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 ...
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It’s been a week since the demise of the Celtics brass. It came a day after their playoff wipeout to ...
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Wanted: lifeguards There may be fewer lifeguards at your local swimming spot this year. Across the state, towns and cities ...
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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 ...
man standing outside
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 ...
cocktail drink next to cutting board
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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Get Your Goat

Get Your Goat

Cats and dogs are the most popular pets, but if you’ve dreamed of owning bigger animals (donkeys!), smaller creatures (snails!), or kids that will actually help with yard work (goats!), we’ve got the lowdown on what it takes to keep all kinds of non-traditional animals.

Also on the cover, NH Herbal Network’s Herb & Garden Day returns, p. 23. Cool down with light brews, p. 27. And laugh all night with Jay Chanoine, who has upcoming shows in Concord and Manchester, p. 31

The stores are full of patriotic paraphernalia right now. I can skip past the metallic flag pinwheels; the red, white ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of May 24As of May 30Total cases statewide98,34998,726Total current infections statewide411476Total deaths statewide1,3441,353New cases575 (May 18 to May ...
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Educational project recognizes NH’s Abenaki heritage The Abenaki Trails Project, launched last August, is highlighting New Hampshire’s Abenaki history and ...
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Time to clear out the attic of my cluttered sports mind. I don’t know much about European soccer, but I ...
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A good time to give Nonprofit organizations are banding together for NH Gives, a statewide effort to raise funds for ...
goat looking around a corner
Why you might want to add a companionable kid, some laid-back alpacas and other animals to your family Maybe you’ve ...
metal sculpture outside
Two new sculptures to be installed in downtown Concord Downtown Concord becomes an open-air art gallery through Art on Main, ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “Along the Marginal Way,” a watercolor by Frederick Dobrowolski, on display ...
An edging tool helps create clean lines
What to do when you have a Code Red When you face a flower bed and can’t immediately tell what’s ...
Family fun for the weekend Goffstown Main Street’s Old Home Weekend. Courtesy photo. Town celebration Goffstown Main Street is hosting ...
old public drinking sign
Dear Donna,Can you give me any information on this metal piece? I thought it was interesting and decorative. My husband ...
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Missy Gaffney Esthetician and business owner Missy Gaffney is an esthetician and owner of three health and beauty businesses — ...
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News from the local food scene • Season of strawberries: Join The Friends of the Library of Windham for a ...
outside of fresh market store
Fresh Start Farms to open centralized “food hub” and market A new store set to open in the heart of ...
poeple smelling herbs at farmers stand
NH Herbal Network’s Herb & Garden Day returns Bringing its signature event to a new venue this year, the New ...
Marie Sacco from The Sandwich Monstahh
Marie Sacco of Salem is the owner of The Sandwich Monstahh ([email protected], and on Facebook and Instagram), a food trailer ...
Boozy ice cream
My blender died last summer. I’m not sure what I asked it to do — scramble a couple of eggs, ...
light beer in glass next to its can
All of a sudden it’s summer Well, that happened fast. One day it was 41 degrees and straight up cold ...
4 Album Covers
Jonny Kosmo, Pastry (Feeding Tube Records) I don’t know if you know a lot of people who’ve studied psychology, but ...
Book Cover
Love Like That, by Emma Duffy-Comparone (Henry Holt and Co., 211 pages) Novels can be bruising in their own way, ...
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A Quiet Place Part II (PG-13) The soft-steps-and-muffled-screams family from the first movie must seek a new safe haven in ...
Local music news & events • Backyard fun: Enjoy acoustic folk rock from The Clavis Brudon Band at an outdoor ...
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Jay Chanoine returns with pair of headlining shows When Jay Chanoine steps on stage these days, the Manchester comic’s audiences ...

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Summer Guide 2021

Summer Guide 2021
There’s plenty of live, in-person stuff happening this year! Packed with concerts, arts events, foodie fun, festivals and more, our annual guide will help you plan your summer, from now through Labor Day.

Also on the cover, find out how to get the kids in your life to love gardening, p. 20. A local chef presents a monthly Haitian dinner series, p. 28. And find live music for your weekend and beyond in Music This Week, starting on p. 39.

