Adventures in the Air

You’ve seen New Hampshire’s forests, mountains and seacoast, but have you seen them from above? Get a new view with a relaxing flight in a hot air balloon, an adrenaline-filled zipline tour or a gentle but exhilarating parasail ride along the coast.

Also on the cover, discover the best mid-summer flowers to make your garden pop, p. 16. Find out where to go for pick-your-own blueberries, p. 22. And try lighter brews for more relaxing days, p. 26.

Much of what passes for public conversation these days could well be likened to a poker game where each player ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of July 2As of July 12Total cases statewide99,55599,770Total current infections statewide181197Total deaths statewide1,3721,375New cases100 (June 29 to July ...
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Volunteers needed at equine therapy center UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Goffstown is looking for volunteers to assist with its ...
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With the restart of baseball set to go as the All-Star break ends, it’s time to hand out grades for ...
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Massive soap bottle in Manchester The world’s biggest bottle of soap will make an appearance in Manchester on Saturday, July ...
woman sitting at small piano with man standing beside her dressed in eighteenth century clothing
Big Events July 15, 2021, and beyond Thursday, July 15 The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) ...
2 people high on a zipline over green forests and blue sky
Get a new view of the world while ziplining above the trees, soaring in a hot air balloon or parasailing ...
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Marriage comedy opens at the Majestic Theatre As life steadily returns to normal, the Majestic Theatre presents a play about ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “Perspectives,” a mixed-media sculpture by Philip Gauthier. Courtesy photo. • Saturday ...
tall purple flowers blooming beside house
It’s a quiet time for flowers Mid-summer is often a quiet time for flowers; many gardens have fewer dramatic blossoms ...
oblong woven basket
Dear Donna,I have this basket that is probably 100 years old from my mother; I think it was for a ...
Family fun for the weekend Summer of movies Head to Greeley Park (100 Concord St. in Nashua) on Friday, July ...
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Zachery Palmer Housing cooperative specialist Zachery Palmer is a housing cooperative specialist for ROC-NH, a program that works to build ...
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News from the local food scene • Tastes of the Caribbean: Get your tickets now for an al fresco Caribbean ...
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Pick-your-own season is underway The recent stretch of rain over the Fourth of July weekend has given local blueberries a ...
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Lisa Kingsbury of Derry is the owner of Lush Confections (find her on Facebook @lushbakedgoods), a homestead business offering fresh ...
noodles and coleslaw in white square dish with fork
Coleslaw is a regular item on summer cookout menus. Typically it’s mainly a combination of cabbage and some sort of ...
can of beer sitting on table
I want to say that you deserve a vacation, but honestly, I don’t know that you do. Don’t get me ...
Assorted Orchids, Assorted Orchids (Whale Watch Records) Debut album from Boston-based folkie T. McWilliams, whose target audience is the weird-beard ...
Black Widow (PG-13) The Avengers’ Black Widow finally gets her stand-alone, sorta-origin movie with Black Widow, the first movie to ...
Fear Street Part 1: 1994 & Fear Street Part 2: 1978 (R) Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr. Also Olivia Scott ...
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The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Celedon Books, 320 pages) Writers, for the most part, live boring lives. We sit ...
Local music news & events • Rolling on: One band hit hard by the recent pandemic was Enter the Haggis ...
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Concord show celebrates new jazz album Scott Solsky has been a fixture in the Capital City since releasing his eponymous ...

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Just Fore Fun

Mini golf is a great outdoor pastime for just about anyone: challenging but not impossible, fun for kids and adults, and a pretty low-key way to get outside and get active during the summer without breaking too much of a sweat. Find out what some of southern New Hampshire’s mini golf courses have to offer.

Also on the cover, the Concord Chorale returns to in-person performances, p. 14. Try Italian at Rig A Tony’s or grab some barbecue at Sherman’s Pit Stop, p. 22 & 23. And cool down with a refreshing cocktail, p. 26.

