Gifts for everyone! — 12/7/23

Find gifts for everybody on your list. On page 12, check out the list of area arts organizations selling unique items. Henry Homeyer recommends gifts for gardeners (page 19). John Fladd offers ideas of gifts to make (page 28) and gifts to buy (page 29). Find more giftable eats on page 32. Michael Witthaus helps you find perfect presents for music-lovers (page 44). And, if you’re thinking about how you can give to the wider community this holiday season, see the Q&A on page 6.

Also on the cover Symphony NH presents their Holiday Pops show (page 42). Take a trip to the Monadnock Region for the Currier & Ives Cookie Tour (page 30). Plan those holiday meals now — Mya Blanchard rounds up some of the eateries offering pies, hams and more to go (page 31).

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.
Treating substance use disorders The Executive Council has approved an additional $9.8 million for The Doorways program, elevating the state’s ...
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Food, housing costs & utilities bills are the big concerns Karen Moynihan is the Vice President of Philanthropy, Catholic Charities ...
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The Big Story – Big Week for New Red Sox GM: Except for the St. Louis Cardinals, the action all ...
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Big Events December 7, 2023 and beyond Thursday, Dec. 7 Head to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St ...
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Funding the show The Community Players of Concord, an all-volunteer theater company founded in 1927, received a significant boost with ...
shelves of handcrafted christmas ornaments and little gifts
Where to find one-of-a-kind gifts This holiday season, go for gifts that make an impact by choosing local artwork and ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: The Majestic ...
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Give the kids a wheelbarrow and a shovel Once again it is time to find the perfect gifts for your ...
man in santa suit standing in front of very tall christmas tree decorated with large glass ornaments
Holiday gift festival features New England-made items On Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10, the group that brings us ...
Family fun for whenever Mr. Claus travels in style • Santa Claus will helicopter in and touch down at the ...
fake silver vintage christmas tree outside on dead grass on sunny day
Dear Donna, We dug this out of my parents’ estate attic. It’s all complete but no papers or box. We ...
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Welder Matt Lazzaro is the owner-operator of Matt the Welder in Derry. Explain your job and what it entails. There ...
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News from the local food scene • Free wine tasting: Wine on Main (9 N. Main St., Concord) hosts a ...
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Gifts for when you’ve run out of gift ideas Not to blow my own horn, but I am an excellent ...
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Kitchen presents you can buy One or two labor-intensive sincere gifts are doable in a holiday season, but if you’re ...
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Eat your way through the Currier and Ives Cookie Tour By Betty Gagnefood@hippopress.com The 18th Annual Currier and Ives Cookie ...
Honey Smoked Ham with sides and xmas desserts/ Christmas Holiday Dinner setting
Where to get all the holiday must-haves Why make the pie when you can order it? Here are some of ...
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While Boscawen resident Katie Pope has always liked to bake and experiment in the kitchen, she didn’t originally plan on ...
piece of gingerbread cake with dollop of whipped cream on top, on late on table with striped tablecloth
Gingerbread is strange. Not the actual gingerbread itself but what people do with it. I can’t think of any baked ...
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KO Mini, Chef’s Kiss (self-released) We’re seriously just about at the point where there’s almost no need to list a ...
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The Little Liar, by Mitch Albom (Harper, 333 pages) There’s a downside to being the author of a runaway bestseller ...
Local music news & events • Old souls: A throwback blend of old-school jazz and contemporary hits, Postmodern Jukebox returns ...
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Holiday pops in Nashua, Concord This year, Symphony NH will perform its Holiday Pops concert twice, at its home venue, ...
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A fan’s gift guide It’s the holiday season and once again time to make a music fan’s eyes and ears ...

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Millions of Lights — 11/23/30

In this week’s cover story we look at lights — no, not directly into the lights but at the big light displays that are brightening up this holiday season, from the professionally designed attractions to homeowners’ pride and joy. Above: The Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (courtesy photo). On the cover: The Proposal Ball at the LaBelle Lights. (Photo by Mya Blanchard.)

Also on the cover Mya Blanchard looks at the European Christmas market-inspired Amherst German Christmas Market (page 24). Mya also checks out the comedy The Thanksgiving Play (page 14). Michael Witthaus talks to comedian Drew Dunn, who plays his hometown stage — the Nashua Center for the Arts.

