Usually at this time of year I am planning my travel to the various flower shows around New England: Boston, Connecticut or Vermont. Perhaps Maine. Not this year. Most of the shows have been put off due to Covid, including the Boston Show, which was canceled recently.
The Connecticut Flower Show website says it will be the only major flower show in New England, and it will take place Feb. 24 to Feb. 27 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Tickets cost $20 for adults on the day of the event, or $16 if purchased in advance (which will avoid the wait in line). Children ages 5 to 12 are $5, and children under 5 are free. The Convention Center has been upgraded to minimize risk of Covid transmission and state and local regulations will be followed.
The show is always known for having lots of educational workshops. This year is no exception: There are some 80 presentations, including organic lawn care, container gardening, floral arranging and pollinator gardens, among others.
One talk that caught my eye is by a friend of mine, Len Giddix: “It’s Rain Gutter Gardening: Sprouts, Herbs and Greens without Draining Your Wallet.” I called Len, who explained that he uses 4-inch pots in a 10-foot section of gutter partially filled with potting mix. It’s tidy and can produce a lot of greens. And no, the gutter is not up high; it’s along the edge of a walkway. Sounds slick! He’ll repeat his demo every day.
The show will have all the usual vendors selling seeds, plants, cut flowers, air plants, tick protection products, beekeeping supplies, garden tools and more. Organizations like the Rose Society will be there, and other nonprofits.
Next there is the Chelsea Flower Show in London from May 24 to May 28. This show has always been held outdoors and is known for the lavish gardens built by world-famous designers, often using mature trees and shrubs. There are, of course, tents, one of which would easily accommodate Barnum and Bailey at its heyday. My wife and I attended in 2017.
The magnificence of the show is startling: hundreds of fresh blossoms in perfect form in many of the booths. New introductions of named varieties are on display. Actress Judi Dench got a lovely apricot-colored rose named after her by David Austin the year I attended, and as press, I got to see her accept the honor. The chief executive of Burpee Seeds, George Ball, was in the Burpee booth, greeting us and answering questions. There was even a cute little robot cutting the lawn in one booth. The show covers many acres.
If you decide to go, I recommend joining the Royal Horticultural Society for 50 pounds ($67.50 at current exchange rate). The membership gets you admission to the show for two days before it opens to all, a 10-percent discount on all tickets, and other benefits including their quarterly magazine. I went on the first membership day and it was quite crowded, so I can’t imagine what it is like when the show is open to the public. I recommend attending at least two days to see it all, which is what we did.
Daily tickets for adults cost about $55, with Saturday at about $116. But if you can afford it, go! It’s a once in a lifetime experience. And women: Bring your most colorful garden hat and a flowered dress as the British women love to dress up for the show — and you don’t want to appear like the poor “country cousin.”
Then there is the Philadelphia Flower Show, which will be held outdoors from June 11 to June 19 at South Philadelphia’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. The show, which was first organized by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1829, will include 15 acres of this large park with majestic trees and views of the waterfront. By holding the show outdoors in early summer, exhibitors will be able to include larger landscape material than an indoor event, much as the Chelsea Flower Show does.
I have attended the Philly show in the past, and always was thoroughly “wowed.” One aspect of the show that I love is the competitions that allow ordinary gardeners to strut their stuff, competing for ribbons for best house plants, flower arrangements, specialty plants and more. Then of course there are the displays made by professional landscapers, stone workers and designers. And more garden geegaws than you can imagine are for sale.
Bring an umbrella or raincoat, just in case of a shower. There are tents, but much is outdoors. The large outdoor venue should keep attendees well socially distanced.
Admission is $45 for adults, $30 for young adults (18 to 29), and $20 for kids 5 to 17. Go to the website to read more about gala events and early morning tours: phsonline.org/the-flower-show
Covid has limited what we can do and see, but there are still a few places to go if you hanker for a good garden show. And maybe next year they will all be back to normal.
Featured photo: Calla lillies at the Chelsea Flower Show. Photo courtesy of Henry Homeyer.
New festival features art, snow elves, s’mores and more
The just-created Wilton Arts Market will make its debut at the first-ever Wilton Winter Festival, a community collaboration that will offer a day of arts, crafts for kids, fire pits and s’mores, ice sculpting demonstrations, a teddy bear clinic, a potluck dinner and live music from folk singer Paul Driscoll.
“We could all use some feel-good moments right now,” said Kate Schimke, a Wilton Main Street volunteer and founder of the Wilton Arts Market. “I want people to come and shake off the winter blues.”
Ceramic jewelry. Courtesy photo.
Schimke is planning to hold monthly arts markets after its debut at the festival, in the hopes of drawing attention to the town’s three-floor art mill right by the Souhegan River, home to many artistic minds.
“Wilton’s really got a lot of cool artisans in town,” Schimke said. “There are so many talented local crafters.”
Her own studio is there too; she and her husband create artisan jewelry and decor under the name Prayers of Nature. She said she’s earned her stripes when it comes to vending her art.
“I was sick of packing up my art and [doing other shows],” she said. “I thought, why don’t I do this outside my art studio in Wilton?”
Once she decided to start an arts market in town, she talked to Wilton Main Street about collaborating with other town organizations to make the first one part of a community-wide event — and thus, the Wilton Winter Festival was born.
It’s not a brand new idea for Wilton; in fact, the Heritage Commission will have on display artifacts from old Wilton Winter Carnivals.
“[They] used to draw four trains a day from Boston and beyond to come to Wilton,” said Sandy Lafleur, a board member for the Wilton Community Center. “There were all kinds of winter activities, including a toboggan run that went through three towns: Wilton, Lyndeborough and Milford!”
