visit at least five more sites to be eligible to participate.
Route 3 Art Trail
When: Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Various locations throughout Boscawen, Penacook and northern Concord More info: For a map, visit route3arttrail.com.
Trail stops
On King Street in Boscawen:
Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St.
Twiggs Gallery’s holiday exhibit Sleighbell Studio will open for the season. Weather permitting, there will be a bonfire from 1 to 3 p.m. for roasting marshmallows, plus hot chocolate and caroling by the Boscawen Congregational Church Choir. Take home a free kit to create a unique holiday card.
Gadzooks Glass, 232 King St.
Glass artist Karen Mehos will open her studio for tours and demonstrations, weather permitting, and she will have her retail space open to sell her small ornaments, night lights, votive holders, platters and bowls.
Susan Douglass, 231 King St.
Susan Douglass will have a tent set up outside her home to showcase the sculptures and whimsical items she creates for the home and garden. Everything is made from upcycled objects.
Chadwick Hill Rustic Furniture, 187 King St.
Furniture craftsman Doug Egounis creates log furniture made from a variety of wood such as black birch, white birch, maple and pine. He will be making a bench and some small reindeers during the tour.
Marshall’s Flowers & Gifts, 151 King St.
Marshall’s Flowers & Gifts features New Hampshire-made gifts, fresh, dried and silk arrangements and dish gardens. Stop by to watch the florist designing fresh flower arrangements.
In Penacook:
Dreamland Machine Quilting, 15 Fowler St.
Quilter Tracy Szanto provides custom machine quilting, custom-made T-shirt quilts and other quilted items and gifts. Tracy will have her quilting machine set up to do demos and will also demonstrate how she paints on fabric.
Jo Shields Studio, 5 Steeple View
Jo Shields is a mixed-metal jeweler; she invited Diane Fishel of Ofishel Designs! to join her for the day. Jo will be demonstrating repoussé, a metalworking technique, and Diane will be demonstrating painting on fabric.
MakingMatters NH, 88 Village St.
MakingMatters NH is Concord’s makerspace and artist/business incubator. It will be offering facility tours, artisan and equipment demos and children’s make-and-take craft stations. There will be two free classes: Explore Posca Paint Pen Art from 11 a.m. to noon and Cyanotype Image Printing Workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sign up at makingmattersnh.wildapricot.org.
In Concord:
Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St.
Kimball Jenkins Salon 2021 exhibit will be open for viewing. The exhibition explores the diversity of studio practices and media from a range of regional artists and is hung floor-to-ceiling, salon-style.
Featured photo: Susan Douglass upcycles glass objects for home and garden. Courtesy photo.
How the princesses, clowns, jugglers and other performers are keeping the party going
Everyone could use a little magic these days, and these local entertainers are up to the task of bringing that magic to New Hampshire communities and families. We talked via phone and email with eight entertainers — two princesses, two clowns, an old-time magician, a fire-breathing juggler, one of Santa’s helpers and even a unicorn queen with “real” unicorns — about how they got into the business of making kids’ dreams come true, what goes into becoming a character and how they’ve adapted throughout the pandemic.
Andrew Pinard, Absolutely Magic
Pinard is a magician and variety performer offering entertainment for private and public events throughout the state. He has a number of original shows, including a family-friendly vaudeville-style magic show called Alejandro’s Olde Tyme Magik Showe. Visit absomagic.com.
Andrew Pinard
What is your stage persona or character?
While the name of my family audience show is Alejandro’s Olde Tyme Magik Showe, my character is still named Andrew. Alejandro was a name that I first encountered as a child, and it sounded mystical. With my name starting with an ‘A,’ it seemed a natural fit.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
Until the pandemic hit, performance was my full-time job, [and had been] for 30 years. I’m mainly performing part-time right now while serving as Executive Director of the Claremont Opera House, but I expect [performance] will always be a part of my life.
How did you get into this?
I’ve been interested in performance, specifically theater, since I was a young child. I got interested in magic and gave my first magic show at a school assembly show when I was in second grade. I started performing music in fifth grade and theater in sixth and haven’t looked back. At one time, I had the notion of being a music teacher, but theater and variety [performance] put out its siren song, and by 1990 I was performing full-time.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I wear a pretty basic costume: a custom waistcoat, collarless shirt — I have around 60 in about 20 different colors and patterns — and dark slacks. … I would say the aesthetic is vaudeville-meets-barbershop-quartet.
How do you get into character?
Part of it is putting on the costume; part of it is loading in and setting up my show; and the final part is breathing in just before stepping on stage and reminding myself how much I love playing with my audiences. They’re giving me a gift of their time whenever they come to see a show, and I want that time to be well-spent. At the end of every show, I want my audiences walking away delighted and excited to tell others of the experience they had.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I did a few live public performances, mostly last summer, but for the most part I pulled back from performing as I wanted to be safe and … my audiences to be safe. I avoided livestreamed or virtual performances as I struggled to feel a real connection. … The technology got in the way of my goal of sharing a moment in time with audiences. I’m grateful to have a monthly show in a small theater and to see gigs starting to come back. … Some of the mechanics have changed, especially with mask use and less contact in the show. … I feel I have to exude more energy to make up for the muted responses caused by mask wearing. … I also try to [perform] in a way that helps [the audience] forget the conditions we’re in and transports them to a place where they’re simply existing and enjoying.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
There are two things, really: the opportunity to travel all around the world seeing the sights, coupled with the opportunity to celebrate the people I meet along the way. There are far more things that connect us than those that divide us, and laughter is universal.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
At almost every performance, there is at least one individual who will be completely swept up, to the point where they gasp or respond physically to the experience. I love, love, love those moments. Those moments are precisely what keep my love for the performance of magic alive. As the performer … I never get to experience the magic until I get to see it through my audience’s eyes. That’s a true gift they give me every single show.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I have a few shows lined up, but we’re all kind of waiting to see what will happen next. I’m hoping 2022 will be much more like the past, but I am resolved to commit to the process. We all need a little magic in our lives right now, and I feel a responsibility to share my gifts as long as I may.
Jason Tardy, Jason Tardy Productions
Tardy is an entertainer specializing in juggling, comedy, fire performance and circus arts. Based in Maine, he does much of his performing in New Hampshire, for both private and public audiences. Visit jasontardy.com.
Jason Tardy
What is your stage persona or character?
Mostly I’m just an exaggerated version of myself, since most of my shows are my high-energy juggling performances. … I do sometimes perform in variety shows where I do need to play a character. … I just created The Dragon Man character, [which is] a costume I wear while doing fire demonstrations.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
Believe it or not, this is the only job I’ve ever had. I’ve been performing since I was 15 years old, and when I graduated high school I made enough [income] to make a living. As you get older you get more bills, and luckily I’ve [continued to make] enough money to keep up with all that.
How did you get into this?
When I was 15 my brother Matt and I met a professional juggler, Michael Miclon, at our town’s variety show. Basically, everyone in the town would come out and sing or dance or tell jokes. Michael was a full-time professional juggler and comedian and was kind of a guest performer in the show. He saw my brother and me and another friend doing an act where we lip-synced Weird Al Yankovic music and wore crazy costumes. He thought we had great energy. I mostly think he [was impressed that] we weren’t afraid to look dumb in front of a lot of people and [didn’t] take ourselves too seriously. He asked us if we would like to apprentice with him, which basically meant we would travel with him and help him set up [for shows], and he would teach us juggling and how to get into the business. Michael was also an apprentice when he was in middle school, so it was something he always wanted to pass on. I also took on an apprentice a few years back, and now he is a full-time performing artist.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
The costume I wear for most of my shows is just comfortable black pants that don’t wrinkle, which is important when traveling a lot, and usually a very bright pixelated T-shirt made of tech fabrics. My juggling show is very high-energy and physical, so I need to be comfortable during the show.
