Best of 2024 – 03/28/2024

Hippo’s Best of 2024 is here! Find out where to get the best doughnuts, the best burgers, the best tattoo and so much more. Readers told us their favorites in more than 100 categories and we present you with the top five winners (or, in a few cases, a supersized list of favorites). Want to know where to eat, listen to live music or get your nails done this weekend? Let Hippo’s readers give you some suggestions.

Also on the cover Find out about all the solar eclipse happenings before and on the day, April 8, in the story on page 33. Catch the Wild & Scenic Film Fest (page 28) in Concord on March 29 and the NH Jewish Film Festival at locations across the state starting April 4 (page 32). And NH Craft Beer Week also kicks off April 4 (page 38).

A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Crime stats Calling 2023 “a year of great progress for this agency,” the Manchester Police Department reported that “we have ...
young woman with long hair, wearing blue shirt, sitting outside, smiling
Author Shannon Hale discusses her process On Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. author Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham ...
The Big Story – Baseball’s Opening Day: After an awful off-season and what was the most subdued spring training in ...
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Not so fast, spring Winter wasn’t done with New Hampshire. According to WMUR, the Saturday, March 23, storm dropped snow ...
Easter bunny sitting in the cockpit of a plane
Thursday, March 28 Fulchino Vineyard (187 Pine Hill Road in Hollis, fulchinovineyard.com, 438-5984) will host a Cigar Night from 6 ...
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We’re all winners! From the spots voted best pizza place to those of us who can go eat that pizza, ...
eels underwater in a group
Wild & Scenic Film Festival returns It’s hoped that when the final short of this year’s Wild & Scenic Film ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Exhibit opening, part 1: Sullivan Framing and Fine Art Gallery ...
Poster for movie Call Me Dancer showing male dancer leaping with leg and arm extended and head bowed
How the New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival picks its slate By Zachary Lewis zlewis@hippopress.com As co-chairs of the New Hampshire ...
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Every now and then it comes around By Zachary Lewis zlewis@hippopress.com Unless you have been living on the far side ...
Family fun for whenever Egg hunt updates & more • The Easter Bunny’s visit to the Aviation Museum by student-built ...
2 metal candlesticks made of smooth organic shapes
Hello, Donna, I have had these two candlesticks for about 45 years and have always wondered what their value may ...
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Bartender at Stark Brewing Explain your job and what it entails. I’ve been bartending for 34 years. Bartending instructor for ...
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News from the local food scene • Get to know tea: The Cozy Tea Cart (104 Route 13 in Brookline, ...
three pint glasses filled with beer, showing the printed illustration for beer week event
Shops and breweries amped for Craft Beer Week April 7 is National Beer Day and brewers of New Hampshire will ...
close up of a bloody mary cocktail shown from the top in a short rocks glass, packed with ice, an olive, pickle, small pepper, cheese, sliced meat, shrimp, candied bacon and celery
Barley House offers a DIY approach to bloody marys Nikki Miller likes bloody marys. “They are full of nostalgia, and ...
pink drink in stemmed cocktail glass sitting on counter
Spring is finally here. It’s not like it’s been a long, cold and lonely winter — more of a muddy, ...
Warlord, Free Spirit Soar (High Roller Records) Ha ha, I owned a Warlord album once when I was a young ...
book cover for Never Been Better
Never Been Better by Leanne Toshiko Simpson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 288 pages) If you don’t know what it’s like to ...
Local music news & events • Island groove: AER singer-songwriter and producer Carter Reeves created Surfer Girl while hunkered down ...
man sitting on couch playing guitar
Jake McKelvie solo project plays Milford Few New England songwriters have Jake McKelvie’s command of clever wordplay. In just two ...

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99 Awesome Things to do This Spring – 03/21/2024

on the cover
10 There are oodles of reasons to get excited about this betweeny season of warmer (likely) but not hot (probably) weather. In this week’s cover story we present you with 99 — from art and theater events to concerts, literary events, foodie fun and, of course, holidays like Free Comic Book Day.

