Category: Past Issues

on the cover

Non-alcoholic drink offerings have gone way beyond soda and tea. Alcohol-free versions of gin, tequila and whiskey offer an opportunity to mix up a standard cocktail without the buzz. And mixologists use blends of ingredients to create complex flavors with sweet, savory and herbaceous elements. Above and on the cover, a Lavender Blueberry mocktail that ran as a special at 815 Cocktails & Provisions in Manchester, where Sian Quinn crafts the eatery’s mocktails. Photo courtesy 815 Cocktails & Provisions.

Also on the cover: Michael Witthaus talks to the Free Range Revue about their murder mystery riff Get A Clue (page 12). Michael also talks to guitarist Johnny A. ahead of Beck-Ola, a show celebrating the music of Jeff Beck on Jan. 9 (page 20). And, voting starts Thursday, Jan. 15, in our annual Hippo’s Best of 2026 readers’ poll. Save the date to head to hippopress.com and vote for the area’s best pizza, best hair stylist, best hiking trail and more.

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 26/01/08

260108Featured ContentNews

Museum news As of December, Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, has joined SEE Science Center ...

Read More

Quality of Life 26/01/08

260108NewsQuality Of Life

An omen for 2026? As reported by WMUR in a Dec. 28 online article, a fireball in the sky was ...

Read More

Go time for Pats

260108NewsSports

The Big Story – Pats Start Playoff March: After going an unexpected 14-3, the Patriots are back in the playoffs, ...

Read More

This Week 26/01/08

260108Featured ContentNewsThis Week

Thursday, Jan. 8 The all-woman 1980s hard rock band Vixen performs tonight at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall ...

Read More

Big Flavors without the buzz

260108Cover StoriesFeatured Content

Mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits and wine offer grown-up flavors without the booze By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com Until relatively recently, your non-alcoholic ...

Read More

Clued in

260108Art & TheaterFeatured Content

Popular game and movie merge with drag at BNH Stage event By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com Get a Clue, an upcoming event ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 26/01/08

260108Family FunTreasure Hunt

Dear Donna,Can you give me any information on this old wafer box? It has a glass top and is in ...

Read More

Kiddie Pool 26/01/08

260108Family FunOutdoors

Family fun for whenever On ice Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto on Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 26/01/08

260108Food

• Blind tasting with wine experts: As part of New Hampshire Wine Week (NHWineWeek.com), the State Liquor Commission has launched ...

Read More

Consistently Uncommon

260108Featured ContentFood

New coffee scene lifts a traditional cafe By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com If your restaurant is already considered a hidden gem, how ...

Read More

Oreos and what?

260108Food

A podcast experiment goes for the slam dunk By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com Nick Sands, the host of the podcast and YouTube ...

Read More

Virgin Mary, Quite Contrary

260108DrinkFood

It is said that the three hardest things for a man to say are “I was wrong,” “I need help,” ...

Read More

Album Reviews 26/01/08

260108AlbumsPop

Alter Bridge, Alter Bridge (Napalm Records) One could argue that this Orlando, Florida, band amounts to nothing more exciting than ...

Read More

Guitar man

260108Featured ContentNightlife

Johnny A. brings Beck-Ola back to Tupelo By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com Growing up, Johnny A. had two favorite bands, The Beatles ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 26/01/08

260108Music This Week

• Take a chance: Few tribute acts reach the level of success of Mania! Performing the music of ABBA, their ...

Read More

on the cover

Forget the post-holiday blues; the new year has lots of fun on offer. Yes, even in January! Whether your idea of exciting is indoor adventures (concerts, college basketball, comedy, theater and more) or getting outside (snowy hikes, fishing, Concord’s Winterfest), there is likely something to get you excited about this chilly month in this list of 27(-ish) things to do in January.

Also on the cover A short-lived diner becomes Hellenic Pizzeria in downtown Manchester; John Fladd has the story on page 15. Michael Witthaus talks to Captain Jack and The Strangers about bringing the Billy Joel experience to life at the Tupelo Music Hall in Derry on Saturday, Jan. 3 (page 20). And there’s more music on this, the first weekend of 2026 and the last weekend of the holiday-vacation-vibes season. Find live music at area restaurants and breweries in the Music This Week, which starts on page 22. Find shows at bigger venues in the Concert listings on page 23.

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 26/01/01

260101Featured ContentNews

$2 less Eversource customers are expected to see a 2 percent decrease in their bills for the first two months ...