There won’t be a toboggan run at this festival, but there will be outdoor activities like ice sculpting demonstrations, songs and s’mores around a campfire, and snow elf making. The Wilton Public Library is heading up the latter two events.
Pat Fickett at the Wilton Public Library said youth librarian “Ms. Boo” will have several activities for kids throughout the day, starting with Valentine making at the library from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. It’s a drop-in event with craft supplies available and is geared toward families and teens, she said.
Handmade pet toys. Courtesy photo.
At noon, Ms. Boo will head to the campfire at Main Street Park, where she’ll sing and play guitar.
“Songs will be familiar to most for singing along,” Fickett said. “There may be a winter story as well.”
And from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Ms. Boo will lead Snow Elf Making on the library lawn, providing everything that’s needed to create “some adorable elf creations,” Fickett said.
Saint Joe’s Mobile Clinic will be set up at the end of Main Street for heart health screenings, as well as games and teddy bear clinics, so kids are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal to the event.
Local folk singer-songwriter Paul Driscoll will be playing live during the arts market, which is being held in the Congregational Church due to lack of space in the arts mill (it will be held outside the mill building once the weather warms up, Schimke said.
There are eight artisans signed up for this first market, including a macrame artist, a jeweler who works with clays and pottery, an artisan who makes pet gifts, a jeweler who works with bead embroidery and Schimke and her husband with selection from their Prayers of Nature boutique.
Wrap up the day by bringing a dish to the potluck dinner, which will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with drinks, bread and desserts provided.
“I just want people to come out and have fun,” Schimke said. “It’s all about supporting the community.”
Wilton Winter Festival This free event will be held Saturday, Feb. 12, at various locations in Wilton. Email wiltonartsmarket@gmail.com and find the event on Facebook.
Congregational church Inside, masks required 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Arts market, live music, drinks and refreshments, and a Heritage Commission pictorial display of past winter carnivals in Wilton. 5 to 7 p.m.: Potluck dinner Library Inside, masks required 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Valentine crafts 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Snow elf building Main Street Park Noon to 1 p.m.: Stories and songs at the fire pit, s’mores and marshmallows 1 to 4 p.m.: Ice carving demonstrations
• Last weekend’s storm led to the cancellation of parts of Concord’s Winterfest — including a scheduled screening of the animated movie Smallfoot (PG, 2018), about a village of Yetis and featuring the voices of Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common and others. That screening is back on for this coming Saturday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. at the Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; redrivertheatres.org, 224-4600). Tickets for last Saturday’s show can be transferred to this coming Saturday’s show (email info@redrivertheatres.org).
Science Fridays
• Head to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) on Fridays (through the end of April) for their special “Science Friday” programming featuring “messy experiments and activities that focus on sensory fun,” according to the website. “Activities can be used as a jumping off point for learning about scientific concepts like states of matter or immiscible liquids,” the website said. The events take place at 10 a.m. during the morning session (which runs from 9 a.m. to noon) or at 2 p.m. during the afternoon (from 1 to 4 p.m.). The activities are geared to ages 3 and up with the help of a grownup. To visit the museum, pay for admission ($11 for everyone over 1 year old, $9 for 65+) and reserve a time slot in advance.
As of Jan. 31, the museum also still had tickets available for its Dinosaur Valentine’s Party on Sunday, Feb. 13, with sessions including one from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission costs $16.
Some Plays
• A the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), the Palace Youth Theatre group (featuring student actors in second through twelfth grade) will present the tale of Wilbur, “Some Pig,” in Charlotte’s Web, a play based on the book by E.B. White. The show will run Tuesday, Feb. 8, and Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. Call for tickets.
• Head to Narnia for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, presented by Epping Community Theater’s Youth Theater on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Epping Playhouse (38 Ladd’s Lane in Epping, eppingtheater.org). Admission costs $10 at the door (cash only).
Magic and stories
• “Storytime and magic” is the theme for the Saturday, Feb. 5, storytime at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) at 11:30 a.m. The event will feature a reading of Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons and then a magic show from DaSean “Magicman” Greene, according to the website, where you can register for this free event.
And other less drastic ways to deal with Japanese knotweed
I’m a lucky guy: I have no Japanese knotweed. Many is the gardener who has emailed me asking, “What can I do to get rid of Japanese knotweed?” My usual answer? Sell the house.
Japanese knotweed, commonly called bamboo because of its hollow, segmented stems, goes by a number of scientific names, most commonly Polygonum cuspidatum. The leaves are heart-shaped and alternate on the stems, which can reach up to 10 or even 15 feet tall. It was introduced from Japan as a landscape plant in the late 1880’s, and was sometimes planted for erosion control, but quickly proved invasive.
Japanese knotweed spreads easily; its rhizomes (roots) can go 90 feet or more, even popping up through asphalt or pushing through house foundations. I talked to someone who tried to dig out a patch that had been growing for decades by using a backhoe; he quit after digging down 8 feet because he saw roots going even deeper!
Japanese knotweed blooms in early fall with white blossoms that attract bees and other pollinators. The small seeds are carried by wind, water or animals, though research shows that seeds are not usually how it propagates. It spreads by root — even a small bit of root can create a new patch of knotweed, so it is a problem along streams and rivers because flooding can send its invasive roots to new sites miles away. Sometimes highway departments move soil with roots, and it spreads.