How do you shift into your stage persona?
I take the parts of me that are high-energy and silly and just dig into that side of my personality. … Since [The Dragon Man] is pretty new, I’m not totally sure how I’m going to play that character. … A lot of times I feel like the costuming of the character really helps me get into that personality. … The main thing I do before my performances … is remind myself to have fun. I learned a long time ago that the audience puts themselves in the performer’s shoes, so if I’m nervous or shy, the audience will feel that, but if I’m having fun and not worrying about making mistakes, the audience will have fun as well.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I was able to adapt and do virtual performances. I quickly learned how to use Zoom and bought a good webcam and even turned my garage into a performance space. The garage has lighting and even a curtain on the back wall. I think I lost about two-thirds of my work that year, but I was able to make enough money to get by. I also made a few pre-recorded shows I could sell over and over again for a lower price, which worked out really well, and I’m still selling those to this day. … Now, [doing live shows,] I’m just a little bit more aware of when I bring people on stage, and schools sometimes still make you wear a mask while setting up for the show. Once the show starts, the audience is just into the show, and it doesn’t feel that different [from pre-pandemic shows]. At some of my first shows after the pandemic, it felt like the audience was really ready to have fun and maybe even more energetic than before.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Getting to be creative and really challenging myself creatively and physically. I love that my job challenges me in those ways. Also, one of the most special things about [being a performer] is that my job is to make people happy, and what could be better than that?
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
One of the best things about this job was getting to do it with my brother for so many years. When we first started we would sometimes fight and get into arguments as all brothers do, but you learn pretty quickly to get along if you’re going to be throwing knives at each other. My brother has since retired from performing because of an illness, but getting to spend 25 years with him as my performing partner is something I’ll never forget.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I definitely have less work than during the summer. The summer is usually pretty insane, with almost no days off, and sometimes three different shows in three different states in one day, so I kind of look forward to winter, but also dread the lack of work. … I do have a few virtual shows and in-person shows booked … [and] a few winter festivals.
Savannah Bernard, Once Upon a Tea Room
Opened in August, Once Upon a Tea Room is a party service with its own event venue in Newport. It specializes in princess parties with costumed performers and currently offers around 30 different characters. Visit onceuponatearoom.org.
Savannah Bernard
What characters do you play?
Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Majestia the Unicorn Princess, Evie, Dorothy, Holly the Christmas Elf, Rapunzel, Hogwarts student, Elsa, Anna and Barbie. Most of the characters have stories already — they’re just the traditional Disney stories — but there are a couple that we make up stories for, and I tend to do that based on what the child likes.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is a part-time job for me. My full-time job is [working as a] behavioral interventionist in the Claremont School District.
How did you get into this?
That’s actually a funny story. Katlynn, the owner, ran into my best friend at Walmart and invited her to join the team. I was actually pretty skeptical, but after meeting Katlynn and talking to her, I knew that working with her would be a lot of fun. Who doesn’t want to be a princess? Now, Katlynn and everyone I work with has become family, on the job and just in life.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I start by doing my makeup, and that takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Then, with some help, I’ll put the hoop skirt and petticoat and dress on, depending on the character I’m playing for that event … and then jewelry. Lastly, Katlynn will help me with pinning my wig on.
How do you get into character?
I personally like to watch all the movies and short films [featuring] the character and listen to all that character’s music on repeat. Knowing their stories is key to making the kids’ experiences magical.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I didn’t work at Once Upon a Tea Room [during the pandemic] — I was actually still in high school at the time — but events are picking up, and each one is an absolute blast every time.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
I love my coworkers — they are my second family — and I love knowing I’m making some little girl’s or boy’s fairytale dreams come true. I love seeing their faces as they are completely enthralled with the character.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
Actually being with the kids and seeing their smiles … [and] coming together with the other cast members and setting up for the events. That’s where real relationships are built, spending those hours together. I’ve probably met some of my forever friends that way.
What do the next few months look like for you?
The next few months are packed with parties on the weekends, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Alora Bowers, Once Upon a Tea Room
What characters do you play?
Alora Bowers
Snow Princess, Peasant Belle, Rapunzel, Tail Ariel, Snow White, Majestia the Unicorn Princess, Dorothy, Mal, Poppy, Barbie, Jessie and fairies.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is part-time. I work full-time as a resource tech at a pharmacy.
How did you get into this?
This has always been such a huge passion of mine. I volunteer for some nonprofits doing character calls, but I wanted to do more. I’ve always heard of these [party services] but could never find one near me. I kept searching and found Once Upon a Tea Room. I nearly screamed. I applied right away.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
Thé process can be long, but, honestly, [it should] when you’re starting out, because you’re learning … what the process will be for you, what’s good for your skin and how to apply the makeup yourself. The more you do it, the faster and more comfortable [it becomes]. We arrive [to an event] an hour early. … Our costumes are beautifully designed, and they fit the period, so … the classical princesses like Belle and Cinderella have hoop skirts and corsets. I absolutely love it.
How do you get into character?
It’s understanding [the character’s] motivation and mannerisms. I try to think of situations and how she would feel … and respond. … Singing their songs always helps me get in their mindset, too.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
We always state that masks are optional, and we are very flexible with how the family wants to proceed. We respect the family’s comfort level and how they feel about the pandemic, making sure everyone feels safe. We still have games and activities … and we still make sure each child gets that personal connection [with the characters] and enjoys themselves.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
There are no words to describe how it feels seeing kids so excited and like their dream came true. … To see the kids’ eyes light up during a party is the absolute best. … Another thing is just practicing, honestly — having fun before events, loosening up, dancing and laughing. … We are truly a family here.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
[While playing] Rapunzel, [I] was told by a birthday princess that she had the best birthday and [was given] a big hug.
What do the next few months look like for you?
We’re hoping to do some events for the holidays and back-to-school. … Majestia the Unicorn Princess will be visiting our Tea Room soon for some parties. … We also have new characters in the works … [including] a fire fairy I am [playing].
Barbara Foristall, Cracker Jacks the Clown
Foristall of Merrimack is a professional clown with more than three decades of experience. She is a member and the former president of Granite State Clowns, a group of local clowns that works to promote the art of clowning in New Hampshire. Visit crackerjackstheclown.com.
Barbara Foristall, Cracker Jacks the Clown
What are your stage personas and characters that you play?
I do many characters: Cracker Jacks, Maggie May, Twink the Elf, Esmeralda the Witch, Do Fuss the Magic Clown, Melanie the Elegant Clown and Mrs. Barbara Claus. Cracker Jacks is a zany little boyish character, best geared for children up to age 7, but she can handle most any crowd. … Maggie May is suited for older [audiences]. … [She] collects [information] from family and friends [of the guest of honor] and uses that in a roast-like form to put the guest of honor on the spot. It’s hysterical. … I mimicked Carol Burnett, Lucy Ball, Red Skelton and other great comics to develop Maggie May, and added all my clowning experience so that I could basically fly by the seat of my pants at functions.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is a part-time job. I’m also currently a nursery school teacher.
How did you get into this?