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School funds The Manchester School District has been awarded a new GEAR UP grant totaling $4.8 million, to be distributed ...
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The Big Story – The Fall of the Patriots Empire: It just keeps getting worse and worse. Every time you ...
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Bird page Bird enthusiasts can now delve into the world of local avian life through New Hampshire Audubon’s new interactive ...
woman dressed as mrs santa claus running on street during road race, rainy day
Big Events November 30, 2023 and beyond Friday, Dec. 1 The Bedford Women’s Club’s “Festival of Trees & Holiday Market” ...
large walk through sphere made of white and purple christmas lights on outdoor walkway at night
Where to find holiday displays big and small Season of lights Planning, scenery and tons of twinkles make up professionally ...
4 actors in costume on stage, sitting at table, posing with funny faces
Theatre Kapow presents The Thanksgiving Play By Mya Blanchard mblanchard@hippopress.com We all know Thanksgiving for the turkey and pie and ...
tea set laid out on table cloth
Dear Donna, Can you give me any information on this Occupied Japan tea set? Thank you. Barbara Dear Barbara, Your ...
Family fun for whenever Holiday happenings Merrimack’s holiday parade and tree lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3, with ...
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Wellness and fitness professional Beth Wallace is a dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer and the owner of The Yoga & Fitness ...
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News from the local food scene • Holiday wine class: Be sure to have a successful holiday from giving the ...
people walking through rows of vendor tents at night lit up by white holiday lights overhead
Amherst market riffs on the European market tradition Last year Lindsay Buchanan, with the help of a committee of volunteers, ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Shop the artists: The Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in ...
cranberry cocktail in tall cut glass, with orange garnish and metal straw, on countertop beside cocktail shaker
I’m not certain what’s been going on with my dreams lately. I’m generally a heavy dreamer — most nights will ...
album covers
CrowJane, Bound To Me (Kitten Robot Records)I’d thought it’d happened a lot more recently, but it turns out I haven’t ...
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Jonathan Abernathy is an unemployed college dropout, age 25, with no prospects for anything getting better — his “loans, IOUs, ...
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A girl wishes upon a star and the star comes down to hang out in Wish, an underbaked mush of ...
Local music news & events • Christmas nuts: The Heather Pierson Trio is again playing Vince Guaraldi’s music from A ...
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Drew Dunn headlines Nashua Center While it was being built, Drew Dunn would drive by the Nashua Center for the ...

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Holiday Guide 2023 — 11/23/23

It’s Hippo’s annual Holiday Guide! In this, our roundup of events from Drinksgiving through New Year’s Eve, we present you with as many holiday events as we could find — from cookie tours to productions of A Christmas Carol. Know of an event we missed? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Also on the cover VIsit local wineries as part of the New Hampshire Jingle Bells Winery Tour (see page 38). Michael Witthaus talks to comedian Emily Ruskowski about some post-turkey comedy (page 48). Get a day of festivities at Very Derry Holiday (page 33).

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Hospital shooting On Friday, Nov. 17, a state Department of Safety security officer was fatally shot at New Hampshire Hospital, ...
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Small business owners take their issue to D.C. In response to the Basel III Endgame regulation, which could escalate capital ...
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The Big Story – Red Sox Makeover Begins: The spotlight in Red Sox Nation shifts to Craig Breslow this week ...
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Oh no, weather! As you travel around the area for the Thanksgiving long weekend, WMUR was, as of the morning ...
Homemade Roasted Thanksgiving Day Turkey with all the Sides
Big Events November 23, 2023 and beyond Thursday, Nov. 23 Time to celebrate the foodiest of all holidays, Thanksgiving! Still ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Pop-up art show: Artists Charlotte Thibault and Byron Carr will ...
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It’s Hippo’s Holiday Guide — our annual listing of seasonal excitement from Drinksgiving (a.k.a. the night before Thanksgiving) through New ...
women with batons dressed in red santa dresses walking on sunny day parade
Very Derry Holiday has shopping, Santa and live music Each year, the Derry Parks and Recreation Department, the Town of ...
Family fun for whenever Mega-storytime • “Storytime! Small Business Saturday Edition” at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, ...
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Take time to sit and enjoy your garden On Nov. 8, 1998, my first gardening column appeared in my hometown ...
stuffed hippo on bed
Dear Donna, Would you be able to give me a value on my hippo? He is in great shape with ...
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Photographer Allison Clarke, from Bedford, owns Allison Clarke Photography. Explain your job and what it entails. I am a senior ...
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News from the local food scene • Breakfast and dinner with Santa: Have breakfast with Santa at Hampshire Hills Athletic ...
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Tour of New Hampshire’s wineries Tour wineries throughout New Hampshire this holiday season during the New Hampshire Jingle Bells Winery ...
wine bottle sitting on table outside
Experts recommend Thanksgiving wine pairings By Renee Merchant Looking for wines for your Thanksgiving meal? Three local wine experts have ...
plate of cookies beside mug of tea, second plate with one cookie, bite taken out
Things you probably didn’t know about your spices: (1) They probably taste like sawdust. Did you know you’re supposed to ...
album covers
Gale Forces, Highlights Of Existence (self-released) Well, I don’t mind this at all. As often as I’ve been disappointed by ...
illustrated book covers for romance novels
If I were a trendy person, I would call this book “mid”: just fine, mediocre, middle of the road. The ...
male and female actors in screenshot from Hunger Games the ballad of songbirds and snakes
Coriolanis Snow grows from an ambitious teenager into the guy who will one day be Donald Sutherland in The Hunger ...
Local music news & events • Blues rocker: Discovered at 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Joanne Shaw Taylor ...
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Post-Thanksgiving comedy show at Rex Since all the crack-of-dawn flat-screen TV sales moved online, the day after Thanksgiving has become ...