Invasive plants (like knotweed) are defined as those coming from a different continent with few or no natural predators here. The bugs that eat purple loosestrife or Japanese knotweed did not come with them when they first made it to our shores. Invasives spread rapidly and can outcompete our native plants for sun, moisture and soil nutrients.
Most invasives can grow in sun or shade in wet or dry soil. They do not need that dark, organic matter-rich soils that we offer our peonies. Invasives, generally, can grow in your gravel driveway if given half a chance.
Most invasives are hard to control for several reasons. Most have extensive root systems that spread far and wide, and are often brittle. Trying to dig out the roots generally results in new plants from scraps of root that broke off, and that is certainly the case for knotweed.
I recently called Pete Butler, an arborist living in Stockbridge, Vermont, to talk about Japanese knotweed. Last summer I visited one of his projects, a public park along the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont, to look at his efforts controlling knotweed.
Pete said that the best time to attack a patch of knotweed is in the fall, when the plants are less vigorous and new shoots are less likely to grow after the roots are disturbed. Dig out root masses to get as much root as possible. The roots show bright orange if scraped with your shovel. They are woody and large in a well-established patch. “You’re not going to dig it all out successfully. But taking away a lot of the root mass is like a good punch in the nose,” according to Pete.
He emphasized that you should never get rid of your excavated knotweed roots by taking them away. Destroy them on site by burning them. He takes dead trees, branches from pruning and other wood products to start a hot bonfire that will destroy the knotweed. If you truck it away, it will start growing elsewhere, spreading the problem.
After digging, he said, add some competition. He uses winter rye, planting in the fall. It scavenges nitrogen and starts rebuilding soil that the knotweed has depleted. He also adds fertilizer to improve the soil. In spring the winter rye starts growing early, as does the knotweed. The grass stabilizes the soil and helps re-introduce microbial life, he said.
Getting a soil test will help you determine how badly your soil has been degraded by the knotweed so you can improve it. In the spring he likes to add more grass seeds, particularly sheep fescue and hard fescue. These grasses compete with the little sprouts of knotweed from root scraps that evaded your digging. He does not mow the grasses, which are relatively short.
Pete explained that he uses an IPM or Integrated Pest Management approach to controlling knotweed, including micro-doses of herbicides, just “ounces per acre.” He is licensed to apply pesticides, to help in the process, but cautions that homeowners should not attempt using herbicides. Even herbicides like Roundup, widely touted as safe, can have negative impacts on beneficial plants and soil fungi.
Getting control of a knotweed infestation will take at least three years, Pete said, and each year he uses less herbicide. The “shelf life” of the roots is about nine years, he said, after which they will no longer be viable. Until that time, a site needs to be carefully monitored and appropriate steps taken each year.
When I visited his knotweed control site last summer Pete showed me how competition can help control knotweed. He planted a clump of hemlocks about 6 feet tall, shoulder to shoulder, after removing knotweed roots. They effectively outcompeted the knotweed, even if not completely eliminating the few new shoots that appear each year. He applies micro-doses of herbicide to finish it off.
Knotweed does best in full sun and moist soil, so creating shade near a site will slow it down some. And human activity can discourage it, too. High foot traffic will slow it down.
So maybe you don’t have to sell your house just because you have knotweed. But be prepared to battle it for years. And for those of us committed to organics, we may have to live with a little knotweed.
Featured photo: Japanese knotweed is an attractive plant, but nearly impossible to get rid of. Courtesy photo.
This all started with a troll; more specifically, the Heritage Troll, a large wooden sculpture built by artist Tom LeComte and placed along a trail behind Stark Park in Manchester. My daughter, ever the little explorer, took about one minute to find the troll, and about 10 seconds to ask, “Are there more?”
Finding the answer to that question took me down a decades-long road of city planning and sustainable design, all of which may be coming to a head this spring in a way that could change the infrastructure of transportation in the Merrimack Valley.
But first, the troll.
Mounted map of Stark Park trails, illustrated by artist Peter Noonan
The installation is part of the newly refurbished trail system behind the park that organizers call Walk in the Woods. In the summer and fall of 2021, the lower 15 acres of Stark Park were redesigned and landscaped back to the walking park originally envisioned when the Heritage Trail was designed and built along the Merrimack River. Charming bridges now span babbling brooks, park benches are set up to rest weary feet, and a tree troll — sitting nearly as high as my daughter is tall — now casts a watchful eye out over the river.
During our hike I noticed how close the new (old) trail system is to the Merrimack River. But there are no spur trails to take a walker out there and the reason is the active set of railroad tracks that runs from Manchester to Concord along the river and divides the park from the river.
For 12 years various biking/walking and developing groups have been trying to convince Pan Am Railways to allow rail trails to be built alongside their active tracks, said Jason Soukup, the board secretary of Manchester Moves, one of the organizations working on rail trail projects around the city. The problem right now is liability.
“We found a gap in New Hampshire law, compared to other states like Maine, in the current Rec Use Law on the books that doesn’t protect the railway,” he said. “We’re trying to change that.”
Last year Pan Am sold the railway to CSX Transportation, a railway company that already has established active use railroad lines right next to rail trails around the country.
“If we give them liability protection, they’ll do it,” said Soukup.
On Jan. 20, House Bill 1579 (The Rail with Trail Bill) was introduced into the House Judiciary Committee for study. This May, when the railroad sale is finalized, supporters say passing the bill will protect the railway from liability and open the door to rail trail development.
Beside Manchester Moves, the bill is supported by a wide coalition of rail trail supporters, including the New Hampshire Rail Trail Coalition, The City of Manchester, the Friends of Stark Park, New Hampshire DOT and the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington, D.C.