I love tacos, and when I first arrived in New Hampshire in 1993 as a medical student living in the ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of June 28As of July 2Total cases statewide99,45599,555Total current infections statewide155181Total deaths statewide1,3711,372New cases126 (June 22 to June ...
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Meet new Beaver Brook director Lindsay Jones The Beaver Brook Association, a nature center and conservation area in Hollis, welcomed ...
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It’s been a most surprising NBA season, and not just locally. Before it started, very few in Celtics Nation would’ve ...
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Fisher Cat represents One of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ star pitching prospects will be heading to Tokyo to play ...
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Big Events July 8, 2021, and beyond Thursday, July 8Hillsboro Summerfest starts today and runs through Sunday at Grimes Field, ...
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Mini golf can be your date night family outing or relaxing way to hit the links If you’re looking for ...
men's choir holding songbooks and singing in a church
Concord Chorale performs together in person for virtual concert After months of rehearsing from home over Zoom, and then from ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Live poetry and spoken word return: After a 15-month hiatus, Slam ...
Family fun for the weekend Pick-your-own update Last week’s Kiddie Pool mentioned some places to check out for picking your ...
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Control the size of trees and shrubs By now your rhododendrons, lilacs and other spring bloomers have bloomed and are ...
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Anthony Coy Custom apparel account manager Anthony Coy is an account manager for the Keene-based custom apparel business Beeze Tees ...
Dear Donna,I am interested in finding out what this piece might be. Can you identify it? RJ Dear RJ,What you ...
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Rig A Tony’s expands to Bedford; new Windham and reopened Derry spots on the way Lisa DeSisto was gearing up ...
hot dog, french fries, and pickle on a black and white checkered napkin
Sherman’s Pit Stop opens in Wilton Inspired by the idea of what you might encounter across famous highways like Route ...
Abbey Morrison of Manchester is the owner and founder of The Fresh Chef Meal Prep (freshchefmp.com, and on Facebook @thefreshchefmealprepllc ...
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My grandparents were civilized people. One of my favorite memories of them is their rigorous observance of Cocktail Hour. Every ...
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News from the local food scene • New spot for Granite State Naturals: After temporarily closing over the holiday weekend, ...
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Three variations on the versatile zinfandel Zinfandel wine has a long and storied past. Those of a certain age may ...
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Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner (Alfred A. Knopf, 239 pages) The first time that I, a southerner raised ...
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The Tomorrow War (PG-13) Chris Pratt stars in the old-fashioned summer save-the-world popcorn movie The Tomorrow War, released on Amazon ...
Summer of Soul (PG-13) Questlove (billed here as Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson) directs this documentary/concert film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural ...
Velvet Insane, Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit (Sound Pollution Records) Wait, can it be something cool for a change? I ...
Local music news & events • Chicken fried: Zac Brown Band guitarist Clay Cook performs solo after a 6:30 p.m ...
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The Weight Band plays drive-in show Though named after The Band’s most iconic song, with sets featuring “Up On Cripple ...
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For many, the highlight of a hike is when snacks are distributed. A mix of nuts, dried fruit and chocolate ...

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Travel the World!

Travel the World

Stuck at home this summer? Pick up a good book and let it take you away. Local booksellers and librarians share their top picks for books that can transport you, whether it’s to a tropical beach, a foreign land, a courtroom or a zoo.

Also on the cover, find fireworks to celebrate the Fourth, p. 16. Tammaro’s Cucina is coming to Litchfield, p. 23. And there’s a ton of live music happening during this long holiday weekend, p. 33.