I began my clowning career 35 years ago. … I was a nursery school teacher … but had to get a corporate job because I couldn’t survive on nursery school pay. I missed the kids, so I … started clowning around. I found other clowns in the area who guided me in the proper techniques. I attended many conventions and groups to learn more, and I still do. You can always learn something new.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
Cracker Jacks wears big clown shoes, pants with suspenders, a shirt and bowtie and a baseball hat. Maggie May … [wears] a dress [with] patches, a cape and a hat with a dirty old flower. … It takes me a few minutes to get really ugly. … I take out my teeth — well, most of them — and glue on a nose.
How do you get into character?
I’m kind of a character [in real life] anyway, so that part is easy. … Cracker Jacks is who I am, exemplified. … [For Maggie May,] on my ride to the event, I go over the information I got on the guest so if an opportunity comes up, I can use it to embarrass them — all in good fun.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I didn’t work during the pandemic. I didn’t get calls, and I wasn’t comfortable, due to my age, 72 years young. Events are very slowly picking up. My hope is that in 2022 everyone will feel safer and we as performers can strut our stuff again.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Cracker Jacks can [interact] with a child who may be fearful [of clowns] and win them over. … I love it when there’s a child [who is] fearful [at first], but by the end of the event they are my best friend. … [As Maggie May,] I adore causing laughter by doing the unexpected. … I never know what I’m walking into, which makes it exciting for me and for the audience. I’m quite quick-witted. … I surprise the guest of honor with all kinds of personal gags and jokes. It thrills me when a performance comes together.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
I also use my Maggie May character at clown conventions in skit competitions, and I love being on stage in front of my peers and causing them to laugh. It’s the ultimate compliment.
What do the next few months look like for you?
A very slow return of more jobs. I’m part of Granite State Clowns in Nashua, a group that meets to teach the art and love of clowning. … We’ll be holding a six-week clown school in March, and we hope to bring more interest to clowning and the joy it brings to all. Let’s face it — we need more laughter, especially today.
Deanna Levesque, NH Unicorns
Levesque is the founder and owner of NH Unicorns, an entertainment service offering parties, special appearances and photoshoots with horses and ponies, transformed into “unicorns.” Visit nhunicorns.com.
Deanna Levesque
What character do you play?
I’m not always in costume at NH Unicorn parties, but when I am, we call [the character] the Unicorn Princess. She’s a princess who grew up in a castle where the unicorns are from. We thought it would go along great with the unicorns since a lot of people associate unicorns with fairy tales and magic and princes and princesses.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
It was intended to be a part-time thing, but is definitely more full-time than I ever thought it would be.
How did you get into this?
I’ve been working with horses my whole life. I’m a professional horse trainer … and I own Bella Vista Stables in Barnstead, which is a competitive equestrian facility. … NH Unicorns came about as a way to fulfill a child’s dream of meeting a unicorn. I have a niece who was born with heart complications and had many heart surgeries and a pacemaker by the time she was 3 years old. We asked her, ‘What do you want most in life?’ and she said she wanted to meet a unicorn. I got a little white pony and turned it into a unicorn, and it grew from there into a business.
How do you get into character?
It’s pretty easy because I love the job. The character feels very natural to me.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
The princess costume is fairly simple. I slap on a princess dress, do my hair up big and curly, do a little bit of light makeup and I’m ready to go. [Getting ready] is much more intense for the unicorns. The majority of our unicorns are all white … so they have to go through a rigorous grooming routine to maintain their cleanliness and softness. … Then, they get their hooves polished and their horns shined up for every event.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
Pre-pandemic, our events were pretty crazy; we had to start limiting [the number of] guests because the events got overcrowded. … We didn’t really do anything during the pandemic. … Post-pandemic, we’ve stayed pretty busy … but our crowds are a lot smaller. The vast majority of parties over the last year have been for one kid or a couple of kids and their immediate family.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Getting to work with animals, getting to work with kids and getting to make so many people happy. I can’t even count the number of people who have told us that we’ve made their dreams come true when they get to meet our unicorns.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
When my niece first got to sit on one of the unicorns. Her face lit up, and I see that beautiful smiling face on every kid that sits on a unicorn.
What do the next few months look like for you?
We do slow down a little bit in the winter; we won’t have parties every single weekend, but we have enough on the schedule to stay mostly busy. We also have some photo shoots scheduled for the next couple of months.
Kristi Parker, Krickey the Clown
Parker is a trained, professional clown and currently serves as president of Granite State Clowns, a group of local clowns that works to promote the art of clowning in New Hampshire. Visit krickeytheclown.com.
Kristi Parker, Krickey the Clown
What characters do you play?
My main character is Krickey the Clown. When I was young, my mom used to call me Krickey as a nickname for Kristi, so that’s how Krickey was born. I also do Mrs. Wickywacky, the Not-So-Scary Witch during October. At Christmastime I work alongside one of my Santa Claus friends as Cookie the Elf.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
It’s on the side. I’m a full-time middle school teacher, and I also teach some quilting classes. … When I first became a clown I didn’t even know I could get paid. Now I put whatever money I make back into clowning; I use it for attending conferences and trainings and buying balloons and supplies and materials to make costumes.
How did you get into this?
I’ve always loved theater and entertaining people, and I was always involved in plays when I was in school. … I first learned about clowning around 15 years ago when the Granite State Clowns did a program at the library. They encouraged me to come to a meeting, and I got sucked right in. … From there I actually went to clown school and have been to several trainings and conventions throughout the country. I’ve put a lot of time into learning my craft.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I love costuming. I sew, so I make my own costumes. … There are different kinds of makeup for different kinds of clowns. I’m what’s called an auguste clown, which has a white muzzle, red lips and some white or some kind of accent near the eyes. … It takes me almost an hour to put on my costume, makeup and wig.
How do you get into character?
My clown persona is really just an extension of my own persona. I’m naturally a shy and somewhat reserved person, so I don’t do a lot of slapstick or physical [performance]. … I don’t juggle; I’ve tried to learn, but I’m not very good, but that’s OK, because I have other talents. … My focus is more on making a connection with a child and making them smile, and I don’t do that in a loud or boisterous way.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
Last year was pretty devastating; I think I had two gigs in the entire year. … I’ve been getting more gigs lately, primarily outside gigs. … I am being more cautious about getting too close to people. Instead of doing face painting, where I’m right up next to their face, I’ve been doing glitter tattoos, applied on the back of the person’s hand. … The younger kids don’t always understand that they shouldn’t get too close, so sometimes I’ll have to say, ‘Everyone, take one giant step back.’
What do you enjoy most about this work?
It fills my heart and soul seeing a child smile and giggle and their eyes get wide. … This is my way of spreading joy and helping people forget about their troubles and things that are weighing them down and just let loose and laugh.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
I did a birthday party where one of the children was deathly afraid of clowns. Her grandmother said to me, ‘Can you please make sure that you don’t scare her?’ … I was making balloon animals, and the grandmother brought her up to me, holding her hand, and I made her a balloon animal. When it was time for me to pack up and say goodbye, she came running up to me, hugged me around my knees, looked up at me and said, ‘I love you, clown.’ I guess I had won her over. It melted my heart.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I’ve only been doing outdoor [events], so when things move inside for the winter I won’t be doing a lot, but I do have a couple of outdoor things coming up, like the Concord Tree Lighting and the Christmas Parade.
Ernie Rousseau, Santa’s Den
Rousseau, also known as “Santa Ernest,” is a professional Santa from Hudson. His services include home visits, photo shoots, video messages and letters from Santa. Visit santasden.com.