The stores are full of patriotic paraphernalia right now. I can skip past the metallic flag pinwheels; the red, white ...
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 May 17As of May 24Total cases statewide97,77498,349Total current infections statewide1,169411Total deaths statewide1,3331,344New cases973 (May 11 to May ...
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With six no-hitters already, the Mets’ Jacob DeGrom off to a historic start before going on the DL, Shohei Ohtani ...
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Coming to you live The NH Live Venues and Theaters coalition held a press conference via Zoom on May 18 ...
With the return of many live and in-person events, Summer 2021 is already looking more action-packed than last year, as ...
kids book cover with dancing turtle illustration
New children’s book helps kids cope with pandemic life Most people who are stuck at the mechanic’s for three and ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities “The Haze of July Flowers” by Jess Barnett. Courtesy photo. • ...
kid gardening with father
Aim for more fun, less weeding OK, all you parents and grandparents, it’s time to garden with your beloved little ...
Family fun for the weekend Photo courtesy of the New Hampshire Farm Museum. A day at the farm The New ...
Collection of marbles
Dear Donna, I have accumulated several hundred marbles. I display them in jars but think it’s time to move them ...
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Victoria Bombino Dental assistant Victoria Bombino is a dental assistant at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in Pelham, where she ...
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News from the local food scene • More markets return: For the first time in two years, the Derry Homegrown ...
Braised chicken with rice and peas, fried plantains, and pikliz.
Chef Chris Viaud is on the far right. From the left is Chris’s brother Phil, Phil’s wife Sarah, their father ...
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Becky Costello of Londonderry is the owner of Owl Hill Preserves ([email protected], and on Facebook and Instagram @owlhillpreserves), a business ...
wine bottle next to box with flowers on it
Finding food wines at Angela’s Pasta & Cheese If you haven’t visited Angela’s Pasta & Cheese, on the corner of ...
two album covers
La Battue, Get Set, Go! (Parapente Records) Second EP from this off-kilter but quite accessible group, which consists of a ...
The Audacity of Sara Grayson book cover
The Audacity of Sara Grayson, by Joani Elliott (Post Hill Press, 400 pages) Imagine if Stephenie Myers had died right ...
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Army of the Dead (R) Dave Bautista and team attempt to capture millions of dollars from beneath an abandoned Las ...
Local music news & events • Mellow time: Sip a bit of local wine while watching Sam Hyman & JT ...
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Texan guitar ace Chris Duarte returns Born in San Antonio and a fixture in Austin’s music scene, Chris Duarte is ...

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Back at the Market!

Back at the market

Summer farmers market season is officially underway, with several markets already open and many more starting in the coming weeks. Find out which vendors you can expect to see at your local markets, plus plans for live entertainment and more.

Also on the cover, sculpting at the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium will get underway Monday, May 24, p. 12. Gardening Guy Henry Homeyer talks about the spring blooms that make him happy, p. 14. And speaking of happy, get some good laughs when comedian Shane Torres takes the stage at the Shaskeen in Manchester on Wednesday, May 26, p. 34.