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Your guide to a summer of books with exciting locales, thrilling adventures, mysteries and more Travel the world this summer, ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of June 21As of June 28Total cases statewide99,32999,455Total current infections statewide196155Total deaths statewide1,3671,371New cases186 (June 15 to June ...
The elderberries are in full bloom. For my family they hold special significance as they remind us of my father-in ...
Cover of Downeast by Gigi Georges
Bedford author’s debut explores coming-of-age For four years, Bedford resident Gigi Georges, who lives part of the year in Maine, ...
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Believe it or not, baseball hits the midpoint this weekend. And with the local nine leading the AL East it’s ...
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Healthy state for kids The 2021 Kids Count Data Book, released last week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities NHAA artists in Manchester: The New Hampshire Art Association recently partnered ...
Family fun for the weekend An activity now and a snack later Get kids picking summer fruits as a way ...
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It happens to even the best gardeners If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that I ...
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Dear Donna,My husband inherited two very large wooden plaques that hung in his father’s bar in Philadelphia, circa 1948-1955. They ...
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Ann Marie Shea Errand runner Ann Marie Shea is the owner of A&E Errand Services, based in Merrimack. Explain your ...
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News from the local food scene • From vine to glass: Get your tickets now for the next session in ...
a tray of sweets and candies from Sweet Boutique in Bedford
A new handcrafted chocolate and confection shop in Bedford is offering everything from specialty barks and all kinds of flavors ...
Penne with meatballs
Tammaro’s Cucina coming to Litchfield Donna Tammaro and her daughter, Lindsey Russo, quickly gained a following among family and friends ...
Tim and Amy Dally of Milford are the owners of Tim’s Drunken Sauces & Rubs (967-4242, [email protected], find them on ...
Combover IPA in a glass and a can by Schilling Beer Company
Celebrate the Fourth of July with the perfect brew Do you remember what you had planned for the Fourth of ...
KPT, Obliterate (Give/Take Records) Any gothies out there remember industrial DJ Terrorfakt? Oh come on, that’s got to jog a ...
The Anthropocene Reviewed, by John Green (Dutton, 274 pages) If you only know John Green as the author of young ...
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F9 (PG-13) Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto gets even more reason to talk about family in F9: The Fast Saga, a ...
Good On Paper (R) Iliza Shlesinger, Ryan Hansen. Also Margaret Cho, who is absolute perfection here. Andrea (Shlesinger, who also ...
Members of Sauce on the Side band
Regional acts gather for Fourth fest Necessity breeds solutions, and last summer Justin Uhlig needed one in a big way ...
Local music news & events • Folk romance: Named after a Cape Cod salt marsh, Crowes Pasture, the banjo/guitar duo ...
Communities plan Independence Day celebrations Fourth of July fireworks are looking more promising this year. Concord, Manchester and Nashua are ...
Big Events July 1, 2021, and beyond Thursday, July 1It’s a weekend of baseball! The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are ...
Just under a year ago I shared a recipe for double strawberry pavlovas. Today’s recipe is its more simplistic sibling ...

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Ribs!

Ribs!

Local chefs and butchers talk about why ribs are the star of the barbecue, plus how they make theirs and how to make your own.

Also on the cover, a new festival at Twiggs Gallery features art and animals, p. 12. Make your own refreshing alcoholic beverage on a hot summer day, p. 27. And find live music to that’ll rock your weekend in Music This Week, starting on p. 33.