Ernie Rousseau
What character do you play?
My character is Santa Claus. Of course, there are all kinds of stories about Santa Claus, so you learn about the history of St. Nicholas, from the beginning up to modern times, and you add your own spin to it, and that’s how you develop your Santa persona. … Mine is based mostly on Santa as he’s known in the United States — the kind, generous gift-giver.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is part-time. My main employment is working as a city bus driver.
How did you get into this?
I also work part-time at a haunted house, primarily doing security, but I also play a few different characters there. … That got me thinking, and a couple years ago I said, ‘I’m going to become Santa Claus.’ I started doing a bunch of research and then became a member of the New England Santa Society.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
It usually takes me about an hour to get ready. … I have four different types of suits … for different types of events. I get [suits and accessories] from a Santa company out of Michigan … and a seamstress in Texas … and a craftsman in North Carolina. I do a lot of research to find the best-looking stuff.
How do you get into character?
I have a room designated as my ‘Santa den.’ It has the smell of Christmas and a Christmas tree that stays up all year round. … I sit in there and take in the scent of the tree and the decorations, and then I’m ready to put my suit on.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I worked at Bass Pro Shops during the pandemic. There was no contact; we had face shields and plexiglass between me and the visitors, and we cleaned everything between each visitor. … I also did social-distanced private visits where I’d stand out in the [family’s] front yard and they would drive up and have a brief interaction with me from their vehicle. It was great that the children still got to see Santa. … We don’t use face shields or plexiglass anymore, but there’s still no contact; the families sit on a bench and chat with me. … I’ve also been doing virtual visits from my Santa den.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Watching the children’s eyes get wide when they see Santa. When you bring a child joy, and that in turn brings joy to the parents, how can you not feel good about what you’re doing?
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
There was a little boy who had been in some kind of burn accident and was all bandaged up. … When he got to me, he looked at me, and there wasn’t any pain in his face — just pure joy and happiness to see Santa Claus. I had to keep myself from crying.
What do the next few months look like for you?
Very, very busy. From October through December I’m working nonstop, doing everything from private events where I go to people’s homes; [public] events with a Santa visit; [charity] events; and some virtual visits.
Featured photo:Savannah Bernard as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, a princess from Once Upon a Tea Room. Courtesy photo.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. *Numbers not available on Oct. 26 when the state’s Covid dashboard was undergoing maintenance.
Covid-19 news
As of Nov. 1 there were 3,948 active infections of Covid-19 statewide and 193 current hospitalizations. Three additional deaths were announced in the last week, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,568 since the start of the pandemic last year.
The Department of Health and Human Services has resumed the Homebound Vaccination program to administer Covid-19 vaccines and booster doses to Granite Staters who are unable or have difficulty leaving their home or who have been advised by a medical provider that their health could worsen by leaving their home, according to a press release. Call 603-338-9292 or visit onsitenh.com/vaccine to set up an appointment.
Vax lawsuit
New Hampshire has joined the states of Missouri, Nebraska, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming in filing a lawsuit against the federal government for imposing a vaccine mandate on federal contractors and federally contracted employees, according to a press release from Attorney General John M. Formella. “The State has made clear that the available Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and that every eligible person in New Hampshire is encouraged to get a Covid-19 vaccine. That said, the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine do not justify violating the law. This lawsuit is being filed to protect the State of New Hampshire from the federal government’s attempt to impose illegal mandates,” Formella said in a statement.
Criminal defense
The New Hampshire Supreme Court Report on the Recommendations of the Criminal Defense Task Force has been released. According to the report, the Supreme Court has approved and adopted the following recommendations from the task force to help resolve current criminal defense issues, including a shortage of public defense attorneys.
(1) Increase public awareness.
(2) Adopt Early Case Resolution. “ECR programs are a necessity given the present overwhelming caseloads that are challenging all participants in the criminal justice system,” the report says. “The Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office is hiring two additional prosecutors for ECR purposes.”
(3) Secure additional funding to support contract attorneys. “Funds from the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery have been approved to reimburse contract attorneys for past administrative costs associated with their increased caseloads,” the report says. “The Judicial Council is in the process of seeking $2,066,000 in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for up to ten new, temporary attorneys to assist with current caseload challenges…”
(4) Improve scheduling: “A brief pause in criminal cases would allow practitioners to better assess caseloads. … The Court recommends that the Administrative Judges of the trial courts schedule a one-time, one-week pause on all criminal cases in the trial courts [in] January 2022.”
(5) Work on recruitment: “Judges in the trial courts … should consider making personal overtures … to criminal practitioners in their counties to accept contract and/or pro bono criminal cases.”
(6) Expand training: “Criminal defense training and mentoring [is needed] to expand the number of attorneys representing indigent clients.”
(7) Make rule changes: “Temporary rule changes could encourage more attorneys to represent indigent defendants,” the report says.
ARP Homeless funds
The New Hampshire Department of Education announced last week that nearly $2.3 million in American Rescue Plan funds will go toward funding the education of homeless children and youth. “Students experiencing homelessness encounter unique barriers in accessing educational opportunities, which have been exacerbated by disruptions to academic and other vital supports throughout the pandemic,” McKenzie Snow, director of NHDOE’s Division of Learner Support, said in a press release. ARP Homeless funds were distributed to the state in two parts: Part I, which totals nearly $575,000, was awarded through a competitive grant process to Concord, Claremont, Seabrook, Winnacunnet and Manchester school districts and will be used to support activities such as trauma-based professional development, social work staffing and expanded school liaisons hours, according to the release. Part II, which totals more than $1.7 million, was awarded to 52 school districts by a formula based on population, poverty and homelessness and will be used to address the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness, the release said.
The Manchester Marathon will take place Sunday, Nov. 7, starting at 9 a.m. in front of Veterans Park on Elm Street. There will be a marathon, half-marathon and relays on that day, according to a press release, as well as a 5K the day before at Fisher Cats Stadium.
After being selected as the state’s most outstanding schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping their students fit, Londonderry Middle School, Portsmouth Middle School and Groveton High School each opened their new Don’t Quit Fitness Centers at a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony last week. According to a press release, the facilities were gifted to the schools by the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils.
The 2021 Seven to Save list was released last week and includes the Milford Bandstand. According to a press release, all the properties on the list need investments to help restore them back into viable community assets. Other properties include The Weirs Drive-In & Archaeological Site in Laconia and all of New Hampshire’s Historic Theaters.
Whether the topic is the pandemic, the economy, the climate, world affairs or politics, we all seem to be having serious conversations these days. And to come to those conversations with knowledge, we often feel there is so much to read, to view or to listen to. It seems overwhelming. What I have observed, sadly, is that those conversations too often end with a comment such as, “I am really worried” or “I feel so depressed” or “Will things ever change for the better?”
The roller coaster of daily life these days contributes greatly to this sense of dis-ease. With its flow and ebb, Covid-19 keeps us shifting our behavior, ever uneasy about where to go, what to do or with whom to be, and with what consequences. The rising cost of living, the persistence of hate speech and acts, the inequities of our society, and the sufferings of so many cast deep shadows over the lives of so many. No wonder there exists the mental stress about which we read, which we see in others and we feel at times ourselves.
A recently departed dear friend once counseled me, “Hope is that most noble of human virtues. Especially in tough times, we need it to keep us going and to do what we need to do.”
Those words came back to me as by chance I happened upon a poem by John O’Donohue titled “This is the Time to be Slow” (from his collection To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings). While the very title of the poem was strangely, and in a welcome way, quieting to me, it was an image in his poem that impressed me most by its simplicity and beauty.
