Ready to rock?

Ready to rock?
Local live music venues have big hopes for the upcoming season. Find out who’s bringing music back to parking lots, which indoor and outdoor venues are hoping to reopen, and what performers you can (tentatively) expect to see.

Also on the cover, check out some free plays created specifically for Zoom, p. 10. Learn how to bring all the birds to the yard, p. 12. And the Riviera Nayarit Mexican Style Seafood and Grill is now open in Nashua, p. 18.

Over my nine years working at Leadership NH, we often asked the participants: “What kind of state do we have ...
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 April 5As of April 12Total cases statewide86,12589,229Total current infections statewide3,2873,384Total deaths statewide1,2491,257New cases2,785 (March 30 to April ...
man holding sign
Children’s Trust defines child abuse prevention April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. To bring awareness, the New Hampshire Children’s ...
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One of my sports pet peeves is people who proclaim something as the greatest ever immediately after something great happens ...
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Free fishing, hunting and more for military members The Fallen Outdoors nonprofit is looking for New Hampshire veterans and active ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Capitol Center for the Arts Executive Director Nicolette Clarke has announced ...
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Festival showcases plays created for virtual performance Laconia-based theater company Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative is giving a new meaning to virtual ...
Blue bird house
How growing native trees and shrubs can help By now birds are finding their own food and have less need ...
Family fun for the weekend Stonyfield Earth Day 5K 2019. Photo courtesy of Millennium Running. Celebrate Earth Day There’s still ...
Old door nobs
Dear Donna, We recently purchased a Victorian home in Hampton. We have three doors that are missing the match for ...
business women
Susan Terzakis Founder and CEO, Terzakis & Associates Susan Terzakis is a professional certified business coach and founder and CEO ...
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News from the local food scene • Greek meals to go: Join Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State ...
Grilled salmon
Mexican-style seafood grill opens in Nashua Tostada de pulpo (octopus ceviche tostada). Photo courtesy of Riviera Nayarit. Off the Pacific ...
Egg sandwich
Crack’d Kitchen & Coffee coming to Salem Inspired by their love of breakfast sandwiches, Alan Frati and Danny Azzarello found ...
chef plating food
Jeff Martin of Nashua is the executive chef of Industry East Bar (28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com), which opened ...
Cocktail
This column is an intervention for my editor and her aversion to a certain liqueur. We Americans don’t deal well ...
two wine bottles
Another French sparkling wine When thinking of sparkling wines two immediately come to mind: Champagne and prosecco. Champagne is typically ...
album covers
Xiu Xiu, Oh No (Polyvinyl Records) One usually doesn’t associate San Jose with experimental music, but Jamie Stewart has been ...
book cover
The Blizzard Party, by Jack Livings (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 400 pages) If you have a pulse and live in ...
super hero movie scene women
Thunder Force (PG-13) With Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer playing middle-aged lady superheroes, Bobby Cannavale playing all the ego and ...
man drinking in crowd in movie scene
A look at Oscar’s International Feature Film nominees Seeing all of the International Feature Film nominees feels like a personal ...
Local music news & events • Hip-hop health: A benefit concert for suicide prevention stars J Gramz and several other ...
Crowd watching concert
Live music returns to big venues — carefully Fueled by rising vaccination rates and the tantalizing promise of herd immunity, ...
group playing bingo
Musical Bingo Nation adds songs to game night Musical Bingo Nation is changing bingo’s sound all across the Seacoast — ...

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Plant Now Eat Later

Plant now, Eat later

If you want fresh herbs and produce later this year, now is the time to plant. Find out how to get started, how to care for your plants as they grow, when to harvest them and what to do with your garden bounty when it’s ready.

Also on the cover, six storytellers tell traditional and personal tales, p. 12. Try some Puerto Rican cuisine at the new Empanellie’s in Nashua, p.25. And head out for the night to listen to live music, p. 36.

Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. I have found the increase in sunlight hours and warmer weather to ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of March 29As of April 5Total cases statewide83,34086,125Total current infections statewide2,7853,287Total deaths statewide1,2371,249New cases2,590 (March 23 to March ...
Det. Justin Breton is Manchester PD’s Officer of the Year The Manchester Police Department has named Detective Justin Breton its ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
Well, the local nine put all those in Red Sox Nation with fears a second titanic-like season is dead ahead ...
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Read a book, watch some baseball Students who read five books between now and May 11 will earn two tickets ...
Storytelling Festival features traditional and personal stories, poetry, music The New Hampshire Theatre Project’s annual Storytelling Festival returns to the ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Art by digital artist William Townsend, featured in the New Hampshire ...
Beautiful red ripe tomatoes grown in a greenhouse. Beautiful background
What to start growing this spring so you can feast this summer If you want to enjoy garden-fresh fruits and ...
Row cover with hoops helps to keep insects off and keep plants warm
Frost, soil, drainage and other considerations I know some gardeners who plant their potatoes or tomatoes in the garden on ...
Family fun for the weekend A Glow Night at Krazy Kids. Courtesy photo. Kids’ night out It’s Kids Night at ...
old doll
Dear Donna, Can you tell me anything about this sweet doll? She is 3 1/2” tall and seems to be ...
Beth Daisy Occupational therapist, Future in Sight NH Beth Daisy is an occupational therapist and supervisor of occupational therapy at ...
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News from the local food scene • Cheers to beers: Breweries all over the Granite State are celebrating New Hampshire ...
pretzel twists in restaurant
Flight Center opening second location in Manchester, introducing speakeasy concept When you walk inside The Flight Center Taphouse & Eatery’s ...
Empanellie’s opens in Nashua Steps away from Main Street, a new eatery now open in downtown Nashua is serving up ...
Rebecca Wheeler of The Traveling Taco food truck
Rebecca Wheeler is the owner of The Traveling Taco ([email protected], and on Facebook and Instagram @thetravelingtaconh), a food trailer specializing ...
What’s lurking behind the milk? Do you ever just do a deep dive into your fridge? It’s full of surprises ...
album covers
Kill The Giants, “The Prophet” (Nub Records) Test-drive title track from the upcoming fifth album from the Saint Albans, U.K.-based ...
book cover
Fears of a Setting Sun, by Dennis C. Rasmussen (Princeton University Press, 232 pages) Until recently, many Americans looked at ...
Godzilla vs Kong movie scene
Godzilla fights King Kong in Godzilla vs. Kong — what, you wanted me to be all “visually stunning allegory about ...
Shiva Baby Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon. If you can’t remember what it feels like to be crammed in a house ...
black and white movie scene
A look at the movies vying for Best Documentary Feature at this year’s Oscars I would have thought the Best ...
Local music news & events • Decked out: Weather postponed the return of outdoor music last week, but Jamie Cain ...
band plays string instruments
Bradley Copper Kettle hits the sweet spot Bradley Copper Kettle & Friends is four longtime high school pals and an ...

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Best of 2021

Best of 2021

Despite the challenges of the past year, there’s still plenty to celebrate about living in New Hampshire. Readers voted on their favorite people, places and things in the Granite State; now, check out the results and make some plans to grab a winning bite, take a mini hike or enjoy a night of comedy or live music from some of our best local talent.

Also on the cover, immerse yourself in verse during Poetry Month, p. 24. New Hampshire breweries celebrate Craft Beer Week, p. 30. And springtime means spring wines, p. 35.