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54 recipes — 11/16/23

To get through the holiday season, with all its parties and gatherings and family dinners. John Fladd presents to you 54 recipes — from cookies and ice creams to potatoes au gratin and scallion pancakes. And, for the nights when you just can’t with cooking — drinks! Photo at right and on the cover by John Fladd.

Also on the cover Mya Blanchard looks at the paper ornaments at the League of NH Craftsmen gallery in Nashua. Henry Homeyer considers the garden chores of November. Michael Witthaus talks to Panorama, which will pay tribute to The Cars at a Tupelo Music Hall show also featuring Bikini Whale and its take on The B-52s.

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Livable NH AARP has unveiled the 10 top-scoring livable communities in New Hampshire according to its new AARP Livability Index ...
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A veteran helping veterans with at-home care Mark Nalbandian of Bedford is a Navy veteran and caregiver at 360 SHS, ...
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The Big Story – Pats Elevator Going Down: During the first run of the TV show Frasier, when things were ...
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Lung health The 2023 “State of Lung Cancer” report by the American Lung Association highlights New Hampshire’s notable performance in ...
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Big Events November 16, 2023 and beyond Friday, Nov. 17 Consider a few of your favorite things this weekend when ...
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Ooh, that recipe looks good; I wonder what’s in it. click OK, this looks like the right recipe. Uh, huh ...
christmas oranment made of colorfully design paper, shaped in a bell, bead and tassel hanging from bottom
New League of NH Craftsmen members bring ornate paper ornaments to Nashua gallery The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen has ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • New exhibit in Manchester: “The Power of Art,” a show ...
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Free the trunk flare! For many of us November is a drab and dreary month: days are short, gray skies ...
Family fun for whenever Celebrating an astronaut • The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will ...
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Dear Donna, I have over a dozen rolls of this used/old paper. Toss or keep? Do you know if anyone ...
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News from the local food scene • Bottle signing with Robert Irvine: Celebrity chef Robert Irvine will be at the ...
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815 Cocktails and Provisions in Manchester has reopened 815 Cocktails and Provisions in Manchester reopened its doors this September after ...
bearded man wearing chef's apron and backward baseball cap, leaning against counter, back to brick wall, under signs that reads "Welcome to Sonny's"
Kyle Burnett’s passion for cooking developed during his time at Lakes Region Technology Center, where he took culinary classes. Growing ...
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This is a classic tequila drink. This time, I’ve substituted mezcal for tequila, because I have a really nice bottle ...
album covers
Sick Boss, Businessless (Drip Audio Records) Brandishing not just post-rock but indeed post-apocalyptic sound adventures a la That F-king Tank, ...
book cover for Build the Life You Want, words on hazy illustration of small tree on top of soft mountain peak
Build the Life You Want, by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (Portfolio/Penguin, 208 pages) Trying to make sense of ...
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Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau team up, much to Ms. Marvel’s teenage-fangirl glee, in The Marvels, a mostly ...
Local music news & events • Purple like: Get funky with LoVeSeXy, New England’s top Prince tribute act. The six-piece ...
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Cars tribute act hits Tupelo The best thing about playing in a Cars tribute act is it never gets boring ...

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Good and loud — The Hippo — 11/09/23

High -nergy band Recycled Percussion started at a Goffstown High School talent show and from there they’ve seemed to go everywhere — from Las Vegas to your TV screen (currently, with the show Chaos & Kindness). Band founder Justin Spencer discusses the journey, their mission to spread kindness and their upcoming shows in Laconia and Manchester. Photo above and on the cover is by Hutchinshotit Photography of Ryan Venzina and Justin Spencer at the Palace Theatre in Manchester in 2020.

Also on the cover Time to start making those Thanksgiving food plans — we have a rundown of places to get your pies, rolls and even the whole turkey as well as restaurants where you could just let someone else do all the cooking. The listings start on page 22. In Derry this weekend, Ovation Theatre Company tries to make fetch happen with a production of Mean Girls (page 17). The band deSoL comes to Concord and Michael Witthaus has the details (page 32).