Also on the cover Symphony New Hampshire performs the music of video games in “Game Over(Ture): A Symphonic Journey Through the Music of Video Games” which will be performed this weekend (page 16). Check out our listing of Easter-related food specials — from places to dine in on the day (Sunday, March 31) to places offering special eats to go. (And speaking of Easter, check out the rundown of egg hunts starting on page 20.) And add your laughs when comedian Mike Koutrobis records his comedy special on Saturday at the Nashua Center for the Arts.

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Bears are back The Granite State’s black bears are appearing from their winter dens and starting to search for any ...
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Nashua HS program offers experience Lori Chisholm, Program Head of Nashua High School Careers and Technical Education – Health Occupations ...
The Big Story – The NCAA Basketball Tournament: The overall top seed is defending champion UConn, who begin that defense ...
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Warmest winter This has been New Hampshire’s warmest winter on record. As reported by New Hampshire Public Radio on March ...
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Thursday, March 21 The Prombegins its final weekend at Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) tonight at ...
Compiled by Amy Diazadiaz@hippopress.com Spring is full of awesomeness. Spring officially began March 19 and unofficially ends Memorial Day weekend ...
Man conducting orchestra wearing a rabbit mask
Symphony NH performs Game Over(ture) By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com For many years, video game companies operated like old-school movie studios. Everything ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Artist receptions: The Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College ...
Counter at Manchester Craft Market
Classes on offer at the Manchester Craft Market By Zachary Lewiszlewis@hippopress.com Jessica Moores has created a bazaar of locally sourced ...
Easter bunny sitting in the cockpit of a plane
Where to find egg hunts and Easter Bunny visits By Zachary Lewiszacharylewis@hippopress.com If Santa spans the globe by reindeer-powered sleigh, ...
Family fun for whenever Playing inside • The Addams Family is presented by Pinkerton Players at Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton ...
vintage cereal toy
Dear Donna, OK, can you help me figure this out? It says Ralston on it. It’s also marked “Eat Ralston ...
Cathy Hilscher
Owner of Cats Kingdom Cathy Hilscher is the owner of Cats Kingdom (679 Mast Road in Manchester, catskingdomonline.com). Explain your ...
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News from the local food scene • Truffle class: On Thursday, March 21, from 5:15 to 7 p.m., Dancing Lion ...
Ham on a plate
Where to find your Easter eats Compiled by John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com It’s almost Easter and the time to place orders or ...
People in a line giving ladels of soup
Concord event raises funds to fight homelessness By Jill Lessardfood@hippopress.com Savor a cup of soup while contributing to a worthy ...
Chef Steve Hardy
General manager and head cook at Yankee Lanes (216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656, manchester.yankeelanesentertainment.com) Steve Hardy at Yankee Lanes is ...
Cheesecake
The faded, stained recipe is in the back of a scrapbook where I keep recipes I’ve been meaning to try ...
Albums together
The Church, Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars (Communicating Vessels) Some things never change, especially when they really should, but ...
Book cover with large text that reads "Un-Shrinking"
Unshrinking, by Kate Manne (Crown, 277 pages) The national airline of Finland announced recently that it would ask passengers to ...
Local music news & events • Emerald Islanders: Keep basking in a green glow at an evening with Altan, a ...
Mike Koutrobis
Comic Koutrobis films special in Nashua One of the reasons comics decide to make a special is inertia. Unlike the ...

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The Joy of Pancakes – 03/14/2024

on the cover
10 Pancakes are a near perfect dish — they can be simple or fancy, adorned with elaborate fruit creations or, especially when hot from the pan or griddle, enjoyed by themselves. John Fladd offers tips for making pancakes in a variety of styles — and then head over to the food section (page 24) where John talks to maple syrup producers about Maple Weekend.

Also on the cover Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday (March 17) at one of the many places offering eats and music (see page 33). The Gardening Guy checks in for March to give you advice on fruit trees. Zachary Lewis talks to the illustrator of the Kitty-Ccorn books.