This week’s issue is a celebration of many of the things that make up what many of us have come ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of March 22As of March 29Total cases statewide80,75083,340Total current infections statewide2,3342,785Total deaths statewide1,2171,237New cases1,937 (March 16 to March ...
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I said last week I don’t think Danny Ainge realizes how much trouble the Celtics are in. And that was ...
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Making a case for the daring jumping spider The daring jumping spider A third-grade environmental science class from Hollis Primary ...
red haired women poses in front of grey background
New Hampshire celebrates National Poetry Month From writing prompts to readings and workshops, New Hampshire poets and poetry lovers will ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Currier reopens: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., ...
yellow flowers sprouting
How to create early spring arrangements I miss being able to go to my garden and pick flowers for the ...
Family fun for the weekend Easter fun! Follow the Bunny in downtown Concord on Saturday, April 3! The free event ...
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News from the local food scene • Get ready for Easter: Visit hippopress.com for our annual Easter listings (available for ...
Filling beer glass under tap
New Hampshire Craft Beer Week returns New Hampshire Craft Beer Week, an annual celebration dedicated to highlighting brewery culture in ...
two chefs in kitchen selfie
Madeline Rossi and her wife Olivia Lenox are the owners of New Roots Meals (newrootsmeals.com, and on Facebook and Instagram ...
orange cocktail drink
So, apparently, it’s springtime. The snow is gone. We’ve switched over to daylight saving time. My road is a morass ...
Rose wine bottle on white background
Time to stop and sip the wine It’s spring and perhaps Mother Nature may cooperate and provide us with continued ...
album covers
Dan Blake, Da Fé (Sunnyside Records) Fourth full-length from bandleader Blake, a Brooklyn-based sax player and board member of Buddhist ...
book cover
Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, 303 pages) If you tell Alexa to turn on your lights, have ...
Woman speaks to old man in film scene
Anthony Hopkins is heartbreaking and Olivia Colman is heartbroken in The Father, a sad but excellent movie that is nominated ...
Local music news & events • Maine man: Even with a socially distanced crowd, comedian Bob Marley can fill a ...
Man plays guitar on stage with colorful background
Playing through, and past, the pandemic If a Concord bar is offering live music, there’s always the possibility that Andy ...
Let’s try something new. As with every year, the Best of 2021 Hippo Readers Poll offers lots of ideas for ...

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Tasting Tour

Tasting tour

If you’re looking for some adults-only fun that trumps going out to dinner (again), a wine tasting is a great way to get out and try something new. Explore all kinds of flavors, learn about New Hampshire’s unique wine culture and find your perfect pour.

Also on the cover, Chris Viaud of Milford talks about his experience competing in Top Chef, p 24. IPAs may be trendy, but with good reason, p. 28. And Kelly MacFarland brings the laughs to Chunky’s, p. 34.

Walking and talking is the new coffee date. I’m glad; I relish any opportunity to combine fresh air, movement and ...
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 March 15As of March 22Total cases statewide78,81380,750Total current infections statewide2,0642,334Total deaths statewide1,1991,217New cases1,753 (March 9 to March ...
Transitional housing in Nashua gives families a fresh start Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire has opened a new transitional ...
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For card-carrying members of Patriot Nation, with Bill Belichick going away from type to blow up the first week of ...
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Vaccine prompts school cancellations and chaos After a regional vaccine clinic for teachers was held at the Steeplegate Mall in ...
Take a mini day trip and discover new flavors at New Hampshire wineries Whether you know (or think you know) ...
book cover
Sarah McCraw Crow explores women’s movement of the ’70s in debut novel Canterbury author Sarah McCraw Crow weaves a story ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “Peace Conference Assisi,” watercolor by Claudia Michael, NHAA Omer T. Lassonde ...
hand holding tree branch
Your fruit trees are ready for a haircut When I was a boy I loved to climb trees. I had ...
Family fun for the weekend Interactive fun Kids are invited to sing, dance and play games during a special livestream ...
silver coin
This was a necklace that we found in my mother’s jewelry collection. It seems to be a coin in good ...
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News from the local food scene • Get ready for Easter: Still wondering about what to do for Easter Sunday ...
chef stands in grocery store
Milford’s Chris Viaud to appear on Top Chef Milford chef Chris Viaud will appear as a contestant on Season 18 ...
take out tray bbq
ToKoss Take-Out opens in Manchester When The Stuffed Sub closed last year, owner Chris Munzimi of Afro Paris, the beauty ...
four people standing in kitchen
Dan Gagnon of Manchester, his son Sean, wife Debra and daughter Kimberly McEnerney of Bedford are the family team behind ...
beer glass next to beer can full
So annoyingly popular IPAs are so popular right now I almost try to avoid writing about them, not because I ...
album covers
Jahmed, Armani (Human Re-Sources Records) I’m pretty much at the point where I rarely read other reviews of rap albums ...
book cover
Life’s Edge: the Search for What It Means to Be Alive, by Carl Zimmer (Dutton, 336 pages) In his 14th ...
the flash, batman, wonder women
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (R) Warner Brothers asks for a do-over of their 2017 DC supergroup movie and thus presents ...
film scene
So many nominees, so many streaming platforms Every Oscar season is a little bit weird. Some years, it feels like ...
Local music news & events • American stream: Talented multi-instrumentalist and singing duo Green Heron closes out a virtual concert ...
Kelly MacFarland headlines at Chunky’s For Kelly MacFarland, succeeding as a female comedian isn’t more or less difficult than succeeding ...