New Hampshire towns and cities will get a little over $558 million from President Joe Biden’s stimulus legislation passed in ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of May 10As of May 17Total cases statewide96,80197,774Total current infections statewide1,4921,169Total deaths statewide1,3151,333New cases1,295 (May 4 to May ...
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New state office to focus on outdoor recreation In April, the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs opened ...
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After a year of being a team no one wanted to own, the surprising 2021 Red Sox are back to ...
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A look back at 1995 Girl Scouts who grew up in Goffstown in the ’90s inadvertently brought some nostalgia to ...
Scene from movie Stand By Me
Thursday, May 20 Get some music and some art during “Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights” at the Currier Museum ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities Howling Wolf by Francine Poitras Jone featured in “Alnôbak Moskijik Maahlakwsikok: ...
Four people standing around sculpture
Nashua to host its second pandemic-era Sculpture Symposium After a successful rescheduled and pandemic-adapted event last summer, the 2021 Nashua ...
small blue photos
Blooms that make me happy Spring puts a spring in my step, quite literally. I bounce out of the house ...
necklace
Dear Donna, I have this necklace that is marked 925. I am wondering if it is real silver or not ...
Family fun for the weekend Mr. Aaron. Courtesy photo. Jam with Mr. Aaron Sing and dance your way through fun ...
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Jillian Kalosky Criminal defense investigator , Jillian Kalosky Investigations Jillian Kalosky is a criminal defense investigator based in Concord, investigating ...
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News from the local food scene • ’Cue it up: The Grazing Room at The Colby Hill Inn (33 The ...
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Farmers markets open with plans for a more lively summer Ledge Top Farm in Wilton is a vendor at this ...
2 chefs holding pizzas
Lorna Aouad of Auburn is the owner of Loulou’s Bakery (loulousbakery.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @loulousbakery.nh), a wholesale and ...
blue beer can next to cup
Random beers to help with outdoor chores My wife and I decided this would be the year we would beautify ...
four album covers collage
Alchemy Sound Project, Afrika Love (Artists Recording Collective) I assume you know by now that I try to steer readers ...
black and gold book cover
Freedom, by Sebastian Junger (Simon & Schuster, 147 pages) In 2012 Cheryl Strayed hit publishing paydirt with a memoir of ...
The Woman in the Window (R) Poor Amy Adams plays a severely agoraphobic woman who believes she’s witnessed a murder ...
Oxygen (TV-14) Mélanie Laurent, Malik Zidi. And Mathieu Amalric gives his voice to MILO, the computer system running the pod ...
Local music news & events • Irish vibe: A Celtic-themed pub offers folk, rock and pop from Somerville singer-songwriter Karen ...
stand up comedian
Shaskeen comedy returns with Shane Torres Comedian Shane Torres avoids politics in his act, even though the native Texan has ...

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Garden escapes

Garden escapes

Whether you love getting your hands dirty or you’ve never lifted a gardening tool in your life, there’s something to be said for enjoying the elegance of a garden that other people grow. Find out what it takes to create these public gardens where you can reap the beautiful benefits without any of the work.

Also on the cover, local chef Keith Sarasin talks about his new book, Meat: The Ultimate Cookbook, p. 24. Give your wine experience some French flair, p. 29. And James Montgomery teams up with Bob McCarthy and Billy Martin for a live blues show, p. 34.

Imagine a world where parents go off to work and then know their kids are well cared for and safe ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of May 3As of May 10Total cases statewide95,50696,801Total current infections statewide1,9791,492Total deaths statewide1,3051,315New cases1,571 (April 27 to May ...
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UNH students send a biology experiment to space A student team from University of New Hampshire Manchester is one of ...
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It’s weird that in the worst Patriots season in two decades, this football season/off-season has seemed to last longer than ...
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Coming soon: a theater near you! Regal Hooksett 8, the movie theater off Interstate 93 Exit 10 in Hooksett, will ...
pink flower with bee on it
Get all of the flower-filled beauty with none of the work at public gardens Plenty of people like working in ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium returns May 20. Courtesy photo. • ...
painting
Youth artwork celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month New Hampshire youth speak out about mental health through art at the Magnify ...
Family fun for the weekend The tipi set up at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum. Courtesy photo. Virtual field trips Watch ...
Catching Japanese beetles with a milk jug and soapy water
Most species aren’t as bad as you think It’s spring, and insects are hatching, flying and munching. Contrary to what ...
antique horse
Dear Donna,I found this small horse charm and it says “Black Horse Ale NY.” It’s only 1 1/2” x 1” ...
Mary Sargent Family mediator, Mary Sargent Mediation Mary Sargent is a certified family mediator based in Bedford. Explain your job ...
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News from the local food scene • More Greek eats to go: Join St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover ...
cook book with knives next to it
Local chef to release new meat-focused cookbook Milford chef Keith Sarasin of The Farmers Dinner has written three books since ...
Margarita pizza
Gusto Italiano Market coming to Bedford Pizza pies cooked in an imported Italian oven — and prepared by a fifth-generation ...
women cooking
Beth Vine of Derry, also known as The Mad Baker (themadbaker.net and on Facebook and Instagram @themadbakernh), offers fresh items ...
cocktail with shaker
I have a theory that the greater the classic rock anthem, the less objective sense it makes. Remember in seventh ...
two wine bottles
A look at American takes on French-style blends While blending of grape varietals is not new to California winemaking, Thomas ...
album covers
Rain Rabbit, Rain Rabbit (self-released) So some guy from Chicago named Kyle Brauch sent me a random email to try ...
book cover
The Five Wounds, by Kirstin Valdez Quade (W.W. Norton, 416 pages) You may think that you have no interest in ...
action movie scene
Jason Statham is a man bent on revenge in a Los Angeles full of dubious accents, face-obscuring beards and excessive ...
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (PG) I know Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Gordon, ...
Local music news & events • Join together: One sign that things are, as the song goes, closer to fine, ...
Blues trio goes way back When James Montgomery arrived at Boston University in 1967 his mind was on more than ...