Read More

Pats back on top!

260101NewsSports

The Big Story – Pats Win AFC East: The Patriots blasted the Jets 42-10 Sunday. Then when the Bills’ failed ...

Read More

Quality of Life 26/01/01

260101NewsQuality Of Life

Lights on, let’s play Installation has begun on lights at the athletic field at Keach Park in Concord, according to ...

Read More

This Week 26/01/01

260101Featured ContentNewsThis Week

Thursday, Jan. 1 Make-A-Wish New Hampshire (wish.org/nh) will hold its 5th Annual Polar Plunge today at 11 a.m. at Sawyer’s ...

Read More

27 Reasons to Get Excited for January

260101Cover StoriesFeatured Content

January can be awesome! Here are 27 reasons to get excited about the chilly first month of 2026. 1. Sure, ...

Read More

Creative place

260101Art & TheaterFeatured Content

3S Artspace concludes its 10th year When it opened to the public in 2015, 3S Artspace got its name in ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 26/01/01

260101Family FunTreasure Hunt

Hi, Donna. I have attached some photos of antique furniture (with a grape leaf design) that belonged to my mother ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 26/01/01

260101Food

• Hot pot: OBA Korean BBQ & Hot Pot has opened at 371 S. Willow St. in Manchester (obakoreanbbqhotpot.com). The ...

Read More

Pizza-focused course correction

260101Featured ContentFood

Hellenic Pizzeria emerges on Elm Street Walking down Elm Street in Manchester, you notice a new pizzeria next to Cat ...

Read More

Too Many Pears

260101DrinkFood

So you find yourself with half a dozen fresh pears on your hands. What does one do with Too Many ...

Read More

Album Reviews 26/01/01

260101AlbumsPop

W.E.B., Darkness Alive (Metal Blade Records) Oh boy, could there be anything more important than making symphonic metal even more ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 26/01/01

260101Music This Week

• Banging in: After ringing in 2026, Recycled Percussion continues its traditional New Year’s run with 11 shows over the ...

Read More

Piano Man’s many sides

260101Featured ContentNightlife

Billy Joel tribute act returns to Tupelo In a crowded milieu, there are some tribute acts that stand out — ...

Read More

on the cover

Year in review In this week’s issue of the Hippo, we take a look back at the year that was and consider some events to look forward to in 2026. Michael Witthaus looks at the difficult year for the local art scene (page 10). John Fladd asks foodies about the best things they ate (page 14) and looks back at the Manchester restaurant scene. In books, we consider some of our reviewers’ favorites (page 19). Amy Diaz picks her favorite films of 2025 (page 20). And Michael looks at the local music scene (page 27).

Also on the cover Get your holiday-week-energy-having kids and visiting relatives out of your house by going (or sending them) to a museum (page 13). Find parties and special meals on New Year’s Eve in Michael Witthaus’ roundup on page 24. Or, if you would prefer to end the year with some laughs, see a rundown of comedy performances slated for Dec. 31 on page 26. And, in this oddball betweeny week, relax with some live music at area restaurants and bars; find upcoming gigs in the Music This Week listing that starts on page 28.

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 25/12/25

251225Featured ContentNews

Symphony NH Symphony NH is postponing two upcoming concerts, the “executive director is taking a personal pay cut” and some ...

Read More

Pats reclaim AFC East supremacy

251225NewsSports

The Big Story — Christmas: Today is the day for giving gifts. The Patriots got theirs a little early, by ...

Read More

Quality of Life 25/12/25

251225NewsQuality Of Life

We know how to holiday According to a recent study by health and wellness website Innerbody.com, New Hampshire is one ...

Read More

This Week 25/12/25

251225NewsThis Week

Thursday, Dec. 25 The Gift of Lights display at NH Motor Speedway, 1122 Route 106 in Loudon, continues through through ...

Read More

Soldiering on

251225Art & TheaterFeatured Content

A tough year is remembered for great art The New Hampshire arts world wasn’t greeted by upheaval as 2025 dawned, ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 25/12/25

251225Family FunTreasure Hunt

inside/outside treasure hunt Hi Donna, This piece of pottery was found in the mid 1900s when the grounds of a ...