He counsels the reader not to let “the wire brush of doubt scrape [from your heart] all sense of yourself.” Instead, he urges we remain generous even as our “hesitant light” may flicker. For with hope, we shall, in time, find a new beginning. We’ll step again on “fresh pastures of promise.”
A poem is a purse made of words into which a treasure is kept (or so I once heard it described). O’Donohue’s poem did indeed carry a treasure greatly in need at this time in all of our lives. His image of “the wire brush of doubt” and its potentially abrasive effect is truly wise counsel too. I hope to keep it firmly in mind and to share it with others.
Open mic nights are a lifeblood for comedians, a place to hone their craft and work on new material.
For much of the pandemic, Yankee Lanes in Keene was one of the few to remain open, and comics from all across New England flocked to it. Seacoast standup Michael Millett inherited the weekly event when its original host left, and as the nightlife scene began reopening, he moved it to Yankee’s sister location in Manchester.
Millett’s Grey Area Comedy has become a hub for a growing alt comedy scene that includes Gone Rogue Productions’ events at Manchester’s Backyard Brewery, Tragedy Plus Time’s shows in Londonderry, Exeter’s Word Barn and the venerable downtown Shaskeen showcase, now run by Ruby Room Comedy.
The Yankee conclave recalls the now-defunct Monday open mic at Penuche’s Ale House in Concord — in both venues, audiences don’t always arrive expecting comedy, Millett said in a recent phone interview.
“You have to basically fight for the audience’s attention. … The stage is in the same room as the bar,” he said. “We bank off the bowling league that gets out around 8:45; our open mic is at 9. Regular patrons bleed in, sit down, and watch the comedians.”
A dozen or so hopefuls show up every week to face the challenging milieu.
“Every mic has a different energy,” Millett said. “People that work on their comedy come to mine, and I like that.”
Millett also hosts a comedy showcase at Yankee Lanes on the last Friday of every month with a headliner, feature comic and opening act. The next one happens Oct. 29 and stars the comedy team of Jai Demeule and Will Pottorff. The two ran a popular weekly event in Beverly, Mass., until it became a casualty of lockdown. Anthony Massa features, and Troy Burditt opens.
Demeule and Pottorff were known for raucous sets done in costume, as teachers, politicians, camp counselors and other characters. Their upcoming appearance will most likely have a similar approach, but when reached for comment, Demeule demurred on the details — while hinting at a potential exorcism.
“Without giving too much away, Will and I will be doing a Halloween themed set that might have some guests from our time running The Studio of Madness,” she wrote via Facebook Messenger. “Audiences can expect laughs, a healthy dose of insanity, and if all goes well, for the bowling alley to be cleansed of all ghostly presence by the end of the evening.”
Next month, local comic Matt Barry is joined by Tom Spohn and Tristan Hoffler, and in December, Paul Keller headlines.
“He’s a kinetic comedian who does comedy and magic at the same time,” Millett said of Keller. “He’s very good at magic tricks, but he’s also good at being funny about it.”
Millett has hopes for expanding to a more formal setting in the future.
“Yankee Lanes has a rec room that they don’t use for anything [and] I could easily fit 120 people in there,” he said. “I’m working toward getting enough draw with Grey Area Comedy to do that … it’s now been just over a year, between Keene and Manchester.”
His efforts are about more than just promoting shows, Millett stressed.
“I’m trying to build a community with everything I do, trying to get as many comedians involved in it as possible,” he said. “What I want to do is — I don’t want to use the word safe haven — but I want it to be a cornerstone, contributing to the rest of the scene. A place for people to work on their craft.”
Grey Area Comedy Club
When: Friday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. Where: Yankee Lanes (formerly Spare Time), 216 Maple St., Manchester More: Free show starring Jai Demeule and Will Pottorff, Anthony Massa, Troy Burditt, Michael Millett (host)
Featured photo: Will Pottorff and Jai Demeule. Courtesy photo. Courtesy photo.
An interplanetary empire is set on the road to war in Dune, which a title card rather optimistically calls “part one.”
And just to set the scene for my Dune experience: I’ve neither read any of the books nor watched any of the previous Dune movies or TV series. So I am coming in fresh to this universe.
As the movie opens, an unseen emperor of the known universe orders a family/political entity known as House Atreides to take control of a planet called Arrakis, a desert planet that is the only known source of a substance called spice. Spice facilitates interstellar travel, er, somehow and has psychotropic qualities. It is super valuable, which is why House Harkonnen, the previous rulers of Arrakis, are pretty peeved at having Arrakis taken out of their control. But the House Harkonnen head, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard in a fat suit that seems to also allow him to float), thinks that this is just the emperor’s way of taking both Atreides and Harkonnen down a few pegs, since he knows this move will lead to war between the two houses.
Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) knows all this, but he has plans for Arrakis, plans that involve working with the Fremen, the oppressed local people of Arrakis. When he shows up at the planet with his family — including concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and son and heir Paul (Timothée Chalamet) — he is ready for danger but hoping for peace. Jessica, a member of some kind of magic-y lady religious order, has abilities including getting people to do what she says when she sort of Jedi-forces them using a power called the Voice. She has been training Paul to use similar abilities and has plans for him beyond just having him take over for his father one day.
Paul, in the tradition of all raw Luke Skywalker/Hamlet types, isn’t quite sure what he wants, but he has some inkling of what might be in his future due to dreams he has, many featuring Chani (Zendaya), whose glowy blue eyes identify her as one of the Fremen.
To some extent everything I’ve said here is just setup. The movie follows the Atreideses as they move onto Arrakis and what happens next. We meet Atreides warrior-types Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) and Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin). We also meet Fremen-associated people like Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and Dr. Liet-Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). There are a lot of characters here with a lot of stories and “serves as the this for that group.” There is also a fair amount of explaining this universe and of getting all the pieces in place. This feels like “Season 1” of a Game of Thrones-type show, getting us all set up for a multi-season story arc.
And what a beautiful-looking and -sounding series that would be. Dune looks absolutely gorgeous. Every scene is visually perfect — lighting, set design, costuming, colors, camera angles. The dust-filled wind, the helicopters that look like insects. The movie is generally in muted tones but there are accents of bright color — many from story-significant elements, like the personal shields people wear that turn blue when impacted or the bright eyes of the Fremen. Nearly every shot of this movie is visually arresting (which, because this movie is on HBO Max through Nov. 21 as well as in theaters, you actually can press pause and gaze to your heart’s content).
The movie also sounds great. The score (by Hans Zimmer) is majestic — underlining bigness, vastness and importance when needed. It is haunting and when mixed with the human voices that are often whispery or at a throat-singing deepness or sometimes both the whole effect is kind of awe-inspiring.
So A+ work on all that.
My question about this movie is does all this loveliness weigh it down? Is that why this movie feels so slow and inert? Every one of these beautiful scenes has a kind of “walking through hip-deep water” pacing, as though the speed isn’t quite on slow-mo but is, like, halfway there. (I mean, there is slow-mo, lots of slow-mo, but even the regular- mo feels pretty languorous.) Even though the movie has battle scenes and plenty of action, it never feels like it’s truly energized. There is a half-asleep, still-need-my-coffee feel to everything.