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Play Ball!

Play Ball!

The Fisher Cats opened their season on the road in Portland on May 4, and their home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11. Find out what this year will be like at the stadium, which players to watch and why a revamped schedule means more fan-favorite match-ups.


Also on the cover, why you don’t have to wait until June to plant strawberries, p. 16. LaBelle Winery is opening its new location in Derry, with a restaurant, minigolf and more, p. 22. Michael Witthaus talks with the band Truffle, which will perform live at the Tupelo Drive-In, p. 31.

My father passed away last summer during the midst of the pandemic in Illinois. I am so grateful I was ...
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Covid-19 updateAs of April 26As of May 3Total cases statewide93,93595,506Total current infections statewide2,7171,979Total deaths statewide1,21,28601,305New cases2,152 (April 20 to April ...
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Plymouth State student recognized for civic service Alyssa Griffin of Londonderry is a second-year student at Plymouth State University, where ...
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With Bill Belichick soon to be on the clock really needing to get it 100 percent right for the first ...
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Running with goats Last week, these two adorable goats followed QOL’s dad home from a run in Derry, staying right ...
baseball player interact with crowd
Baseball returns as the NH Fisher Cats take the field Panoramic view of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, home ...
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities The work of Roberto Lugo is currently on display at the ...
book cover of street art
Rob Azevedo makes poetry debut Local radio host, columnist, author and filmmaker Rob Azevedo adds poetry to his list of ...
2 pints of stawberries
Now’s the time to buy your strawberry plants Traditionally, June is the month for eating strawberries. But you can, in ...
Family fun for the weekend New Hampshire Children’s Trust is offering a free download of its Strengthening Families Across NH ...
Dear Donna,Enclosed is a necklace belonging to my great-grandma that I believe is of the Victorian era and made of ...
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JC Haze Voice-over actor, JC Haze Voice Over JC Haze is an independent voiceover actor and producer based in Manchester ...
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News from the local food scene • Return of the market: After canceling its winter season, the Milford Farmers Market ...
winery golf course aerial photo
LaBelle opening new restaurant, culinary market and sparkling wine barn in Derry Nearly a decade after opening their flagship location ...
man holding a drink
Steve Zyck of Mont Vernon is the owner and founder of Wood Stove Kitchen (woodstovekitchen.com, and on Facebook and Instagram ...
beer bottle and glass
Exeter Brewing Co. develops strong local following For Justin Cooper and Eric Rackliffe of Exeter Brewing Co., slow and steady ...
album covers
Slinky Vagabond, King Boy Vandals (self-released) The core of this punk-pop (in the real, actual sense) crew comprises Keanan Duffty ...
Face, by Justine Bateman (Akashic Books, 272 pages) In 2018 former Family Ties star Justine Bateman had a tantrum in ...
animated movie scene
A charmingly oddball family is humanity’s last hope during a robot apocalypse in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, an animated ...
Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse (R) Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith. Michael B. Jordan does the best he can with this ...
Local music news & events • Local light: A regular around the region with his band Dancing Madly Backwards, Lewis ...
band in front of stone wall
Tupelo season continues with Truffle Few New Hampshire bands have the longevity of Truffle; 2021 marks their 35th year. Beyond ...

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