On June 8 and June 9, the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits hosted its annual NH Gives online fundraiser. According ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of June 14As of June 21Total cases statewide99,14399,329Total current infections statewide280196Total deaths statewide1,3631,367New cases202 (June 8 to June ...
Merrimack resident judges at Westminster dog show Merrimack resident and retired dog handler Mark Threlfall headed to Tarrytown, New York, ...
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The reshaping of the Celtics began late last week when Brad Stevens sent Kemba Walker and his 2021 first-round pick ...
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Success in the sand “empty.” Courtesy photo. Last week’s Hampton Beach’s Sand Sculpting Classic was a success, held as scheduled ...
Art by Ty Meier, featured in the exhibit
New Art Fest celebrates pets and farm animals Art and animals are brought together at the first-ever Art Fest at ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Two Pippins: The Palace Teen Company will perform Pippin at ...
Hand pick Potato beetles and look for orange egg masses on underneath side of leaves
Summertime, but the livin’ isn’t easy As the song goes, it’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy!” Well, not really ...
antique small collectables
Dear Donna, I have no idea what these are. They look like they were attached to something at one time ...
Family fun for the weekend Mrs Smith’s Quality Crested Geckos at the New England Reptile Expo. Courtesy photo. Slithering Sunday ...
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Sara Ann Hiland-Alanis Lactation consultant Sara Ann Hiland-Alanis is a registered nurse and International Board Certified lactation consultant. She owns ...
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News from the local food scene • Greekfest Express coming to Manchester: Volunteers and members of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church ...
Paula Norena of Tostao's Tapas
Nashua couple Paula Norena and Jonathan Laureano opened Tostao’s Tapas – Bar (170 Main St., Nashua, 577-1111, tostaostapasbar.com), a downtown ...
making cocktail
As I left the house for my weekly outing to the flea market, the nightingale-like voice of my wife called ...
wine bottle and glass to make wine spritzers
A crisp bubbly drink in red or white Spritzers are quite common in Europe, where their name began as Gespritzer, ...
Lara Hope And The Ark-Tones, Here to Tell the Tale (Sower Records) From the Catskills comes this oddball rockabilly thingamajig, ...
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Hour of the Witch, by Chris Bohjalian (Doubleday, 400 pages) I do love me some Chris Bohjalian, but I had ...
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Luca (PG) A young sea creature explores land and makes friends in Luca, an animated Pixar movie about a lot ...
Local music news & events • Southern sound: Country rocking family band Parmalee performs on the deck for a beach ...
band dressed in cow suits play on stage
Creamery Station returns to Manchester The two groups sharing the Jewel Music Venue stage on June 26 go together like ...
Ribs in take out box
Local experts discuss the delicious variations of this BBQ favorite Nothing says summer barbecue quite like a plate of melt-in-your-mouth ...

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Did You Hear the One About…

Did you Hear the One About…

Looking for a good laugh? We asked comedians who live or perform locally for some of their favorite jokes, and they delivered! Get a taste of the humor they love, then find out where you can see them live.

Also on the cover, if you don’t have peonies in your garden, you’re missing out, p. 14. What could be better than a new place for coffee? A new place for ice cream, too! (p. 20 & 21). And there’s live music all week long throughout southern New Hampshire, p. 34.

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many industries and altered many futures forever. The industry casualties include office space, ...
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.
Covid-19 updateAs of June 7As of June 14Total cases statewide98,94199,143Total current infections statewide353280Total deaths statewide1,3571,363New cases215 (May 31 to June ...
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VNA merger expands home health, hospice services Visiting nurse associations Concord Regional VNA and Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
A few days before every college basketball season started our coach would bring the new game balls to practice to ...
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Thank you, Laura Laura Knoy wrapped up more than 25 years of hosting NHPR’s call-in show The Exchange last Thursday, ...
collage of 14 different comedians
Jokes from local comedians — and where to see them perform What’s a good joke? There are puns like “when ...
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Historic Laconia theater reopens after 60 years After six decades of boarded up windows and vacant seats, the historic Moore’s ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Ceramics piece by Barbra Sorce, featured in “Fired Up!” exhibit. Courtesy ...
Tree Peonies large pink flower
You can never have enough If you don’t have a peony, I’m surprised. If you don’t have three, you should ...
Family fun for the weekend BubbleMania! at the SEE Science Center. Courtesy photo. Sky-high fun The Aviation Museum of New ...
old antique game
Dear Donna,I just acquired this antique toy game and was wondering if you could tell me anything about it. Personally ...
guy
Brad Greenland Genealogist Brad Greenland is a Manchester-based genealogist and founder of Greenland Genealogy, providing family history research and record ...
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News from the local food scene Explain your job and what it entails. I work with clients who want to ...
donut and mug
Flight Coffee Co. introduces new flagship location in Bedford When Claudia Barrett of Bedford started Flight Coffee Co. 12 years ...
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Sunday’s Scoops & Treats now open in Concord A new ice cream shop now open in downtown Concord is inviting ...
women holding a tray of cupcakes
Tara Collins of Derry is the owner of Collins Cupcakes (collinscupcakes.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @collinscupcakes603), a homestead business ...
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Help ease the lawn mowing frustration Last year, I bought a riding lawn mower. My wife said I could, so ...
book cover
Overloaded, by Ginny Smith (Bloomsbury, 325 pages) Science writer Ginny Smith’s Overloaded, while not the most sparkling prose you’ll read ...
(Left Center-Right Center) ANTHONY RAMOS as Usnavi and MELISSA BARRERA as Vanessa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “IN THE HEIGHTS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Macall Polay
In The Heights (PG-13) A group of longtime friends and neighbors chase their various dreams In The Heights, the film ...
Spiral (R) Chris Rock, Max Minghella. And also just a bit of Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Rock’s character’s father ...
Local music news & events • Throwback time: A tribute band before they were cool, The Youngsters formed back in ...