While it may seem strange that such a coalition is putting this much support behind a fairly obscure bipartisan bill, there’s a much larger picture here to consider.
Should the bill pass and the railway relent to allow a rail trail to be built alongside its tracks, that would connect a critical 31-mile “gap” in the Granite State Rail Trail. The nearly contiguous 125-mile rail trail that runs from Salem to Lebanon is missing one critical section: the piece between Manchester and Concord. Connect that part along the active tracks, and one could in theory walk or bike the entire length of the trail without having to touch a road.
“Imagine, for tourism and connectivity, being able to get on your bike and ride safely wherever you want,” Soukup said. “A community you can connect to without having to use a car is a better community.”
Rail Trail supporters have never been so close to making the statewide corridor a reality. And rail trails, in general, make perfect routes for beginner walkers who want to experience hiking during all seasons.
But while we wait for May, Walk in the Woods and the Heritage Trail, which continues on for another two miles behind the Youth Services Center off River Road, is open for exploration.
Meanwhile, to answer my daughter’s question, the Manchester Trolls may well be multiplying. Word has it that plans are in the works to find homes for several others, including somewhere along the Rockingham Trail. And don’t be surprised if Arms Park suddenly becomes a troll home.
“This all falls under the umbrella of making our neighborhoods better,” Soukup said. “We want to encourage people to stay here, explore local places, and that means investing in those places.”
Dan Szczesny is a long time journalist and hiker and a member of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footer club. He’s written travel memoirs about Nepal and Alaska and about hiking with kids. His latest books include The White Mountain: Rediscovering the Hidden Culture of Mount Washington and NH Rocks That Rock: An Adventure Guide to 25 Famous Boulders in the Granite State. He lives in Manchester with his wife and daughter. See danszczesny.com
Featured photo: The author’s daughter finds the Rail Troll, a sculpture by artist Tom LeComte. Photo by Dan Szczesny.
Ax throwing, escape rooms and other ideas for fun group outings
Learn from the ax-perts
Bury the hatchet with your friends
By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com
Ax throwing is one of those sports that gets you hooked the first time you try it — at least that’s how it started for Tracey McCormick, owner and founder of RelAxe Throwing in Manchester.
“I actually went down to Texas on a family vacation, went ax throwing on a fluke and fell in love with it immediately,” she said. “I couldn’t believe how good it felt and how much fun it was at the same time. … I remember looking around the room at all the different types of people that were there. People were cheering each other on, even when they didn’t know each other.”
When McCormick returned to New Hampshire and realized there were no indoor ax throwing venues in the state at the time, she began working on a business plan to bring one here. Today, RelAxe Throwing holds four ax throwing leagues per year and has even had throwers represented at three world ax throwing championship competitions.
But you don’t have to be a professional thrower to give it a go. McCormick’s team of “ax-perts” is always on hand to teach you the basics if you’ve never tried it before.
“Ax throwing is not about strength or trying to throw hard. It’s about finesse and technique,” she said. “We work with people of all varying abilities … and so we can adapt some of the things that are needed for their safety in order for them to be successful as well.”
It’s a similar operation at The Rugged Axe, which opened on South Willow Street in the Queen City last June. Co-owner and longtime Goffstown resident Charles Keith dreamed about opening his own ax throwing business after trying it out while visiting his son in Pensacola, Florida.
“Anybody can throw an ax. We’ve had a 90-year-old man throw one and be able to get a bull’s-eye. The skillset is really just hand-eye coordination,” Keith said. “We teach everybody how to do both a two-handed throw and a one-handed throw. … The ax will typically rotate one and a quarter to one and a half times depending on how hard you throw it, and it’s top heavy, so the weight of the ax is actually what makes it rotate. You don’t have to use your wrists at all.”
There are lots of different ax throwing games you can play. In a typical standard game, you would get 10 throws and the player with the most points wins. Each ring on the target is worth a different number of points that increases the closer you get to the bull’s-eye. There are also other ways to score, Keith said, including smaller blue dots that are awarded a higher number of points if the player announces before throwing that they’re aiming for it.
Two of The Rugged Axe’s 18 lanes have a projector that superimposes a target onto the boards, allowing throwers to play other games like Tic-Tac-Toe or Duck Hunt. The venue is open weekly for private parties and for leagues you can sign up for, either individually or as a group.
“It’s such a wonderful activity that’s competitive and a great way to get your aggression out, especially in Covid times,” Keith said. “You can always tell when somebody hits the bull’s-eye, because there’s some yelling and screaming going on from that lane. It’s very satisfying.”
Where to go ax throwing Closed-toe shoes are required and a safety waiver must be filled out. For groups, booking in advance online is recommended; reserve your own lanes by telling them how many people are coming and how long you’ll be throwing for.
Axe Play 142 Lowell Road, Unit 19, Hudson, 809-9081, axe-play.com Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Cost: $25 per hour per person Axe Play, which opened in August 2020, features seven ax throwing lanes for a total of 14 targets. Ax throwers must be at least 18, with the exception of family hours on specific days and times, when the center is open to kids ages 10 and up.
Block Party Social 51 Zapora Drive, Hooksett, 621-5150, blockpartysocial.com Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight Cost: $30 per hour per person (includes a $5 arcade game card) Formerly the Space Entertainment Center, Block Party Social features a newly renovated space that includes an eight-lane ax throwing lounge with multiple game formats to choose from using superimposed screens and a touch screen interface to keep track of players’ scores. Ax throwers must be at least 18.