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Francophonie NH On Wednesday, March 13, at 9:30 a.m. Gov. Chris Sununu was scheduled to issue a proclamation on the ...
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New attorney will focus on civil rights cases Jane Young, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, recently announced ...
The Big Story – NFL Free Agency: While many deals had been agreed upon during the “legal tampering” period that ...
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Slow down! Data from the New Hampshire Department of Safety and Division of Motor Vehicles showed more than 100 drivers ...
Woman standing in front of picture of galaxy above a staircase
Thursday, March 14 Jenny Powers, Director of Science at the Springfield Museums in Holyoke, Mass., will present “Women of the ...
Pancakes on a plate with text that reads "The Joy of Pancakes"
Tips for making this most perfect dish I read a science fiction/martial arts novel once where the main character, in ...
Man and woman conversing while sitting at the same desk
Bedford Off Broadway presents Blame It On Beckett In the theater, a dramaturg is a person tasked with combing through ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Where’s my art? Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite ...
Set of tools for pruning a tree
Stick to the 25 percent rule and enjoy the work March, April and May are good months to prune your ...
The two authors of the Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn
LeUyen Pham talks book illustrating, touring On Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, readers of ...
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Hi, Donna, I have this hat which I have researched and found on The Met art site. Could you give ...
Family fun for whenever The sky is not the limit • Science educator Jenny Powers will present “Women of the ...
Elaine Setas holding up a Greek plate that she made.
Owner of Taste & Art of Greece Elaine Setas is the owner of Taste and Art of Greece at 32 ...
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News from the local food scene • Maple wine tasting: As part of Maple Weekend, Wine on Main in Concord ...
Man tapping a maple tree
New Hampshire celebrates Maple Weekend Each year, on the third weekend in March, the maple producers of New Hampshire celebrate ...
Photo of the cocktail known as The Alias
First, travel to somewhere people don’t know you. You can try this at home, but frankly, convincing people you already ...
Loreena McKennitt, The Road Back Home (Ume Records) For most people, hearing the music of this platinum-selling ren-faire folkie evokes ...
Mayluna, by Kelley McNeil
Mayluna, by Kelley McNeil (Lake Union Publishing, 399 pages) It’s tempting to compare Kelley McNeil’s excellent second novel to Daisy ...
Kung Fu Panda 4
Jack Black returns as the voice of Po, the panda who is here to kick butt and eat dumplings, in ...
Local music news & events • Kilting it: Start the upcoming Green Weekend early at the 4th Annual Celtic Night ...
The Rebel Collective
The Rebel Collective welcomes fiddler Soon after they formed a few years ago, The Rebel Collective became an in-demand band ...
St. Patrick's Day celebration promotion at a local bar or pub. Human hands clinking mugs filled with green beer. Traditional holiday. Concept of holidays, celebration, events
St. Patrick’s Day nightlife options For those looking to put on their Irish, however briefly, there are a variety of ...

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State of the Plate – 03/07/2024

12 In this week’s cover story, John Fladd asks area restaurateurs how it’s going as we approach the four-year anniversary of the 2020 Covid-related upheavals. We also take a look at Manchester’s Restaurant week, inspired by…

Also on the cover The Prom — the Palace Theatre’s latest musical. Michael Witthaus offers details on the production, which runs through March 24, in the story on page 16.

Zachary Lewis talks to the artist behind the soon-to-open show at the NH Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord (see page 17).

Zachary also gets the details on the Millyard Museum’s Afternoon Tea with Manchester’s Matriarchs (page 20).