Which puts the performances somewhere in between the down-to-the-smallest-detail impressiveness of the look and sound of this movie and the baffling, frequently boring pacing (another good thing about seeing this movie on streaming: you can go back and see what you missed if you fall asleep halfway through; I didn’t but awakeness did not come without struggle). Isaac, Ferguson and Chalamet are fine, even compelling and engrossing in moments. But they don’t quite escape the sleepiness around them, nor does Brolin, who feels more regular-speed but doesn’t get enough screen time to make a difference. Momoa also brings a kind of liveliness to things but again isn’t around nearly enough.
The strange result of all of this is a movie where everything about Dune — even the prospect of a sequel and the continuing story and the internet rabbithole I disappeared to reading the Wikipedia for the Dune books — is more interesting than the act of sitting through the movie itself. It is definitely worth a watch and it is definitely boring. I ended the movie not really caring about any particular character or storyline but absolutely fascinated by the movie as an art object. What kind of recommendation is that, you ask? Beats me — a shaky B?
Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth (based on, according to Wikipedia, the first half of the book by Frank Herbert), Dune is two hours and 35 minutes long and distributed by Warner Bros. In theaters and on HBO Max until Nov. 21.
Ron’s Gone Wrong (PG)
A benignly evil tech company heightens children’s sense of loneliness and their ability to bully each other via sleek new devices in Ron’s Gone Wrong, a pretty depressing read on the real world that is sort of cuted up with animation and a funny robot.
Barney (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer) feels very much like the odd kid out at his middle school: his family home is tended Old Worldily by his Bulgarian grandma Donka (voice of Olivia Coleman), his widowed dad Graham (voice of Ed Helms) is desperately busy trying to sell novelty items via Zoom, Barney’s various science-y interests (including rocks) have him branded as a bit of a nerd and, most deadly of all, he does not own a B*Bot, the hot new tech that all the other kids at school have. The B*Bot is part robot, part iPhone, part parental nightmare — all in kind of an EVE from Wall-E package. The B*Bots upload all available digital information about the child user and then “know” everything about them and can help them meet other kids who have the same interests. In addition the B*Bot follows the child everywhere, can dance with the kid, take the kid on immersive virtual reality adventures and take constant photos and videos to post to the kid’s various social media pages and instantly ask for likes and follows from surrounding kids.
Because I am an Old, this all seems like a dystopic hellscape that we are probably six months away from here in the real world. But to Barney, the B*Bot, promising to be your “best friend out of the box,” is the sole object of his birthday desires. With B*Bot, he hopes, he will have a robot friend and maybe finally be able to make some connections with human friends too.
Unfortunately for Barney, Graham is both clueless and light on cash, so at first he doesn’t get Barney the desired bot. But after seeing him pranked by some bullies, Graham runs down to the B*Bot store, offering money and Donka’s goat in trade for a new B*Bot. The store turns him away, but in the loading area he meets a delivery driver who has a damaged B*Bot he’s willing to sell off the books.
When Barney meets the B*Bot he eventually calls Ron (voice of Zach Galifianakis), he’s initially delighted. But then he realizes Ron is off — he doesn’t have all of the B*Bot operating system, can’t seem to access the network and has only uploaded the “A” section of his system’s encyclopedia, which is why he starts off calling Barney Absalom. On the way to the B*Bot store to return Ron, Barney discovers that no operating system also means no safety controls and that Ron is quite effective at fending off bullies. Once corporate — in the form of a hoodie-wearing CEO guy named Marc (voice of Justice Smith) and a Tim-Cook-ish-looking older guy named Andrew (voice of Rob Delaney) — finds out about the rogue bot, they seek to capture him, but Barney, who teaches Ron how to do his friend duties, feels like he’s finally found someone to connect with.
My biggest problem with this movie (and this may be a mild spoiler) is that in the end, the omnipresent tech company spreading unhappiness throughout the land of tweens and teens isn’t the problem, it’s that their device isn’t, like, authentic enough or some techy meta-verse garbage. And if that sounds all “get your Instagram off my lawn” that’s a completely fair criticism of my social media mindset but also the suggestion that just some algorithm tweaks would make social media full of joy feels pretty cynical (which is particularly odd as Andrew’s cynicism about the purpose of B*Bots ultimately being selling kids stuff is one of the movie’s examples of his villainy). I understand the realities of the world, but that doesn’t mean I have to pay money to have my kids watch a movie with the message that what they really need is better social media and a more unpredictable robot.
I suppose if you put all of that aside, sure this movie is cute. Ron is a fun character, who, because his mission is friendship-based, the movie uses to explain the essence of friendship. Being friends isn’t just about people listening to you (or heart-click liking your posts) but is a relationship two people are in together, choosing to be friends and be there for each other. When compared to the more transactional nature of how the movie presents social media friendships (you make content and the other person follows you and they’re your “friend” and then you both move on to making new “friend” connections), the examination of friendship as an organic thing that needs continuous tending is interesting. And it’s presented in a tween/young teen-understandable way. And there are robot-y hijinxs and funny goat bits and kid social politics, played for gentle laughs. I don’t know that this movie would hold the attention of a younger audience but maybe for kids around 8 and up, who are starting to think about the nature of friendships and have some knowledge of the social media world and can deal with some scenes of conversation, Ron’s Gone Wrong is fun enough to keep them engaged. Me, I’ll be over here on my lawn, telling the B*Bots to shoo. C+
Rated PG for some rude material, thematic elements and language, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Sarah Smith and Jean-Philippe Vine and co-directed by Octavio E. Rodriguez with a screenplay by Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith, Ron’s Gone Wrong is an hour and 46 minutes long and distributed by Twentieth Century Studios in theaters (with at least a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window, according to BoxOfficePro).
Park Theatre 19 Main St., Jaffrey theparktheatre.org
Red River Theatres 11 S. Main St., Concord 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org
Regal Fox Run Stadium 15 45 Gosling Road, Newington regmovies.com
Rex Theatre 23 Amherst St., Manchester 668-5588, palacetheatre.org
Wilton Town Hall Theatre 40 Main St., Wilton wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456
Shows
• Howl’s Moving Castle (PG, 2004) at Cinemark Rockingham Park, AMC Methuen and Regal Fox Run on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.
• Beetlejuice (PG, 1988) part of the Film Frenzy $5 Classics series at O’neil Cinemas in Epping with daily screenings through Thursday, Oct. 28.
• The Phantom of the Opera (1925), a silent film starring Lon Chaney, with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m at Park Theatre. Admission $12.
• The Thing (1982) screening on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at Red River Theatres.
• Nosferatu (1922), a silent film, Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex, featuring live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission costs $10.
• The Shining (R, 1980) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 2 & 6:30 p.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord.
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (R, 1987) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. at Red River Theatres.
• The Blackbird (1921), a silent film with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; $10 donation suggested.
• The Innocents (1961) at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Friday, Oct 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
• The Invisible Man (1933) and The Wolf Man(1941) on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m. at AMC Londonderry, Cinemark Rockingham Park and Regal Fox Run.
• The Witches (PG, 1990) on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1, 4 & 7 p.m at Red River Theatres.
• Outside the Law (1920) and The Unholy Three (1925), silent films directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney, with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m. Admission is free; $10 donation suggested.
• Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m.
• Psycho (R, 1960) on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2, 5 & 8 p.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord.
• The Exorcist (R, 1973) on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 2 & 5:15 p.m. at Red River Theatres.
• Where East Is East (1929) a silent film with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, at Wilton Town Hall Theatre Sunday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. Admission is free; $10 donation suggested.
• Night of the Living Dead(1968) on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord.