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Report on aging The New Hampshire State Commission on Aging (NHCOA) has released its 2022-2023 Annual Report, offering key insights ...
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A real estate attorney discusses homebuying Matthew W. Neuman, Esq., real estate attorney of Bedford-based Absolute Title, discusses crucial home ...
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The Big Story – The final dagger was plunged into the back of the Chaim Bloom era in Boston by ...
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Paying the bills Doxo’s latest report, featured on CNBC and titled “Which Largest U.S. Cities are Most Expensive for Household ...
teddy bear sculpture made of yellow string lights, red lights for bow around neck, sitting on platform outside for viewing
Big Events November 9, 2023 and beyond Friday, Nov. 10 The Capitol Center for the Arts’ William H. Gile Concert ...
The band. Courtesy photo.
Justin Spencer talks about Recycled Percussion on their own stage and giving back By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com In 1995, Justin Spencer ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Make place cards for Thanksgiving • For the Thanksgiving table: Twiggs ...
Just in time for the holiday season is Mosaic Art Collective’s “A Few of My Favorite Things” exhibit, showing pieces that are 12x12” or smaller in size from Monday, Nov. 6, through Wednesday, Dec. 18, with an opening reception on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. The gallery will run an art supply donation drive for the Webster House concurrently with the exhibition. “We had 112 pieces submitted and there will be 94 pieces on display,” said Liz Pieroni, owner of the gallery. “There are many different mediums represented.” They include oil paintings on metal as well as on canvas, linoleum black prints, eraser prints, digital work, portraiture and acrylic paintings and other works depicting floral bouquets and mandala-like designs. The opening reception will include refreshments and music. In addition to “A Few of My Favorite Things,” See Saw Art will have a 120-square-foot exhibition space within Mosaic Art Collective throughout November and December, so there will always be something new to see. “It’s usually just a lot of really wonderful people gathering together to talk about art and life. It’s really a celebration,” Pieroni said of the opening reception. “We’re also going to be doing a collection of art supplies for the Webster House, so I’m hoping that people will come with art supplies to donate.” The Webster House is a Manchetser residence for children ages 8 to 18 who are currently displaced from their homes. It offers services such as counseling and crisis management as well as trips and recreational programming. Donations can include any new or lightly used art supplies, such as crayons, paint brushes and paper. “Art supplies especially are so helpful for kids who are in transition in one way or another to be able to express themselves,” Pieroni said. “Even if they’re not sharing the artwork that they’re making, it’s still cathartic in one way or another and I think most artists recognize that need to create work and just fully express their inner worlds. … It seems like such a simple thing, but it’s … a fun way of giving back to children in need.” While most of the pieces in the gallery are done by New Hampshire artists, the venue features work from artists all around New England with various backgrounds and experience levels. “What I think is incredibly unique about Mosaic is that we have artists that are very new [who are] creating [and] showing [their art] and then we have very seasoned professional artists who have been showing all their lives,” Pieroni said. “I think what’s wonderful about that is everyone has so much to learn from each other, the artists who have been exhibiting longer come with a lot of experience and the [emerging] artists have this really fresh perspective.”
Mosaic Art Collective presents new exhibit with donation drive Fancy Florals by Mariah Sample. Courtesy photo. Just in time for ...
Mean Girls rehearsal. Courtesy photo.
Ovation Theatre Company presents Mean Girls Upon returning to Ovation Theatre Company to sit in on a rehearsal for Mean ...
Family fun for whenever Animal entertainment • Catch the animated movie Free Birds(PG, 2013) on Friday, Nov. 10, at 3:30 ...
Dear Donna, I hope you can answer a question for me. I have a few wooden animals that appear to ...
Heather Hamel. Courtesy photo.
Public information officer Heather Hamel is the public information officer for the Manchester Police Department. Explain your job and what ...
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News from the local food scene • Wine and cheese fest: Enjoy artisan meats, cheeses, desserts, vinegar, oil and a ...
Homemade Thanksgiving Turkey Plate with Cranberry Stuffing Potatoes and Beans
Let someone else cook the big meal at one of these area restaurants Have your Thanksgiving dinner at a table ...
Where to get your pies, mashed potatoes & more Here are some of the spots offering dessert, sides and sometimes ...
red cocktail in tall glass on plate on table, metal straw, filled with ice
A year or so ago, I splurged on some fancy party-wear — a burgundy velvet smoking jacket, a silk ascot ...
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Newmoon, “Fading Phase” (self-released) Funnily enough I was just watching a long documentary about shoegaze bands for no real reason, ...
Book cover for A City on Mars, illustrated image of buildings on planet surface with tall red mountains
A City on Mars, by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith (Penguin Press, 448 pages) Besides buying Twitter and normalizing electric cars, ...
screenshot of Elvis hugging wife Priscilla in screenshot from Priscilla movie
The 14-year-old girl who eventually becomes Mrs. Elvis Presley (at 21) and then the ex-Mrs. Elvis (at 28) gets her ...
Local music news & events • Folk professor: The latest from singer-songwriter Ellis Paul is 55, an at-the-crossroads effort highlighted ...
2 men playing guitar and 2 on drums, on outdoor stage, clear warm day
Reunited and revitalized, deSoL hits Concord Fans of Latin-infused rock and soul music are in for a treat when deSoL ...
Sam Slattery’s earliest memory of cooking is of standing on a chair in his kitchen while his father taught him ...

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Crafts in NH — The Hippo — 11/02/23

It’s craft fair season, with opportunities to find unique items pretty much every weekend between now and Christmas. In this week’s cover story, we talk to some of the artisans who have taken their artistic interests to all sorts of cool places. And we give you a list of upcoming fairs where you can find crafts of all sorts.

Also on the cover Concord gets a new art gallery (page 16), Manchester gets a new restaurant (page 28) and Nashua gets the Cowboy Junkies (page 38).