Read More

Kiddie Pool 25/12/25

251225Family FunOutdoors

Family fun for whenever Escape to the museum Some area museums offer special hours and events during the between-holidays week ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 25/12/25

251225Food

• Hot pot: OBA Korean BBQ & Hot Pot has opened at 371 S. Willow St. in Manchester (obakoreanbbqhotpot.com). The ...

Read More

Gyros and cauliflower tacos

251225Featured ContentFood

Local eaters discuss their favorite meals of 2025 What was the best thing you ate this year? That’s the question ...

Read More

2025 was a year of hellos and goodbyes

251225Food

A look at the city’s restaurant scene Erik Lesniak works in the Manchester Economic Development Office. His job involves keeping ...

Read More

Milk punch

251225DrinkFood

1 glass whole milk. Or almond milk. Or some other type of milk; your milk is your own business. 2 ...

Read More

Album Reviews 25/12/25

251225AlbumsPop

Kris Davis and Lutosławski Quartet, The Solastalgia Suite (Pyroclastic Records) Canadian pianist/composer Davis won the Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy ...

Read More

Best Offer Wins, by Marisa Kashino

251225BooksPop

(Celadon, 269 pages) As possibly the only person on the planet who hasn’t read Gone Girl, I am unqualified to ...

Read More

Favorite books of ’25

251225BooksPop

Our reviewers read a lot of books this year; these are the ones they gave A grades to. Fiction The ...

Read More

Best movie of ‘a’ year

251225Featured ContentFilm Reviews by Amy

2025 adds some films to the canon Was the best movie of 2025 1992’s Sneakers? I feel like it was ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 25/12/25

251225Music This Week

• Vintage sound: A Lakes Region winery offers regular local music, including Garrett Smith, a singer, piano player and guitarist ...

Read More

So long, 2025

251225Featured ContentNightlife

New Year’s events abound There are many ways to mark year’s end and ring in 2026, a couple for the ...

Read More

First Night laughs

251225Featured ContentNightlife

New Year’s Eve is all about comedy The best way to look back at a year like 2025 is with ...

Read More

It’s been a year

251225Nightlife

A look back at 2025 and what’s ahead in 2026 Local music kicked off with a twang in January when ...

Read More

on the cover

Those holiday cookies aren’t just tasty treats, they are mini canvases, ready to become works of sugary art. In this week’s cover story, experts explain how to give your cookies a professional coating of glossy icing.

Also on the cover, Michael Witthaus talks to Ric Blair of The Celts before their Friday show in Derry (page 17). Find even more music this weekend, holiday and not. Michael checks out the music-forward eatery Riley’s Place in Milford (page 28) and find shows, holiday-themed and not, in the Music This Week (page 30) and in the Concert listings (page 34). And, need to relax? John Fladd recommends you make some just-the-basics banana bread (page 22).

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 25/12/18

251218Featured ContentNews

Plant closure The Anheuser-Busch facility in Merrimack will close in early 2026, as reported in a Dec. 11 report on ...

Read More

Pats blow 21-0 lead to Buffalo

251218NewsSports

The Big Story – Bill Comes Due for Pats: Well, they both had chances and neither could close the deal ...

Read More

Quality of Life 25/12/18

251218NewsQuality Of Life

Nobody legit asks for gift cards The email seems authentic at first glance. It says it’s from the Director of ...

Read More

This Week 25/12/18

251218Featured ContentNewsThis Week

Thursday, Dec. 18 The Nature Conservancy (nature.org) will celebrate the longest night of the year with a Winter Solstice Soirée ...

Read More

Cookie Art

251218Cover StoriesFeatured Content

How to add holiday sparkle to your cookies You got inspired by a cookie recipe you saw online, but you ...

Read More

Southern Irish

251218Art & TheaterFeatured Content

Nashville’s Celts bring Christmas show to New Hampshire Unlike many purveyors of his genre, Ric Blair, who leads The Celts, ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 25/12/18

251218Family FunTreasure Hunt

Dear Donna, I want to give this pair of earrings to my niece. They belonged to my late wife. I ...

Read More

Kiddie Pool 25/12/18

251218Family FunOutdoors

Family fun for whenever Santa visit • Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St. in Candia, continues its Santa’s Christmas with times ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 25/12/18

251218Food

• Bonfire update: Bonfire Country Bar at 950 Elm St. in downtown Manchester suffered damage from flooding by a burst ...

Read More

Delicious images

251218Featured ContentFood

Advice on taking those shots of holiday food There is a skill to taking pictures of food. It’s a specialty ...