Lon Chaney Weekend
Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton; wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456) will present a series of silent films starring Lon Chaney and featuring live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis this weekend. On Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. catch The Blackbird (1921). On Saturday, Oct. 30, the lineup features Outside the Law (1920) and The Unholy Three (1925), starting at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 31, see Where East Is East (1929) at 2 p.m. Admission to all films is free; a $10 donation is suggested.
How the versatility of agave is gaining tequila and mezcal a new following.
Eddie Leon of La Carreta in Derry and Londonderry is one of several Granite Staters who has flown down to Mexico to hand-select their own single-barrel tequilas. He first learned of the opportunity about eight years ago through a barrel buying program from Brown-Forman Corp., the owner of Tequila Herradura in Amatitán, Jalisco.
“We did it a few times with Herradura and it was very, very popular. … Then we opened it up to other brands like Patrón and Casa Noble,” Leon said. “People really liked the idea of being able to try something different that is not available in the normal stores.”
Over the years, pre-pandemic, Leon has since been joined by owners of some other local eateries and bars, including Cask & Vine in Derry, New England’s Tap House Grille in Hooksett, and 815 Cocktails & Provisions in Manchester. Even New Hampshire Liquor Commission spirits marketing and sales specialist Mark Roy has followed suit.
Agave plants are harvested in Mexico by farmers called jimadors. Photo by Eddie Leon.
The group lands and stays in the state capital of Guadalajara, taking day trips to nearby tequila distilleries. Tequilas are bottled before they cross the border, shipped to New Hampshire through a local broker and then purchased from the state to pour at each establishment.
“I’ve kind of become the tour guide for them, and I end up being the translator for a lot of things,” Leon said. “Guadalajara is actually the area where my parents came from originally, so it’s a really great experience. We’ve probably done at least eight or nine trips now.”
More and more premium barrel-aged selections of both tequila and its cousin, mezcal, have become available in New Hampshire in recent years, thanks to a continuously growing demand.
“We’re definitely seeing a huge upswing,” Roy said of tequila sales in Liquor & Wine outlets. “I think when you ask a lot of people who say that they’ve had a bad experience in the past with tequila, it usually ends up being a lower end or even a mixto, which is technically a tequila but is sometimes a blend of liqueur and tequila with higher sugar. … So I really try to encourage people not to associate tequila with the experience they’ve had before and to try to reintroduce themselves and come into it with an open mind. It’s an incredible experience and I think people could be missing out on a category of spirits that they’ve kind of pushed to the side.”
As part of New Hampshire Distiller’s Week, returning for its third year, the Liquor Commission will host “Hold the Lime and Salt: Exploring Premium Tequila and Mezcal,” a tasting seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford. The event will feature a panel of five brand ambassadors of premium tequilas and mezcals from multiple regions of Mexico.
Here, local restaurateurs and Distiller’s Week presenters talk about the types of tequilas and how they differ from mezcals.
“Ultima Palabra” cocktail Courtesy of Kendra Malone of the 7-20-4 Lounge in Londonderry
1½ ounces Casa Noble joven tequila ¾ ounce green Chartreuse liqueur ¾ ounce luxardo maraschino liqueur ¾ ounce lime juice
Shake and strain. Garnish with luxardo cherries.
Tequila time
Kurt Kendall of Twins Smoke Shop and the 7-20-4 Lounge in Londonderry, who has accompanied Leon on the trips to Mexico, agrees that tequila can be somewhat misunderstood.
“Tequila truly is a premium spirit that is meant to be sipped and enjoyed,” Kendall said. “We’ve turned on many customers that typically would enjoy Scotch or bourbon to these ultra-premium tequilas, and it really starts with a little bit of education to understand what it is, how to drink it properly and what you’re discovering. … Once people go through that little process, they become tequila sippers. It’s pretty amazing.”
Both tequila and mezcal are made from the agave plant, of which there are dozens of varieties that are indigenous to Mexico. The main difference between the two spirits, Leon said, is that tequila is made from only one species — the blue Weber agave, or agave tequilana. Mexican laws decree that tequila can only be made in certain regions of the country, he added, including in the state of Jalisco and a few limited areas in other states.
The agave plant can take anywhere from seven to 10 years to reach maturity. A farmer called a jimador harvests the plant by pruning it down to the piñas, or the agave hearts. Those hearts are then chopped up, cooked and juiced before the fermentation process begins.
There are four categories of 100 percent blue agave tequila: blanco (or silver), reposado, añejo and extra añejo. Their differences, Kendall said, have to do with how long each one is aged for.
A blanco or a silver is either unaged or aged for a very short time, depending on the brand, while a reposado could be aged anywhere from a few months to a year. Añejo tequilas are typically aged a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years, and the extra añejo can be aged for three years or longer to reach a greater complex flavor profile.
According to the website of the Tequila Regulatory Council, the governing body for tequila in Mexico, a blend of aged and unaged tequilas is known as a joven, which means “young” in Spanish. The aging process also gives each tequila a distinct color, ranging from a clear silver to a golden yellow, a lighter brown, and finally a dark amber.
Graciela González, a fourth-generation distiller and the brand ambassador of her family’s company, El Mayor tequila, will be one of the featured presenters at the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s “Hold the Lime and Salt” seminar. El Mayor features a full line of tequilas, each of which is distilled with agave grown on its own plantation just outside of the city of Arandas.
To demonstrate the evolution of each of her family’s products, González said she plans to showcase El Mayor’s blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas. She’ll also be offering samples of a new cocktail they’ve never done before: a spiked tepache, featuring their añejo tequila as the base.
“It’s going to be very unique and very fresh,” she said of the cocktail. “We’re using pineapple and tamarind … so with the tamarind having a tart flavor and the pineapple being more on the sweet side, it balances out perfectly well.”
Spiked tepache Courtesy of Graciela González, fourth-generation distiller and brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico
2 ounces El Mayor añejo tequila 1 ounce pineapple juice 1 ounce tamarind syrup 2 dashes Angostura bitters
All about mezcal
Leon remembers a time in the not so distant past when he could find only one brand of mezcal in the entire state. Now he estimates there to be well over 20 of them across store shelves.
“We’re starting to carry more because there has definitely been a growing call for it,” he said.
Even though mezcal is an agave-based spirit just like tequila, there are several distinct differences between the two. While tequila is made only from the blue Weber agave variety, mezcal can be made from combinations of dozens of other agave species, all with their own sizes, flavor profiles, growing conditions and maturation periods.
Piñas, or agave hearts, are cooked in an underground pit oven or above ground and covered with dirt, giving mezcal its distinct smoky flavor. Photo by Eric Timmerman.
A majority of mezcal comes from the state of Oaxaca, several hundred miles southeast of Jalisco, but agave varieties used to make the spirit are also known to grow in Durango, Guerrero, Zacatecas and a few other states. Eric Timmerman, national sales manager of the Sonoma, California-based 3 Badge Mixology, will be participating in the “Hold the Lime and Salt” Nov. 3 seminar with selections of the company’s Bozal mezcal brand.
“A lot of people think about mezcal as a smoky tequila. … Tequila for the most part is done in steam and ovens and autoclaves … but mezcal primarily is done in an underground pit oven, or above ground and covered with dirt. It’s almost like barbecue, is what I like to equate it to,” Timmerman said. “Those piñas are roasting slow and low and they are absorbing that smoke, so that’s why obviously mezcal has that smokier profile.”