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NH efforts After a shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which resulted in 18 fatalities, New Hampshire’s Department of Safety actively monitored ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
The Big Story – Celtics Get Started: The NBA season kicked off last week with great expectations for the local ...
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Volunteer spirit Seventy volunteers and nonprofits were honored at Volunteer NH’s 20th Spirit of NH Awards in Concord for their ...
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Big Events November 2, 2023 and beyond Thursday, Nov. 2 It’s the final weekend to catch the musical Kinky Boots ...
woman in trade booth at craft show, displaying decorative tiles and coasters
Local artisans talk about making cool stuff — and how their hobbies became a business Plus Shop for unique finds ...
outside of small building with large windows along front and side, artwork hanging on walls and on display stands inside
New gallery brings art hub to Concord Mike Howat and Fallon Andrews had been deliberating their vision for about a ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Whodunit: The Hillsborough Community Center will present Murder at the ...
thick branch split into 2 smaller branches, black line drawn around smallest branch
A few bold cuts can transform a tree or shrub I asked an experienced arborist the other day what he ...
Family fun for whenever Shows! • The Riverbend Youth Company will present High School MusicalFriday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; ...
thick brown paper with crocheted doilies attached
Dear Donna, I found this small pamphlet-type homemade book. Inside are several different pieces of crochet. No two are alike, ...
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Bookstore owner Lacey Brown is the owner of Henniker Book Farm & Gifts. Explain your job and what it entails ...
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News from the local food scene • Spirited evening: Tickets are still available to the 10th annual Distiller’s Showcase of ...
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Owners of Industry East open new restaurant on Elm Street After opening their restaurant Industry East on Hanover Street in ...
man with beard, wearing Labelle Winery baseball cap and black chef's jacket, standing in front of barrels of wine, arms crossed
Nashua native Justin Bernatchez is the executive chef at LaBelle Winery. Growing up with his father in the industry, he ...
Carrot Pie. Photo by John Fladd.
Carrot Pie. Photo by John Fladd. In the 1920s there seems to have been a vibrant analog online community of ...
E-Garbage, LLM (Dee Dee’s Picks Records) and Best Ex, With A Smile (Iodine Recordings)
E-Garbage, LLM (Dee Dee’s Picks Records) Swiss artist & engineer Eric Nardini is more commonly known in techno circles under ...
Mr. Texas, by Lawrence Wright
Mr. Texas, by Lawrence Wright (Knopf, 336 pages) Sonny Lamb is a rancher who lives with his wife, Lola, in ...
Pain Hustlers.
Pain Hustlers (R) Our medical system is broken is the big takeaway from Pain Hustlers, a fictional tale of pharmaceutical ...
Local music news & events Rising stars: The latest installment in the Nashville Newcomers series has Runaway June, an all-female ...
Cowboy Junkies. Photo by Heather Pollock.
The honey-limned soundscapes of Cowboy Junkies Every Cowboy Junkies album delivers a fair share of emotional truths, dark reflections and ...

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Want s’mores — The Hippo — 10/26/23

John Fladd considers the s’more — that warm, gooey, crunchy, melty blend of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker that would go so perfectly with a late October campfire — from all angles, getting experts to weigh in on the perfect chocolate, the various approaches to marshmallow and even how to build a good fire. Along the way, he offers other recipes that bring those familiar flavors together, rounding it all off with a s’mores martini.

Also on the cover Michael Witthaus talks to comedian Steve Bjork, who will bring the laughs to Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester on Saturday, Oct. 28 (see the story on page 33). Find more comedy shows in the Comedy This Week listings on page 38. Author Jodi Picoult comes to the Palace Theatre (page 18). Jals Cuisine Bantu brings African cuisine to Nashua (page 27).