Read More

O Christmas keg

251218Food

603 Brewery decorates for the season It isn’t unusual for businesses to put up a Christmas tree during the holidays ...

Read More

Banana Bread

251218Food

There comes a point in the holiday season — maybe it’s Christmas Eve — when everything has gotten to be ...

Read More

Album Reviews 25/12/18

251218AlbumsPop

Pentatonix, Christmas in the City (Pentatonix Records Fine with me, there’s plenty of room for more from the flood of ...

Read More

We Did OK, Kid, by Anthony Hopkins

251218BooksPop

(Summit Books, 352 pages) Is there anyone over the age of 20 who hasn’t seen an Anthony Hopkins film, or ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 25/12/18

251218Music This Week

• Holiday bash: Concord’s cellar full of noise celebrates early as Lucas Gallo & the Guise return for a jam-filled ...

Read More

Music first

251218Featured ContentNightlife

Riley’s Place rocks Milford Riley’s Place opened in early 2022 as a comfort food restaurant that featured live music. As ...

Read More

on the cover

Hippo’s Gift Guide Find gift ideas throughout this week’s issue. Michael Witthaus suggests gifts for art-lovers (page 14) and music fans (page 33). Henry Homeyer offers a gift guide for gardeners (page 18). John Fladd suggests some gifts for those bringing the greenery indoors (page 20). John also makes some suggestions for foodies (page 26) and we round up some books by local authors that could make good gifts for bookworms (page 31).

Also on the cover Michael Witthaus also previews a market showing off the art of fine knives (page 13). John Fladd previews the Currier and Ives Cookie Tour (page 25). Michael also talks to the band Slim Volume ahead of their Saturday, Dec. 13, show at Pembroke City Limits (see page 32).

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 25/12/11

251211Featured ContentNews

Three-year degree Rivier University will offer a three-year, 90-credit, applied bachelor’s degree program in majors including artificial intelligence, business management ...

Read More

Pats go for AFC East title

251211NewsSports

The Big Story – Bills and Pats Face-off: Sunday’s game in Foxboro vs. Buffalo has that old familiar feeling. That’s ...

Read More

Quality of Life 25/12/11

251211NewsQuality Of Life

A slice with oats? According to a Dec. 4 statement by the Bedford Police Department (bedfordnhpd.org), “On Wednesday, Dec. 3, ...

Read More

This Week 25/12/11

251211Featured ContentNewsThis Week

Thursday, Dec. 11 Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Showdown attempts to answer the perennial question of which British band ...

Read More

Forge to table

251211Art & TheaterFeatured Content

Uncommon cutlery at North East Artisan Knife Show There’s a world of difference between knives bought at the mall, even ...

Read More

Creative giving

251211Art & Theater

Gifts for makers and lovers of art (and performance) Whether seeking gifts for budding artists or art lovers, readers or ...

Read More

Green thumb gifts

251211Featured ContentOutdoors

Stocking-worthy plant stuff that isn’t compost Between mistletoe, holly, poinsettias and Christmas trees, the holidays already have a certain botanical ...

Read More

Holiday gifts for the gardener

251211OutdoorsThe Gardening Guy

Seeds, journals, and how about a Nut Wizard? New England skies in winter are often cloudy and dark, accompanied by ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 25/12/11

251211Family FunTreasure Hunt

Hello, Donna, Can you give me a value on my brother’s lava lamp? He just recently gave it to me ...

Read More

Kiddie Pool 25/12/11

251211Family FunOutdoors

Family fun for whenever See Santa • The Milford Recreation Department will hold a Breakfast with Santa featuring pancakes and ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 25/12/11

251211Food

• Closing: In a Nov. 25 announcement on its Facebook page, Rock n Roll Meatballs & Angel City Music Hall ...

Read More

For cooks, eaters & drinkers

251211Food

Gift guide for foodies of all stripes Kitchen-centric gifts are always a good bet. There are very few people who ...

Read More

Shopping, Santa and wines

251211Featured ContentFood

Fulchino Vineyard holds its annual Christmas festival Fulchino Vineyard in Hollis will host its 14th annual Christmas festival this weekend, ...

Read More

Have adventure, get cookies

251211Food

Annual inn tour has 15 stops this year This Saturday, Dec. 13, marks the 20th year of the annual Currier ...