RelAxe Throwing 157 Gay St., Manchester, 782-3061, relaxethrowing.com Hours: Monday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Cost: $25 per hour per person Since opening in June 2019 as an indoor ax throwing venue, RelAxe has added seasonal outdoor throwing, including through an expansion at Candia Springs Adventure Park in Candia, and has had throwers represented at three world ax throwing championship competitions. The minimum age to throw is 10, and all throwers under the age of 16 must have a throwing adult with them.
The Rugged Axe 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. (the center is reserved for leagues on Mondays and private events on Tuesdays) Cost: $25 per hour per person One of the newer spots to join the local ax throwing scene, The Rugged Axe opened in June 2021. It’s also the largest indoor ax throwing venue in the Granite State, with a total of 18 lanes. Ax throwers as young as 12 years old are welcome. A small menu of hot dogs, snacks, beer and wine is available at the center’s onsite “Lumberjack Shack.”
Party of you
Get your own mini restaurant with igloo dining
By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com
Enjoying a meal inside a warm heated igloo keeps outdoor dining alive in the winter and gives you and your own party space. Here’s a list of local eateries offering outdoor igloos by reservation. Due to high demand, some may require you to book them out several days, weeks or more in advance. Be sure to contact each restaurant directly via phone or email for the most up-to-date availability.
• 603 Brewery (42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com) features heated igloos on its patio that accommodate seating for up to eight people. Igloos are available to rent for two-hour time slots for a $50 rental fee per party. Time slots are released online one month at a time.
Averill House Vineyard in Brookline. Courtesy photo.
• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) offers a “vine to wine” igloo and gazebo experience package, available for two to eight people per party. The cost is $100 for the first two people and $50 for each additional person and includes four wine tastings and a charcuterie board inside one of the vineyard’s heated igloos for a one-hour-and-45-minute visit.
• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) offers luxury outdoor dining at its onsite igloo garden, accommodating up to six people per party and featuring heat and air filtration systems. Igloos can be reserved for up to two and a half hours, offering the BVI’s tavern and dining room menus, except on holidays, in addition to a special Simi wine and cocktail menu. The cost is $50 to reserve an igloo for lunch and $100 to reserve one for brunch or dinner (brunches are on Saturdays and Sundays only).
• Boston Billiard Club & Casino (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630, bostonbilliardclubcasino.com) has a few heated igloos on its patio that are available by reservation only. Igloos have a two-hour limit and can be reserved for parties of up to five.
• Downtown Cheers Grille & Bar (17 Depot St., No. 1, Concord, 228-0180, cheersnh.com) has four heated igloos on its patio that can be reserved for parties of four to eight people. Reservations are two hours per party and require a $50 deposit that’s applied to your bill.
• Tuscan Market (Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) offers “al fresco igloo dining experience” packages that can accommodate two to six guests per party. The cost is a $150 spend minimum on weekdays and a $250 spend minimum on weekends.
Take aim at your friends
Get messy with paint or hit ’em with lasers
By Alexandra Colella
news@hippopress.com
Want a little healthy competition among your friend group? Paintball and laser tag give you the chance to fight in a fun way — or you can ramp up the mess factor with a private party in a paint splatter room.
Paintball
AG Paintball (158 Deering Center Road, Weare, 529-3524, agpaintball.com) opened in 1988 and today is one of the longest-running paintball parks in the Granite State. The park encompasses 30 acres with nine woodsball fields and one speedball field, and also offers an onsite pro shop with guns, masks and other accessories for sale. “[We have] many different themed paintball rooms that can pertain to any interests and likes,” said Rusty Glaze, Paintball Blogger at AG Paintball. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their average paintball experience package when you come self-equipped is $30 per person. They also have rental packages starting at $40 per person. Private group parties can include 10 players or more to experience your own game of paintball with your group of friends.
OSG Paintball (1053 N. Barnstead Road, Center Barnstead, 1-800-707-7529, osgpaintball.com) is the largest paintball park in the state, with 44 acres and 12 playing fields. Every field is themed, including Star Wars, Pirate Cove, Empire Castle, Hamburger Hill and more, and games can also have themes of their own, like Westerns, Call of Duty, The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Goonies. The park is closed for the winter but is scheduled to reopen March 5. Private parties are available seven days a week with a reservation required. Packages include a private group of 10 or more people for a full day for $49.99 or a half day for $39.99, with full-impact and low-impact options available.
Paint splatter
Rage Cage NH (10 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 402-4197, ragecagenh.com) features a paint splatter room that’s open to all ages. Have a glow paint party with ultraviolet black lights, bubble and fog machines and whatever music you want for $30 per person for an hour, with up to eight people per party. A regular paint splatter party without the glow is $20 per person, with up to 20 people allowed (contact Rage Cage if you have more than 20 people). When you book a paint party online, you pay for just one person to reserve the room for the full hour. For a regular paint splatter party, every participant can pick out 10 colors of washable paint, a 12×12’’ canvas and safety goggles, and additional upgrades are available, like throwable paintballs ($5 to $20), more colors ($2 per color), larger canvases ($5 to $10) and stencils ($10) to make your art. Paint parties do not come with jumpsuits, but white hooded jumpsuits are available for $10 each. For glow parties, participants can pick out 14 colors of UV-reactive washable paint, a 12×12’’ canvas and safety goggles, along with any preferred upgrades. Rage Cage NH hours are noon to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Laser tag
Block Party Social (51 Zapora Drive, Hooksett, 621-5150, blockpartysocial.com) is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m to 10 p.m and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. The price for the laser tag arena is $22 per person for a 30-minute experience (this includes a $5 arcade game card).