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City Arts Nashua closes City Arts Nashua, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the arts, will conclude its operations by ...
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A career in nursing & mentoring Meet Michael Newell, RN, a home care nurse and mentor at Granite VNA, recently ...
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The Big Story – Heat on Mac Jones: It’s amazing what actual pass protection does for a quarterback. After being ...
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Increased fatalities for motorcyclists In 2023, New Hampshire experienced its highest number of motorcycle-related deaths in almost two decades. Since ...
Halloween Jack o Lantern orange bucket with candy treats outdoor.
Big Events October 26, 2023 and beyond Tuesday, Oct. 31 Get ready for trick-or-treat! Whether you’re walking the neighborhood with ...
Closeup of person roasting marshmallow enjoying s'more by a camp
Exciting new adventures in graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate S’mores seem like a good bet. They only have three ingredients ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Bard-adjacent: Actorsingers presents the musical farce Something Rotten at the Keefe ...
in art gallery, woman standing and pointing to painting while speaking to group of seated elderly people
Currier program helps those experiencing memory loss and their care partners On the first Wednesday of every month, Currier Museum ...
woman with curly red hair standing in front of brick building, arms folded, wearing leather coat, smiling
Nonprofit group holds celebration with Jodi Picoult For the past 50 years, New Hampshire Humanities has worked to keep the ...
hand holding flower bulb over grass
Try tulips, snowdrops and somewhat squirrel-proof daffodils I’ve been planting bulbs around my property for at least 40 years, and ...
vintage decorative plate
Good afternoon, Donna Welch, I have service for six of dinner, soup, bread/butter, salad bowl, dessert, cup/saucer and rectangular 11-inch ...
lines of jack o'lanterns on benches on sidewalk
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival returns to Laconia By Dan Humerlistings@hippopress.com The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival will feature a zombie walk, ...
Family fun for whenever City trick-or-treat • The Spooktacular Downtown Trick-or-Treating Extravaganza in Manchester will take place Friday, Oct. 27, ...
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Mobile boutique owner Rebecca Cardamone owns The Trendy Dog, a mobile boutique based in Pelham selling items for dog lovers ...
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News from the local food scene • Market happenings: The Concord Farmers Market which runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon ...
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Manchester Distillery open on Willow Street This past August, a new distillery opened its doors on the north side of ...
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Bringing the flavors of Africa to Nashua On Friday, Sept. 22, a VIP launch party was held for the opening ...
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Chris Ballou, a sous chef at Americus Restaurant at LaBelle Winery in Derry, discovered his culinary bent in a high ...
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We’ve all done it. We’ve all planned our ideal dinner party — what we’d serve, how we’d dress, and most ...
album covers
Hugo’s Voyage, Inception (Frontiers Music) No matter how popular they become, bands that start out as cover bands — i.e., ...
book cover
Be Useful, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Penguin Press, 263 pages) “Be useful,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s father used to tell him, and it’s good ...
screen shot from Killers of the Flower Moon with Leonardo Dicaprio and Lily Gladstone
Oil-rich members of the Osage Nation become targets for con men in 1920s Oklahoma in Killers of the Flower Moon, ...
Local music news & events Anniversary: Though his current tour is a celebration of his breakthrough album, Eric Hutchinson almost ...
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Comic Steve Bjork hits Manchester If not for his tight New England bonds, things might have been different for Steve ...
frontpage of hippo showing marshmallow on stick being squished between chocolate and graham crackers, text want s'mores
John Fladd considers the s’more — that warm, gooey, crunchy, melty blend of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker that would ...
frontpage of hippo showing marshmallow on stick being squished between chocolate and graham crackers, text want s'mores
John Fladd considers the s’more — that warm, gooey, crunchy, melty blend of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker that would ...

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Halloween Fun! — The Hippo — 10/19/23

Time to get in the Halloween spirit! In this week’s supersized information-packed cover story, we’ve gathered all the spooky season events we can find for all ages and interests. Want to get scared at a local haunted house? Or would you prefer relaxing with a screening of a black and white horror classic? Find haunted attractions, trick-or-treat times, trunk-or-treat times, kids’ events, events for Halloween fans of any age and fun for the grown-up crowd.

Also on the cover: Get your tickets now for the Distiller’s Showcase in Manchester on Nov. 2 (page 28). Amy Diaz presents a new batch of scary movies for your spooky season viewing (page 34). Find live music this weekend and beyond in our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 38.