Mezcal is also known for being much older than tequila, dating back at least to 9th- or 10th-century Oaxaca with the Zapotec culture, Timmerman said. Many of the practices that have been in place for hundreds of years are still in use today for Bozal products, including the use of the tahona, a stone wheel pulled in a circle by a donkey or horse to mash the agave hearts.
“It truly is one of the last handmade spirits in the world,” Timmerman said.
About 90 percent of all of the mezcal coming to the United States is crafted using the espadín agave plant, a variety characterized by its rich, smoky flavor profile, according to Timmerman. Bozal mezcal products, however, are distilled with all kinds of other agave species. Its Ensamble mezcal, for instance, features a blend of espadín, barril and Mexicano agave plants, while the Cenizo mezcal comes from a variety that grows in cool conditions and high altitudes in Durango.
During the seminar, Timmerman said he plans to showcase a Oaxacan margarita using
Bozal Ensamble mezcal, a riff on the classic cocktail with a bit of smokier profile.
“Obviously, everyone loves a good margarita and it’s such a universal cocktail, so we’re going to show them how it’s done with mezcal versus tequila,” he said.
Bozal Oaxacan margarita Courtesy of Eric Timmerman of 3 Badge Mixology in Sonoma, California
Add all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a double rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sal de gusano (agave worm salt) and a dehydrated citrus wheel.
Your guide to Distiller’s Week
Eighth annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits
When: Thursday, Nov. 4, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester
Cost: $60 per person; “sip and stay” packages are also available to purchase through the hotel
Visit: distillersshowcase.com
Event is 21+ only.
More New Hampshire Distiller’s Week happenings
The third annual New Hampshire Distiller’s Week will take place from Monday, Nov. 1, through Friday, Nov. 5 — check out this list of events and happenings for the week. For the most up-to-date calendar of Distiller’s Week events, visit distillersshowcase.com/events or follow New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets on Facebook @nhliquorwine.
Distiller’s Week. Matthew Lomanno Photography.
• National Hockey League Hall of Famer and Belfour Spirits owner-operator Ed Belfour will participate in multiple bottle signing and tasting events this week, including at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 38 (100 Rotary Way, Portsmouth) on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., and at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 50 (294 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and bottles of Belfour’s rye and Texas pecan-finished bourbon will be available for purchase.
• Get your tickets before they’re gone to a Casa Noble tequila dinner scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. at The Birch on Elm (931 Elm St., Manchester). The dinner will feature five courses paired with Casa Noble tequila-infused cocktails. Tickets are $99 per person. Visit thebirchonelm.com/tequiladinner to make reservations.
• The Birch on Elm is also hosting a New Riff Distilling Kentucky bourbon dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m., another five-course meal prepared by chef Nick Provencher that will feature cocktail pairings from New Riff bourbons. Tickets are $99 per person. Visit thebirchonelm.com/bourbondinner to make reservations.
• The New Hampshire Liquor Commission will host Hold the Lime and Salt: Exploring Premium Tequila and Mezcal on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Manchester Country Club (180 S. River Road, Bedford). Five leading industry experts will present their tequilas and mezcals during this exclusive seminar-style tasting. Each panelist will talk about three of their products and offer a signature cocktail sample during the event’s reception. At the conclusion of the seminar each product that was presented will be available for purchase. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
• Brain Brew Custom Whiskey founder and former Nashua resident Doug Hall will host a seminar at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 50 (294 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. Participants will learn about the history of whiskey, how New Hampshire wood is used in different products and the use of woodcraft finishing. Featured products will include Dexter three wood straight bourbon whiskey, Paddle Wheel triple oak bourbon, and Brain Brew’s custom bourbon blending kit. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
The Distiller’s Showcase
First introduced in 2013, the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits is now the flagship event of New Hampshire Distiller’s Week and one of the largest tasting events for spirits on the East Coast. After the pandemic caused it to transition into a series of virtual tastings in 2020, the Showcase is back in full force — the event returns for an 8th year on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.
“We’re hoping to get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Mark Roy, spirits marketing and sales specialist for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. “We were blown away by the response to some of the virtual programs last year, [but] the goal is to go back to the regular forte of the Showcase and the different events leading up to it.”
Roy said the idea of the event came after he attended the Winter Wine Spectacular, normally held in late January. Like during its Wine Week counterpart, brand ambassadors and industry leaders from all over the world come to the Showcase to present their products. Attendees are given a program booklet with a full map of the dozens of tables of spirits that are featured, totaling more than 700 premium whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, rums, vodkas, gins and other spirits to try. Because of the large volume of products available, Roy said, it’s always a good idea to go into the Showcase with a game plan, by seeking out what you may be most interested in or curious about.
This is the first year that Eric Timmerman, national sales manager of the Sonoma, California-based 3 Badge Mixology, will be participating. He’ll talk about and offer samples of the company’s lineup of products, which include Uncle Val’s botanical gin, Benjamin Chapman whiskey and Kirk and Sweeney rum, in addition to its Bozal mezcal and Pasote tequila.
“As much as I enjoy doing talks on Zoom, there’s still something to be said about being able to have those conversations with people and seeing their reactions when they try the samples,” Timmerman said. “[The Showcase] is a really great opportunity to try a lot of really great products that are on the market … and it gives people a chance to experience things that they may not necessarily have otherwise tried. So we’re excited to be part of it.”
Other participants will include National Hockey League Hall of Famer Ed Belfour, who owns and operates Belfour Spirits; Graciela González, a fourth-generation distiller and the brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico, who will be one of the five panelists at the Hold the Salttequila and mezcal seminar the evening before; and Tim Smith, founder of Tim Smith Spirits and star of the Discovery Channel reality series Moonshiners.
The Showcase wouldn’t be complete without its lineup of Granite State spirits purveyors, either — Charles “CJ” Lundergan of Steadfast Spirits Distilling Co. in Concord will be pouring his moonshine-mixed cocktails at the event for the first time, while Brian Ferguson of Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee is also expected to return with his bourbon and rye whiskeys.
More than two dozen New Hampshire restaurants and catering companies will have tables of their own, offering various hors d’oeuvres and appetizers. Several are first-time participants, including Manchester’s Elm House of Pizza, and Red Beard’s Kitchen, a takeout business that chef Matthew Provencher launched earlier this year featuring ready-to-eat comfort meals. Returning businesses will be The Crown Tavern, the Hanover Street Chophouse, The Common Man, Stark Brewing Co., and Twins Smoke Shop and the 7-20-4 Lounge.
If you sample something during the Showcase and decide you want a whole bottle of it, you can purchase it at the conclusion of the event and arrange to pick it up at any one of the 68 New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet stores in subsequent days. The hotel is also once again offering “sip and stay” packages, which include tickets to the event along with a room.
Proceeds from the Showcase will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank, a new partner for 2021. Last year the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed more than 17 million pounds of food to its hundreds of partner agencies statewide. Executive director Eileen Liponis said there were 71 mobile food pantries held in 2020 — compared to only around a half dozen during a normal year pre-pandemic — serving just under 30,000 New Hampshire families.
“We’re extremely delighted to be part of such a premier event, and we think it’s very important to come out and support the New Hampshire Liquor Commission,” Liponis said. “I think if there’s one thing that Covid may have given us as a silver lining, it’s that our biggest enemies are always shame and stigma. … I think in everyone’s social circle they saw someone being challenged by the effects of the pandemic on them … and I hope that because of that we have more empathy for the fact that food is a basic necessity we all deserve.”
Featured photo:Spiked Tepache Courtesy ofGraciela González, fourth-generation distiller and brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico.