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Find your Book Joy

Find your Book Joy

If you’ve lost your love of reading — or never had it in the first place — there are so many reasons why now is the perfect time to pick up a book, whether it’s a paper copy, an ebook or an audiobook. With genres ranging from classics and memoirs to sci-fi and romance, there’s something for everyone.

Also on the cover, enjoy a maple adventure this weekend, p. 20. Try the new Elm House of Pizza in Manchester or Destination India in Derry, p. 24 & 25. And head out for the night for some live music, p. 34.

In their book Scaling Leadership, Robert Anderson and William Adams note that “Leaders bring the weather.” They further note that ...
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 March 8As of March 15Total cases statewide77,06078,813Total current infections statewide2,0362,064Total deaths statewide1,1841,199New cases1,472 (March 2 to March ...
blonde lady portrait
Program provides nursing education, employment Catholic Charities New Hampshire recently announced the launch of Pathways, a career development and advancement ...
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This is going to sound hypocritical, especially coming from me. But everyone is a critic. Even for wildly popular things ...
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More people are making New Hampshire home Based on a 13-percent net gain of new residents, New Hampshire was the ...
curly wavy charming cute nice lady impressed after reading, her paper book excited ecstatic smiling toothily isolated over purple pastel color background
How to rediscover classics,find new titles that interest you and have more fun with reading If it’s been years since ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “45,000 Quilt Project” exhibit. Courtesy photo. Peter Josephson in NH Theatre ...
person in pose standing next to digital art piece inside airport
There’s an augmented reality app for that In the early 1990s, Tom McGurrin crafted a brooch from gold and a ...
hand planting the seeds into the ground
It’s time to get ready! I love starting seedlings indoors when it’s still cold and raw outside. It makes me ...
Family fun for the weekend Photo courtesy of Charmingfare Farm. Maple madness Celebrate Maple Month in New Hampshire at the ...
gold glasses
Dear Donna,My sister came across these glasses at a flea market. We decided to get your input on them. They ...
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News from the local food scene • Greek pastries to go: Join Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, ...
Navratan korma nine gem curry
Destination India opens in Derry Mango Lassi. Photo courtesy of Destination India. A new eatery has brought Indian cuisine to ...
meat lovers pizza
Elm House of Pizza opens in Manchester Back in the 1970s, Elm House of Pizza was a downtown favorite among ...
Jeff LeDuc of the Dawg Shed in Epping
Jeff LeDuc of Epping is the owner and founder of the Dawg Shed (find them on Facebook @dawgshed), a food ...
blue cocktail in a martini glass
I pulled into the parking lot to get my first Covid vaccine. It was a bit science-fictiony/disaster-movie-y. Everything was being ...
portrait of a man in a black hat, 3 wine bottles on white background
The winemaker for Peter Paul Wines Meet Martin Reyes, a Master of Wine and the first American of Mexican descent ...
album covers
Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill Band, Prince of Poverty (self-released) Catching up with a couple of local-ish releases, things that ...
No One Is Talking About This, by Patricia Lockwood
No One Is Talking About This, by Patricia Lockwood (208 pages, Riverhead) Two-thirds through her first novel, Patricia Lockwood slyly ...
Yes Day (PG) Jennifer Garner stars in Yes Day, a delightful family comedy about wacky hijinks on a day when ...
Steven Yeun appears in Minari by Lee Isaac Chung, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Where to see the 2021 nominees We finally have the Oscar nominees for 2020 films. Announced March 15, it’s a ...
Local music news & events • Character: Rhode Island based singer-songwriter Tequila Jim has a John Mellencamp vibe going on ...
Band playing on dark stage with string instruments with red and blue lights in the background
Take3 on a mission to the mainstream Classical music is rigorous and demanding, its top purveyors virtuosic — but it’s ...
Coming 2 America (R) Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall. Murphy’s 1988 comedy gets a sequel that feels like, essentially, one of ...