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Town voting Tuesday, March 12, is town election day in many New Hampshire towns. Check with your town’s city clerk’s ...
The Big Story – Patriots Rebuild Strategy: Withthe NFL’s new calendar year two weeks away from beginning (March 13), the ...
People standing in a line behind a long orange ribbon that's about to be cut. This signals the opening of a business.
Thursday, March 7 The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., 624-6550, manchester.lib.nh.us.) will host a performance by the New England ...
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Nestflix According to a March 4 newsletter from the New Hampshire Audubon Society, the mated pair of peregrine falcons is ...
Cover that reads "State of the Plate" in big black letters
Local Eateries talk about how they’re faring, Plus a pairing of restaurants and theater in Manchester Running a restaurant has ...
Perspective picture of a girl pointing at the Palace Theater sign in Manchester.
Palace performs The Prom A quartet of Broadway actors in need of a reputation reboot and a gay high school ...
NH Audubon in Concord showcases artist Jackie Hanson Starting Tuesday, March 12, the artwork of New Hampshire native Jackie Hanson ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Spring into love: “To Manchester With Love,” the new exhibition ...
A tower of plates with tea cakes on them
It’s like an artichoke, but with more food per plant If the city of Manchester could fit inside a mill ...
Woman standing in front of illuminated sign that reads "Live Free and Eat Great Chocolate!"
Co-Owner of Loon Chocolate Rachel Mack is the co-owner of Loon Chocolate along with her sister, Sara Steffensmeier, in Manchester ...
Family fun for whenever Play pickleball •. Mini Pickles – Pickleball for Kids is being held at the City-Wide Community ...
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News from the local food scene • Potato chip day: In honor of National Potato Chip Day (Thursday, March 14) ...
Red Arrow shows famous visitors in online photo album Presidential hopefuls love to have their pictures taken in diners. And ...
Pan full of molasses patties
from the 1950 Betty Crocker Cookbook 4 cups (124 g) Cheerios – how long have these been heart-shaped? 1½ cups ...
Two Albums side by side
Andy Pratt, Trio (Thrift Girl Records) For 20 years, this jazz bandleader has worked in the Chicago area as a ...
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The Women by Kristen Hannah (St. Martin’s Press, 480 pages) I am not, generally speaking, a lover of historical fiction, ...
The two main characters of Dune
The Fremen help Paul Atreides, gifted with both visions of the future and preternaturally good hair, fight the weirdos of ...
A preview of the Oscars If I ran the Oscar ceremony — which will this year air on Sunday, March ...
Four male members of a band squatting and looking at the camera
Birds, In Theory celebrate debut album Legend has it that Michael Clarke joined The Byrds because he looked like Brian ...

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Summer of Adventure – 02/22/29

Summer is here! OK, not the actual season but if you have kids the planning for summer is happening, with many camps about to register or already registering kids for offerings June through August. Know of a camp not listed in our guide? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Also on the cover Last! Chance! To! Vote! When February is over, voting is over in the Best of 2024 readers’ poll. Vote now at hippopress.com.

It’s a big weekend for theater: The Prom opens at the Palace Theatre (see the item on page 7). Cue Zero Theatre Co. takes on the Lizzie Borden story in Blood Relations (see Michael Witthaus’ story on page 28). And the Milford Area Players present The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (see the item on page 29).

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Mistaken identity Dartmouth Health said in a statement on Feb. 24 that a local doctor has received threats of violence ...
The Big Story – Patriots Rebuild Strategy: Withthe NFL’s new calendar year two weeks away from beginning (March 13), the ...
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Not the Disney direct! According to a Feb. 22 report from WMUR, Spirit Airlines is suspending service at Manchester-Boston Regional ...
People standing in a line behind a long orange ribbon that's about to be cut. This signals the opening of a business.
Friday, March 1 The Prom begins its four-week run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) ...
Kids laying in the grass looking happy
Your guide to summer day camps The calendar says winter but when it comes to signing kids up for day ...
Black and white picture of woman holding an ax while one half is in a modern setting and the other is in a vintage setting.
Cue Zero production explores Lizzie Borden case One century before O.J. Simpson’s televised court proceeding captivated a nation, a murder ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Also coming to the Currier: In addition to the new ...
A line of little porcelain figurines
Dear Donna, What do you do with old paperback books? Is there value or are they to be put in ...
Family fun for whenever Lacrosse season • Catch some Saint Anselm Hawks lacrosse at Grappone Stadium (Saint Anselm College in ...
Man surrounded by large beavers in a black and white film setting
Red River Theatres’ Simchik Cinema is open again After several months of repairs and refurbishment, the Simchik Cinema at Red ...
People at a bar raising their glasses to cheer after completing the challenge
Use your barstool-sitting superpowers for good on Saturday, March 9, at the Tap House Grill in Hooksett during On Tap ...
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News from the local food scene • Chef’s table dinners: Tickets are available for March Chef’s Table Dinners at Flag ...
American cheese burger on a plate with fries
The Bedford Village Inn livens up March with two events: Fondi Restaurant Week and Burgerama. According to the Bedford Village ...
Brass Plated Shuffle Cocktail in a glass
We’ve all been there. You might be sitting and having coffee or cocktails with a friend. You start talking about ...
Two album covers side by side
Fire Sale, Albatross () Some call it “melodic punk;” I call it neo-emo (or usually just “emo” for short, most ...
A girl in a red coat walking down a wintery path
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon (Doubleday, 432 pages) Ariel Lawhon was in an obstetrician’s waiting room when she came ...
Two girls looking down at what looks like the trunk of a car
A pair of friends, one recently dumped by her girlfriend and one getting burned out at work, decide to take ...
Local music news & events • Broadway bash: Four actors who’ve all starred in Phantom of the Opera gather for ...
Two men singing and playing guitars
Slim Volume on the rise Blending elements of alt country and harmony-rich classic rock, Slim Volume is a breath of ...