Hilltop Fun Center (165 Route 108, Somersworth, 742-8068, hilltopfuncenter.com) is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Laser tag prices are $14 for a 30-minute session and $22 for two 30-minute sessions; each session includes three six-minute games. On Friday and Saturday, laser mania is $25 per person, with unlimited laser tag from 5 to 9 p.m. You can also rent out the entire arena for your own group for $300 for the first hour and $100 for additional hours.
Break free with your buddies
Escape rooms offer a safe activity for groups
By Angie Sykeny
asykeny@hippopress.com
Since New Hampshire’s first escape room, Granite State Escape, opened in 2015, escape rooms have been popular destinations in the state for group outings and private events like birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, school trips and corporate team-builders. Now, in pandemic times, escape rooms offer something even more valuable:
“I think that people are wanting to once again enjoy the company of others while participating in a fun, safe and interactive experience together,” said Pamela Provencher, owner of Granite State Escape in Manchester. “[Because] escape rooms allow groups to stay in their bubble, escape rooms [are a way] for some folks to begin to safely venture out again while also being … a fun night out for the more adventurous.”
Players do puzzles, solve riddles and crack codes by physically engaging with items in the room in a race against the clock to complete the room’s overall objective. A “gamemaster” explains the backstory, objective and rules to the players and monitors the room remotely during the game, maintaining audio communications with the players to ensure their safety and to provide hints, should they get stuck.
“Escape the Library,” an escape room at Escape Room Concord. Courtesy photo.
Escape rooms are unique in that they appeal to a wide range of people, Escape Room Concord owner Gregory Slossar said, making them a great outing for mixed groups.
“There are few activities out there that offer multi-generational entertainment,” he said. “Escape rooms are great for friends who want to do something fun before or after dinner, or families who are looking to do something with their children that makes everyone put down their phones for an hour, or a place where co-workers can come together as a team and bond on a personal level.”
Christopher McCarthy, who is the co-owner, operations manager and resident gamemaster at The Escape Room Experience in Laconia, said escape rooms are an opportunity for people to let go of whatever is on their mind and be transported to another world where their only focus is to complete the objective of the room.
“It gives you an active goal, with minimal distractions,” he said. “It’s an environment catered to challenging your brain while in a physical space designed to grab your attention and keep it there.”
McCarthy said he is especially excited about The Escape Room Experience’s new room, “Serial Killer Cabin,” which pays homage to classic 1980s slasher films.
“As the designer, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished within the space,” he said. “I feel like, atmospherically, we knocked it out of the park.”
Policies for players vary per escape room. Some escape rooms accept walk-ins, but most require booking in advance. The number of players allowed typically ranges from couples to groups of up to 10 or 12 people, but certain rooms may have their own limit. Families and groups with children should check on the escape room’s age restrictions or recommendations before they go as some rooms may be frightening, atmospherically, or too challenging for young players.
Escape rooms have been taking various safety precautions to prevent the spread of Covid, such as allowing more time between groups to clean and sanitize the rooms and to ensure that the groups don’t run into each other in the lobby area; requiring their staff to be vaccinated; requiring or encouraging staff and players to wear masks; and installing air filter machines.
“We believe escape rooms truly are one of the safest things you can choose to participate in,” said Lara Barkley, creative director at Key to Escape in Nashua. “Not even the movie theater or bowling alley can keep you out of the same room with groups of people you don’t know.”
Play an escape room
• 102 Escape, 123 Nashua Road, Unit 34, Londonderry, 260-6198, 102escape.com • Break Free 603, 141 Route 101A, Amherst, 424-1758, breakfree603.com • Escape Room Concord, 240 Airport Road, Concord, 225-2271, escaperoomconcordnh.com • The Escape Room Experience, 555 Main St., Suite A, Laconia, 366-6296, theescaperoomexperience.live • Granite State Escape, 795 Elm St., Manchester, 935-7455, escapenh.com • Key To Escape, 3 Bud Way, Unit 21, Nashua, 809-4018, keytoescape.com • LOK’d! Room Escape, 1500 S Willow St., Manchester, 945-3113, lokdrocks.com • Monkey Mind Escape Rooms, 10 Vaughan Mall, Portsmouth, 498-8997, monkeymindescape.com • Portsmouth Escape Room, 95 Brewery Lane, No. 13, Portsmouth, 380-9160, portsmouthescaperoom.com
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of The Rugged Axe in Manchester.
Many communities have ponds or outdoor rinks for ice skating, stick practice and pond hockey. Town- and city-maintained ponds are free to use, making it a fun outdoor activity that doesn’t cost a thing if you already have skates – and a hockey stick, if you want to play, which longtime hockey player and Black Ice Pond Hockey Association Board President Daniel Luker says can totally change your on-ice experience.
“Get a buddy, show up, bring a stick and a couple pucks … and get out there and you’ll automatically start playing hockey,” Luker said. “Once you start skating and once you pick up a stick, it’s a whole different ball game. … Once you pick up a stick, you can’t help but play, and you’ll chase the puck forever.”
Whether you want to give pond hockey a try or would rather just free skate, here are a few local rinks to check out. The open/closed status of the rinks can change from day to day depending on temperatures. Call or check the city’s or town’s website or social media for the most recent information.
• Amherst Middle School Rink, 14 Cross Road, Amherst, 673-6248, amherstnh.myrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Beaver Meadow Pond at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, 1 Beaver Meadow Drive, Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Bow Town Pond, next to the Bow Community Center, 3 Bow Center Road, Bow, 223-3920, bow-nh.com.