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Summer Camp!


Summer Camp!
Get excited about summer camp! Most of the usual summer camps will be back in business, in person, this year. Find the perfect camp for your kid — there are options for blooming artists, sports fans, music lovers, nature enthusiasts and more.

Also on the cover, A new space for community art classes has opened on Hanover Street in Manchester, p. 22. The new Hotbox eatery in Manchester will be serving up Latin soul and street foods, p. 30. And beer columnist Jeff Mucciarone shares a few random beer selections for the random month of March, p. 34.

Most folks probably scanned past the news item that recently reported the imminent closure of the 450-year-old “Lamb and Flag” ...
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 March 1As of March 1Total cases statewide75,58875,588Total current infections statewide2,3632,363Total deaths statewide1,1701,170New cases1,923 (Feb. 23 to March ...
two people hold award
Toadstool Bookshops named Retailer of the Year The New Hampshire Retail Association’s New Hampshire Retailer of the Year award recognizes ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
At this time last year I said the Patriots were entering an 18-month remodeling period to be up and ready ...
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.
Work and learn Anyone interested in joining the health care field now has the chance to work while earning a ...
kids having fun in a swimming pool
Get excited about Summer Camp! Your guide to day camps and their plans for this summer Summer camps are back ...
art studio
New community art classes come to Manchester Manchester has welcomed a new creative space to its growing art scene on ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Jane Oneail will discuss the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and ...
old people in front of tree
Make a wish list of trees you want I was recently thumbing through my first book, Notes from the Garden, ...
Family fun for the weekend Photo courtesy of the NH Audubon Society. Enjoy the (likely fleeting) warm weather New Hampshire’s ...
flowers
Dear Donna, This is a set of placecard holders. At least that’s what they look like to me. Curious about ...
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News from the local food scene • Green cuisine: If you’re still wondering where to get your plate of corned ...
Jerk chicken plate with white rice and marinated onions.
Hotbox to open soon in Manchester Chicken teriyaki wrap. Courtesy photo. Like many Granite Staters at the onset of the ...
large pot of soup
Order now for outdoor SouperFest Roasted Red Pepper & Butternut Squash Bisque from O Steaks & Seafood, Hungarian Mushroom Ale ...
chef standing in a restaurant
Bryan Leary has been the executive chef of the Oak & Grain Restaurant (Inn at Pleasant Lake, 853 Pleasant St., ...
Beer mug beer can
March is unpredictable; so are these selections Nobody knows what the month of March is going to throw at us ...
albums cover
Decouplr, Digital Bonfire (self-released) Debut LP from this boy-girl electronic music duo, who, I’m advised, have been duking it out ...
Stephen King thriller Later
BOOK NOTESIt seems strange for a book to come out first in paperback, but that’s the format for the new ...
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon (PG) Awkwafina voices a dragon and Kelly Marie Tran voices a warrior in Raya and ...
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (PG) Voices of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke. SpongeBob and Patrick — and then ...
• Mainstay: As his band Truffle marks 35 years together, front man Dave Gerard performs solo as he waits for ...
Man standing in the forest
Ryan Montbleau unveils first of four new EPs On the first track of his latest record, Ryan Montbleau celebrates imperfection ...

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