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Plan for aging The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received federal approval for the State ...
Elizabeth Duclos. Courtesy photo.
NH’s Teacher of the Year talks about her class Elizabeth Duclos, who teaches third grade at Pembroke Hill School in ...
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The Big Story – Pats Fall to 1-5: The struggles continued for the Patriots on Sunday with a 21-17 loss ...
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Peanut butter & cereal Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) has launched a peanut butter and cereal drive to take ...
“Juju” Palakurthi
Big Events October 19, 2023 and beyond Thursday, Oct. 19Hear the band Decatur Creek and catch a curator tour at ...
“Our goal is to try to scare every single person that goes through Fright Kingdom,” Dunne said. “My hope for this year is every customer that leaves Fright Kingdom feels like they just found their new favorite haunted house.”
Parties, spooky attractions and more for Halloween fans of all ages Enter, if you dare New Hampshire’s favorite haunted attractions ...
Child in witch costume exploring the aviation museum. Courtesy photo.
Special events for the younger crowd Compiled by Angie Sykenyaskyeny@hippopress.com Here are some Halloween happenings geared specifically at kids and ...
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Happenings for ghosts and ghouls of all ages Compiled by Renee Merchantlistings@hippopress.com Check out these Halloween events that anyone can ...
Rocky Horror Picture show.
Adult Halloween options abound By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com If you’re a grownup who wishes trick-or-treating were an all-ages affair, you can ...
Art by Dana Selliken. Courtesy photo.
The Great New England Craft and Artisan Show returns to the Hampshire Dome By Mya Blanchardmblanchard@hippopress.com Jewelry, upcycled lamps, books, ...
Place your garlic cloves on the soil to establish spacing before planting. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
It’s the easiest vegetable — and tasty too By Henry Homeyerlistings@hippopress.com If you lean toward lazy (or have kids, dogs ...
Featured photo: Courtesy photo
Hi, Donna.A friend in New Hampshire who owns an antique restoration business gave me your contact. Is there anything you ...
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News from the local food scene By Mya Blanchardmblanchard@hippopress.com Halloween party: Pipe Dream Brewing in Londonderry (49 Harvey Road; pipedreambrewingnh.com) ...
Previous Distiller’s Showcase. Courtesy photo.
10th annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits By Mya Blanchardmblanchard@hippopress.com Whether you like gin, whiskey, vodka or tequila, there is ...
Ann Marie Baril, owner of Pastry Dream. Courtesy photo.
Ann Marie Baril, owner of Pastry Dream, has always loved to bake. Her passion for food comes from her grandmother, ...
Chocolate spider. Photo courtesy of John Fladd.
With Halloween around the corner and a host of sports moms and PTA dads waiting to humble-brag about the amazing ...
album-review-231019
Charlene Darling, La Porte (Disciples Records) It’s been a while since the last time I was presented with an album ...
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, by Maria Bamford. Courtesy photo.
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, by Maria Bamford (Gallery, 272 pages) Are comedians prone to mental health problems? Two new ...
Local music news & events Grunge alike: Start the weekend early with Chicago-based tribute act Smells Like Nirvana. Hit their ...
Concert benefits mental health center If Shakespeare were to write Twelfth Night today, he might open it with, “If music ...
Time to get in the Halloween spirit! In this week’s supersized information-packed cover story, we’ve gathered all the spooky season ...
Time to get in the Halloween spirit! In this week’s supersized information-packed cover story, we’ve gathered all the spooky season ...
Vee Nong Permanent makeup artist
Permanent makeup artist Vee Nong is the owner and lead permanent makeup artist of My Beautiful Brows in Raymond. Explain ...
Slotherhouse
Give yourself some scares with these new movies By Amy Diazadiaz@hippopress.com Here are a few new spooky films for your ...

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In defense of bats! — 23/10/12

Bats — they’re a great Halloween decoration. But real-world bats are already focused on winter — whether it’s migrating south or snuggling up in a cave or barn. And New Hampshire’s bats are still dealing with their own scary situation in the form of white-nose syndrome. In this week’s cover, we look at the state of local bats and what people can do to lend a hand (wing?) to these mammalian mosquito eaters.

Also on the cover The curtain rises on Kinky Boots at the Palace Theatre (page 14). Pick your own pumpkin — for decoration or pie (page 21). Goffstown celebrates the season with its annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta (page 19).

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Friday eats In September 2023, the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (BGCM) announced its “Free Food Friday” initiative, offering ...
2 women and a man standing on stage
Remembering the Concord Theatre Paul Brogan, author of The Concord Theatre, and author Margaret Porter present a gala at Bank ...
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The Big Story – Belichick Hot Seat Gets Hotter: A week after being humiliated by the Cowboys, things got even ...
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Millennials on the move A recent study by Upgraded Points revealed that wealthy millennials, defined as individuals ages 26 to ...
Taylor Swift in promo photo wearing dress with very puffy skirt, looking backwards over her shoulder, carrying guitar
Big Events October 12, 2023 and beyond Friday, Oct. 13It’s a Taylor Swift weekend! Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, a ...
bat with wings spread lying on rock, with open mouth showing fangs
The state of NH's bat population and what people can do to help Bat Week, an international celebration and week ...
group of diverse male dancers posing on stage in front of red curtain with sparkly words Kinky Boots hanging
The Palace Theatre presents Kinky Boots Dancing, music and the iconic red boots will take the stage for The Palace ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Art in the City: The Manchester Arts Commission is hosting an ...
studio portrait of two mature women sitting shoulder to shoulder, heads tilted toward each other, smiling
Original play shows family through the generations By Renee Merchantarts@hippopress.com Two local playwrights, Toby Tarnow of Hollis and Ellen Cunis ...
giant pumpkin sculpturally carved into pointy-toothed leering face with gourds making horns at top of head
Goffstown Pumpkin Regatta returns by Jill Lessardlistings@hippopress.com Things are going to get creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky on the Piscataquog ...
sickle laying in grass
Cut, pull, label, rake To me, this felt like the summer that never was. It was rarely hot and sunny ...
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Dear Donna,I recently purchased these wondering what they were. I know now they were and are used for holding flowers ...
pumpkin carved into snarling face
Find pumpkins for eating, pumpkins for carving by Jill Lessardlistings@hippopress.com Autumn brings crisp temperatures, colorful foliage and a passion for ...
Family fun for whenever A-maze-ing If this week’s cover story has you thinking about bats, check out the brown bat ...
man wearing sunglasses and bandana, long hair posing beside woman wearing sunglasses outdoors, both smiling
RV rental providers Shane and Evangeline Hooker are the owners and operators of Happy Hooker Rentals in Milford. Explain your ...
Courtesy photo.
Worker Bee Fund hosts second Mount Uncanoonuc Brewfest On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., more than a ...
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News from the local food scene Taste of the Trail: Try free samples from local food vendors and win local ...
Photo by Chuck Fishman.
The Chocolate Expo comes to the Granite State The Chocolate Expo has garnered international attention since its start in 2006 ...
Parmentier. Photo by John Fladd.
Some people are remembered by History and become household names, sometimes for silly reasons. Other, more worthy men and women ...
Jennifer Stone-Grimaldi, owner of Crosby’s Bakery. Courtesy photo.
Jennifer Stone-Grimaldi bought Crosby’s Bakery, established in 1947 in Nashua, five years ago after working there for over a decade ...
album covers
Diamond Dogs, About the Hardest Nut to Crack (Wild Kingdom Records) I don’t get too many rootsy honky-tonk-punk records in ...
book cover for the vaster wilds by lauren groff
The Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Groff (Riverhead, 253 pages) In a world populated with doomsday preppers, people embracing life off ...
denzel washington sitting in a chair looking serious in a scene from the equalizer 3
Robert McCall takes his polite butt-kicking to Italy in The Equalizer 3, a movie that I hope was both a ...
Local music news & events Spooky: Ease into Halloween season with a themed presentation of Candlelight. The Listeso String Quartet ...
Young woman sitting on bench in front of piono, wearing red cape and high heeled shoes
Queens honors great women of song For her one-woman show Queens, Jordan Quinn sets a high bar, channeling iconic singers ...