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Kids Guide to Summer

Kids Guide to Summer

If you’re not looking forward to hearing the words “I’m bored” every day for the entire summer, start planning your kids’ summer fun now! There are all kinds of live events and activities happening at museums, theaters, art centers, libraries and more. Check out this guide and find fun for your kids all summer long.

Also on the cover, Hatbox Theatre promises a show that will delight Sherlock Holmes fans, p. 16. Get a Taste of the Region (in person!), p. 24. And a new restaurant in Manchester is serving up poké bowls, p. 25.

We all know the old koan: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of May 30As of June 7Total cases statewide98,72698,941Total current infections statewide476353Total deaths statewide1,3531,357New cases377 (May 25 to May ...
Health director commended for pandemic leadership Manchester Public Health Director Anna Thomas is the recipient of the Greater Manchester Chamber’s ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
It’s been a week since the demise of the Celtics brass. It came a day after their playoff wipeout to ...
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.
Wanted: lifeguards There may be fewer lifeguards at your local swimming spot this year. Across the state, towns and cities ...
kid playing with water hose
Fairs, theater events, hands-on art and more ideas for a season of family fun As the (very strange) school year ...
actor playing Watson in a play
Full-scale productions return to the Hatbox Theatre The stories of Sherlock Holmes come to life in Phylloxera Productions’ Holmes and ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “Cat of Nine Tales” by Gail Smuda, featured in “Fur & ...
pink flowers on a vine
Nothing wrong with a lazy gardener I saw a friend recently who was bubbly and excited about her garden. “It’s ...
Family fun for the weekend Monster summer fun Start working on your best monster cartoon! Studio 550 Art Center in ...
candle holder with a bowl
Dear Donna, I hope you can help me out. Perhaps 25 years ago, when my aunt died, her daughter told ...
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Tom Betteridge Mechanical engineer Tom Betteridge is vice president of mechanical engineering at Turner Building Science and Design, a Concord-based ...
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News from the local food scene • Pre-order your Greek favorites: Get your orders in now for the annual Lamb ...
chef plating small dishes
Taste of the Region returns (in person!) to Derry From pizza, tacos and macaroni and cheese to locally produced brews, ...
food containers at Poke Spot
Poké Spot now open in Manchester A new fast casual concept now open in Manchester specializes in customizable Hawaiian poké ...
Russian Dumpling
Shawna Deeley was a cook at The Village Cafe in Bradford when the pandemic forced its shutdown last year. After ...
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With the approach of Midsummer’s Eve, my teenager has some thoughts about what we should be drinking. Harvest: I’d like ...
2 wine bottle on white background
How location is key for this summertime favorite Pinot grigio, long the favorite of art gallery openings and summer garden ...
4 album covers
Kleiman, Toltech EP (AlpaKa MuziK) It’s been a really long time since I felt like an international techno scene influencer ...
book cover
Great Circle, by Maggie Shipstead (Alfred A. Knopf, 589 pages) Sometimes, even if you are looking forward to it, a ...
horror movie scene
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (R) Lorraine and Ed Warren once again battle the demonic in The ...
Local music news & events • Beach music: Part of a tour working its way up the East Coast, Ballyhoo! ...
band member holding guitar
Revamped, Jason Spooner Band hits Concord The Music in the Park concert series sponsored by Concord’s Capitol Center for the ...

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