• Brown Memorial Field, 740 Swanzey Road, Swanzey, 352-4614, find it on Facebook. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Davis Lane Rinks, Davis Lane, Amherst, 673-6248, amherstnh.myrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 10 a.m. to dusk.
• Dorrs Pond, adjacent to Livingston Park, 56 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn to dusk.
• Four Corners, behind Holman Stadium, Sargent Avenue, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. When open, hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. for general skating, and before 11 a.m. and between 4:30 and 6 p.m. for hockey.
• Hood Park at 4 Rollins St., Derry, 432-6136, derrynh.org. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Ice Skating Rink at Watson Park, 441 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org/watson-park. When open, hours are daily from dawn to 9 p.m.
• Jeff Morin Fields at Roby Park, 126 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. When open, hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for general skating, and from 8 to 10 p.m. for hockey.
• Kimball Lake, 47 Kimball Lake Road, Hopkinton, 746-8263, hopkintonrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Riverside Ice Rink 223 Route 103, Warner, 491-9019, facebook.com/riversideicerink. When open, hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information and to find out whether it’s currently open for skating, visit the Facebook page.
• Rollins Park at 33 Bow St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Shepard Park, 418 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0625, facebook.com/milfordrecdept. When open, hours are daily from dawn to 9:30 p.m.
• White Park, 1 White St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, skating hours are daily from dawn until dusk. The Merrimack Lodge offers skate rentals for $5. Lodge hours vary; find it on Facebook for the most up-to-date hours.
Puddle Duck Pond
Puddle Duck Pond
This outdoor rink at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth is another option for those who want a better chance of getting on the ice even if weather conditions haven’t been great.
“Ice is maintained with a refrigeration system and Zamboni, which helps the rink remain open in warmer air temperatures,” Veronica Lester of Strawbery Banke Museum said via email. “Unless the ice is deemed unsafe for skating, Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is open in rain, snow and sunshine. Opening and closing calls are made day-of by rink operations staff.”
The rink is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission costs $12 for skaters age 5 and up. Skate rentals are available for $6, and skate sharpening is available for $7.
Chill fun
Winter Fest returns to downtown Concord
By Angie Sykeny
asykeny@hippopress.com
Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.
“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.
Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.
The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.
“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.
Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.
Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.
“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”
The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)
A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.
Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.
“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.
Concord NH Winter Festival
Where: Main Street, Concord When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m. Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee. More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.
Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is (almost definitely) happening
The recent cold means the annual Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament will likely take place as scheduled this weekend, with youth games kicking things off on Thursday, Jan. 27, and plenty of other games on the roster — along with concessions, family activities, public skating and fireworks — through Sunday, Jan. 30.
“In recent years we’ve been challenged by global warming,” said Dan Luker, Black Ice Pond Hockey Association Board president. “We hope for below-zero temps at night, and a perfect day for us is 20 degrees during the day.”
Photo Courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association
The weekend is a tribute to the capital city’s place in hockey history. Luker said the first organized hockey game in the U.S. took place at St. Paul’s School in Concord, and the games being played at the tournament harken back to that old-school style.
“It’s the way the game was played to begin with — no refs, no goalies, 4 on 4,” Luker said. “It’s all about just skating and moving the puck. It’s a different feel.”
The tournament started 11 years ago, when Capital City Hockey League retirees decided they wanted to keep the game alive, for themselves and for younger generations.
“We all grew up playing hockey in the rinks, in the open air,” Luker said. “It brings you back.”
As the years have gone on, the Black Ice Pond Hockey Association has tried to reinvigorate the board by encouraging younger people to join. And the tournament has gone from all adult games to having a full night of youth hockey.
“Part of the goal is to infect [younger players] with the outdoor enthusiasm,” he said. “We’re psyched to have the kids play … [and] the kids love to be a part of it.”
Luker said there will be about 80 adult teams with more than 500 players taking the ice, which includes women’s teams and rec league teams, competitive players and players whose good skating days are well behind them.
“There are people who shouldn’t be skating out there who are having a blast,” Luker said.
Along with the games, there will be open skating time, concessions, a warming tent and family games throughout the weekend, and Friday night will feature fireworks.
“It’s the middle of winter, and there’s not much else going on in Concord,” Luker said. “People drift down and come and watch. … [It’s] something to do on a Saturday afternoon.”
Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament
Where: White Park, Concord When: Thursday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 20
Schedule of events
Thursday Heated spectator tent with family games and concessions open from 5 to 8 p.m. Youth pond hockey games with Concord Capitals, NE Wildcats, NH Avalanche, NH Junior Monarchs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 9 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. Heated spectator tent with family games from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Public skate on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice sculpture at noon Bonfires start at 5 p.m. Concord Youth Hockey from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dynomites & NH JR Monarchs practice on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks at 7:15 p.m. Atlas Fireworks show
Saturday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Heated Spectator Tent open with family interactive games from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Youth Hockey Shinny Tournament on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Concord Area Transit Shuttle Bus Winterfest Shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bonfires start at 3 p.m.
Sunday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 9 a.m. to noon
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.
Here in New England winter is long, especially for gardeners. We want to be outside in the garden but most days we can’t really do much. I compensate by learning about gardening from books. I recently finished a good one, Hummelo: A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury.
At over 400 pages it might seem daunting, but I’d estimate that nearly half of those pages are color photos of the gardens Piet Oudlof designed, with plenty from his home in Hummelo, Holland. It is written by Noel Kingsbury, a well-known British garden writer, and by Oudlof himself.