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Community of Music — 23/10/05

NH Music Collective is all over our Music This Week listings, with its artists playing at restaurants and breweries as well as on stages dedicated to music, like the Bank of NH Stage. Michael Witthaus tells the story of the creation of this booking, production and artist development operation. Photo above and on the cover comes courtesy the NH Music Collective and is of April Cushman and Brad Myrick.

Also on the cover: We’re still in the thick of festival season. Find a weekend of fun at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival (page 19) and the Milford Pumpkin Festival (page 18). And we check in with the Currier Museum of Art to get the details of this season’s exhibitions (page 14).

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.
Primary polling According to a recent poll conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center, former President Donald Trump maintains ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
The Big Story – Sox Done for 2023: It was a busy week, where the end of the Patriots dynasty ...
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.
On-the-job training During a routine shift on a Sunday morning, Sept. 17, NHTI Paramedic Emergency Medicine student Timothy St. Germain ...
Image of Comedian Juston McKinney
Big Events September 21, 2023 and beyond Friday, Oct. 6Learn about eclipses tonight as part of the Super Stellar Friday ...
April Cushman and Brad Myrick. Courtesy photo.
The story of NH Music Collective It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional ...
Pablo Picasso, Portrait de Jacqueline de Face II, 1962. Courtesy of the Currier Museum of Art
Current and upcoming exhibitions at the Currier Museum of Art This fall the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester will ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Just keep swimming: The Community Players of Concord will present their ...
Milford Pumpkin Festival. Courtesy photo.
34th annual Milford pumpkin festival For more than three decades the Milford Pumpkin Festival has brought residents of Milford and ...
Photo of Warner Fall Foliage Festival
Warner Fall Foliage Festival celebrates community The Warner Fall Foliage Festival returns Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, after ...
Colchicum or fall crocus. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
Migrating monarchs need their carbs Despite my best efforts to support monarch butterflies, this year was discouraging: I only saw ...
Image of vintage Fisher Price toy collection
Hi, Donna,Saw you in the Hippo. Do you have any knowledge of these old toys’ value or the market for ...
Carrot Pie. Photo by John Fladd.
In the 1920s there seems to have been a vibrant analog online community of housewives in the Boston Globe’s cooking ...
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News from the local food scene Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival: The 11th annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili ...
Cup of Espresso at South of the 6
Nail and espresso bar opening in Manchester South of the 6. Courtesy photo. Once Kate MacKenzie left Manchester in 2004, ...
Collin Beckemeyer
For Collin Beckemeyer, every long day in the kitchen is worth it to see the look on someone’s face when ...
Photo comparison of Wolves in the Throne Room, Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge (Relapse Records) & Elm Street, The Great Tribulation (Massacre Records).
Wolves in the Throne Room, Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge (Relapse Records) I remember this Olympia, WA trio from way back; ...
Isaacson’s prose is sparse; he lets his subject and interviewees do the talking, and they all had plenty to say. This is the rare book that I recommend reading on a tablet or phone. The heft of the book makes it difficult to hold comfortably. It’s hard to pick up, but it’s also hard to put down. A —Jennifer Graham
Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster, 615 pages) In April of this year, social media had a field ...
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
The pups of the Paw Patrol get superpowers and spiffy new outfits and vehicles — each sold separately— in the ...
Local music news & events Macca: The natural right-handed front man of The McCartney Experience taught himself to play bass ...
Steve Hofstetter. Courtesy photo.
Well-rounded comic Steve Hofstetter Raised in New York City, with a father who watched Dick Gregory perform in Village comedy ...

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