Read More

An Elf On the Shelf

251211DrinkFood

I put it to you that your house might be infested with elves. Think tiny, mischievous, Iron Age creatures with ...

Read More

Album Reviews 25/12/11

251211AlbumsPop

Ski Team, Burnout Boys (self-released) New York native Lucie Lozinski looks (and often sings) like an awkward twee-waif Zoomer, but ...

Read More

The local shelf

251211BooksPop

Books from local authors Want to add to a friend’s book collection? Here are some recent releases from local authors ...

Read More

Queen Esther, by John Irving

251211BooksPop

(Simon & Schuster, 408 pages) Esther was 3 years old, almost 4, when she was left outside a Maine orphanage, ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 25/12/11

251211Music This Week

• Holiday Peanuts: Inspired to play piano by watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, David Benoit later was the composer for ...

Read More

A band’s progress

251211Featured ContentNightlife

The evolution of Slim Volume Some of the most sophisticated and mature music in New England is coming from Slim ...

Read More

Make a music fan’s holiday

251211Nightlife

Some fun gift buying ideas for this year Sometimes the best present for the music fan is one that lets ...

Read More

on the cover

Need some greenery inside now that the outside is mostly bare trees and snowy ground? In this week’s cover story, John Fladd gets advice from local experts about picking plants and keeping them alive inside your abode.

Also on the cover Symphony NH has a packed December schedule (page 17). John Fladd looks at two upcoming area holiday markets — the New Hampshire World Christmas Market and the Amherst German Christmas Market, both slated for next weekend (page 20). Michael Witthaus talks to Ryan Green of acoustic duo Ryanhood ahead of their Friday, Dec. 5, show (page 26).

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 25/12/04

251204Featured ContentNews

Red Cross Two hundred eighty American Red Cross volunteers in New Hampshire “logged more than 33,000 hours so far this ...

Read More

Big win for Ryan Day

251204NewsSports

The Big Story – Local Football Coaches: It was a great Day for Ohio State Football on Saturday as Ryan ...

Read More

Quality of Life 25/12/04

251204NewsQuality Of Life

Early skiing As reported by WMUR in a Nov. 22 online article, several New Hampshire mountains opened for skiing before ...

Read More

This Week 25/12/04

251204Featured ContentNewsThis Week

Friday, Dec. 5 Manchester Community Theatre Players will present Tastes Like Christmas— “written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Tom Anastasi ...

Read More

Get Green

251204Cover StoriesFeatured Content

Liven up your indoor space with easygoing plants The first thing you should know about houseplants is that it probably ...

Read More

Classical celebration

251204Art & TheaterFeatured Content

Symphony NH holiday shows, and conductor news It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Symphony New Hampshire. The ...

Read More

Treasure Hunt 25/12/04

251204Family FunTreasure Hunt

Dear Donna, I would like to wish you happy holidays. It took me a while to find one of these ...

Read More

Kiddie Pool 25/12/04

251204Family FunOutdoors

Family fun for whenever Santa time • New Boston will hold its annual S’mores with Santa event on Saturday, Dec ...

Read More

The Weekly Dish 25/12/04

251204Food

• Gingerbread-palooza: Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St., Concord, kimballjenkins.com) will host the Home Sweet Home Gingerbread Exhibition, a “very ...

Read More

Foods and crafts

251204Featured ContentFood

New Hampshire World Christmas Market Michaela Herholz is the COO and CFO of Nourish New England, a nonprofit organization that ...

Read More

Foods and craftsWaffles, schupfnudeln, music and lights

251204Food

A German Christmas market in Amherst There will be a German Christmas Market in Amherst Village Green on Saturday, Dec ...

Read More

Beautiful-on-the-Inside Cookies

251204Food

2/3 cup (150 g) olive oil 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup (90 g) flour 1/3 cup (66 g) ...

Read More

Album Reviews 25/12/04

251204AlbumsPop

Tom Smith, There Is Nothing In The Dark Which Isn’t There In The Light (Play It Again Sam Records) First ...

Read More

The Music Roundup 25/12/04

251204Music This Week

• Psycho-delic: Celebrating their debut album, Girl For Me, local blues rockers Lee & Dr. G perform a release show, ...

Read More

Seasonal songs

251204Featured ContentNightlife

Acoustic duo Ryanhood performs Christmas show The Word Barn in Exeter is presenting “12 Nights of Christmas” at Orchard Chapel ...

Read More