High Line (NY, NY). Photo courtesy of Monacelli Press.
Piet (which is pronounced Pete) Oudolf was the primary designer of the High Line Gardens in New York City, a garden planted on a section of an abandoned elevated railway line in midtown Manhattan. This 1.45-mile planting is consistently rated in the Top 10 most visited places in New York City.
The book follows Oudolf’s life as a garden designer and plantsman. In addition to the High Line, he designed gardens in Chicago, Detroit and many in Europe. The book follows his professional life and illustrates the changes nicely. Many plants in the photos are not labeled, but more advanced gardeners will recognize them, and many are mentioned in the text. And although some common names are used, most are identified by the scientific names with the genus, species and cultivar, which I find helpful when studying the plants and finding out if the plants are hardy in my zone.
So what makes Piet Oudolf one of the most famous garden designers ever? First, he is a highly accomplished plantsman. When he specifies plants for a garden, he knows what they need to do well. He started out with his wife, Anja, growing most of the plants he used in his designs, often growing and selecting plants for years before using them.
He knows each plant including its root system and its capability to fill in spaces by seeding in or spreading by rhizomes. He grew and used plants that were largely disease-resistant. His gardens rarely need to be re-planted because the plants seldom fail. I should note that now he does not grow his own plants, he just specifies them and has others grow them for him, often from stock he perfected.
Piet Oudolf uses many tall grasses in his designs. He loves the way they provide structure and form to a design, and that they last well into winter. He is less interested in color than many designers. He loves the look of seed heads and stems after the (relatively short) bloom period is over. He is quoted in the book as saying, “A plant is only worth growing if it also looks good when it is dead.” Since he bred plants for toughness, I assume he means dormant, not dead.
Oudolf is a rule-breaker. He tried things that others had not. He is quoted as saying in the book, “I discover beauty in things that on first sight are not beautiful. It is a journey in life to find out what real beauty is — and to notice that it is everywhere.”
Piet and Anja at Hummelo. Photo courtesy of Monacelli Press.
Early on in his career, Piet Oudolf used large blocks of a single species of a plant. But as he refined his designs, he started intermingling a few large, tall plants inside a block. He planted them repeatedly, as repetition adds a sense of unity and coherence to a garden. Unlike many designers, he actually lays out his gardens himself instead of drawing a plan and handing it off to gardeners. Oudolf is first and foremost a gardener. He loves plants, and knows them like his ever-present dogs.
What did I learn from this book? Given a large space to design, like Oudolf, I would use largely native plants. They are tough and if properly sited will last well. I like his philosophy that plant diversity is good but that too much diversity can overwhelm our ability to appreciate the whole.
I am, by temperament, a plant collector — I want to try lots of plants. But seeing the photos of Oudolf gardens, I recognize that buying — or growing — several plants instead of just three (my usual purchase), I can create a more powerful display.
Reading this book I made notes of plants I want to try. Among these is Eryngium giganteum, a sea holly that gets to be 3 to 4 feet tall with spiny egg-shaped blossoms and white bracts. Miss Willmott’s Ghost is readily available online, though I have never seen it for sale in a nursery.
Another plant that looks great is Agastache nepetoides, yellow giant hyssop. It is deer-resistant and big: It grows to 6 feet tall with flower spikes up to 16 inches long. In fall and winter the dry seed heads are fabulous, particularly in counterpoint to dry grasses.
I feel blessed that I was able to meet Piet Oudolf and interview him at his home in Hummelo, Holland, in 2007. He was very generous with his time and his knowledge.
This wonderful book was produced by Monacelli Press and is available in paperback for $40. To me, or any serious gardener or designer, it is a treasure. You might like to thumb through it before you decide if it is for you, especially if you are a beginning gardener. If you have big spaces to fill, you will get many ideas.
• It’s the final weekend to see “Festival of Planes,” an exhibit of more than 1,500 model planes and toy aircraft at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820). Museum admission costs $10 per person; $5 for children under 13, seniors and veterans and active military, and is free for children age 5 and under. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. According to a press release, the exhibit “features aviation-themed toys, models, puzzles, and promotional items from the past 100 years. Themes range from the Wright Brothers to sci-fi favorites as Star Trek, Star Wars, and more.” There is also a “find Santa” challenge with prizes for kids who spot him.
Snowshoe season
• If this week’s Winter Festival in Concord (see the story above) has you looking for more snow-themed fun, check out last week’s story in the Hippo about snowshoeing. On page 16 of the Jan. 20 issue, Meghan Siegler looks at where you can rent snowshoes, including locations such as the New Hampshire Audubon centers in Manchester and Concord, American Stonehenge in Salem, Beaver Brook in Hollis and Pats Peak in Henniker. She also discusses a few of the more snowshoe-friendly trails in the area.
On stage
• Head to the magical land of Oz at the Majestic Theatre’s young performers presentation of The Wizard of Oz at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry). The show, a young performers edition of the tale, according to majestictheatre.net, will run Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or go to majestictheatre.net.
• At the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), the Palace Youth Theatre group (featuring student actors in second through twelfth grade) will present Matilda Jr., the younger-performer version of the musical based on the Roald Dahl book. The show will run Tuesday, Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.
Crowns and a pony
• This week’s storytime at the Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature the books The Princess and the Pony and Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of the Girl Who Floated, read by Miss Manchester and Miss Manchester Outstanding Teen, according to the website. The storytime will start at 11:30 a.m. and after the stories the Misses will be available for photos. Also slated to make an appearance is Eddy, the Manchester Police Department’s new comfort pony, the website said. The event is free; go online to register.