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Fresh from the snowy farm – 02/22/24

Farmers markets aren’t just for summer. A few area towns take their markets indoors for the winter, offering an opportunity to keep in touch with farmers, cheesemakers, bakers and other local food purveyors even in the snowy season.

Also on the cover Vote! Vote today, right now even, in Hippo’s Best of 2024! Find the survey, which asks about all flavors of local amusement, on hippopress.com.

Also, it’s the season of Thin Mints and Samoas. Find out where to get those boxes of Girl Scout cookies and what flavors are available on page 24.

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Two food recalls The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, is advising consumers ...
small award trophies with stars sitting beside vase with colorful flowers
Nashua holds its annual Tiny Film Festival The Nashua Public Library’s 2nd Annual Tiny Film Festival is now accepting 60-second ...
The Big Story: Even with the Celtics and Bruins taking center stage with football done, the big story is the ...
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Helping wheels As mentioned at the bottom of this page, we welcome your QOLs. Michael McDonough of Catholic Charities of ...
6 band members dressed in colorful coats and shirts, 80s fashion, standing in line in front of concrete wall
Thursday, Feb. 22 The Robert Cray Band comes to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com, 800-657-8774) ...
red and black checkered tablecloth on table set up with crates filled with bread, baked goods and jam at market
Winter farmers markets offer a taste of sunnier seasons Farmers markets aren’t just for the warmer months; some continue to ...
man in black suit, arms raised while conducting orchestra
NH Philharmonic performs Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony Among the most well-regarded of Gustav Mahler’s nine symphonies is his second. Commonly called ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • “Voice of the city”: Positive Street Art (48 Bridge St., ...
stack of worn paperback books with names and authors printed on the side, books western themed
Dear Donna, What do you do with old paperback books? Is there value or are they to be put in ...
Family fun for whenever Vacation at the museum School vacation runs Monday, Feb. 26, through Friday, March 1, for many ...
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Executive Director of Symphony New Hampshire Deanna R. Hoying leads Symphony New Hampshire, the state’s oldest professional orchestra, known for ...
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News from the local food scene • Bourbon dinner: The Homestead’s Bristol location (1567 Summer St.; 744-2022, homesteadnh.com) will hold ...
girl scout standing next to table filled with cookies outside of storefront
Girls learn sales and leadership skills while selling Samoas and Thin Mints Girl Scout cookie season is underway, combining tasty ...
small bowl of granola with milk, spoon sticking out, bowl sitting on plate beside sheet pan containing a flat layer of baked granola
2½ cups (222 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats ¼ to ½ cup chopped nuts ¼ cup sesame/poppy seeds 3 Tablespoons brown ...
album covers
The Writeful Heirs, The Writeful Heirs (self-released) Big fan of the New Boston, N.H., area, which is where this boy/girl ...
book cover for fear factories showing animals in pens squished together in factory and book cover for justice for animals showing humpback whale
Fear Factories, by Matthew Scully (First Arezzo Books, 273 pages) Justice for Animals, by Martha C. Nussbaum (Simon and Schuster, ...
screenshot from Madame Webb
A paramedic briefly dies, which somehow kickstarts her ability to see into the future, in Madame Web, one of those ...
Local music news & events • Record party: The fourth Thursday of the month is Bring Your Own Vinyl Night ...
woman wearing black pants and leopard print shirt with red high heels, standing with one hand on hip on stage
MILF Life Crisis explores life after divorce Life keeps handing Anne Marie Scheffler one-woman shows. In her early 30s she ...

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