Soundtrack to your summer

On the cover
23 soundtrack to your summer Seven local musicians talk about what performing has been like this summer, plus what’s on tap for the rest of the season, what’s on their set lists these days, and where you can see them live.

Also on the cover, Wilton Town Hall Theatre celebrates funny silent films, p.6. Downtown Concord turns Market Days into Market Month, p. 10. And as of Tuesday, the Great New England BBQ and Food Truck Fest is still scheduled to take place — live! — on Saturday, p. 14.

Cover photo: April Cushman. Courtesy photo by Almorinda Photography.

In less than three months, America will go to the polls to elect a new president, Joe Biden, or re-elect ...
Fantastic Negrito, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? (Cooking Vinyl) In a sense, Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, a.k.a. Fantastic Negrito, reminds ...
Make Russia Great Again, by Christopher Buckley (Simon & Schuster, 274 pages) When word got out that Christopher Buckley had ...
Manchester eatery to specialize in rice and pasta bowls Inside Nickles Market on the east side of Manchester, a new ...
Concord’s Market Days converted to a month-long festival The annual Market Days Festival returns to Concord this summer with a ...
With stops in Loire River Valley and Piedmont region Take a virtual trip to two famous European wine-producing regions. Imagine ...
Ashley Reisdorf of Raymond is the owner of Ashley’s Eats & Sweets (find them on Facebook), a homestead business specializing ...
More than peanuts and Cracker Jack The Fisher Cats are hosting “Dinner on the Diamond” on Friday, Aug. 7, and ...
Town Hall Theatre hosts Silent Film Comedy Week The Town Hall Theatre in Wilton restarted its silent film series in ...
Let’s take a look at the first week of action as the NBA got restarted a week ago. Even though ...
Covid-19 updateAs of July 27As of August 3Total cases statewide6,4416,660Total current infections statewide407395Total deaths statewide409417New cases211 (July 21 to July ...
Millyard Museum on a missionThe Manchester Historic Association has announced that it plans to restore and display the “Sweaters” portion ...
All quotes are from Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning, by Leslie Odom Jr., ...
7 performers talk about playing in a time when local music is center stage In the midst of live music’s ...
Great New England BBQ and food truck festival returns If you’ve been cooped at home for most of the summer, ...
• Audio art tours: Great American Downtown, a nonprofit organization that promotes activities and businesses in downtown Nashua, has partnered ...
• Celtic cousins: A free downtown show stars Rebel Collective, who blend traditional Irish songs with modern rock. The band ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Two couples on a weekend away have extremely bad luck with their beach house in ...
• Barbecue and bluegrass: The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness will hold a socially distanced bluegrass barbecue on Sunday, Aug ...
Hi, Donna,I recently came across this item in a box that belonged to a deceased family member. While he was ...

On-the-go deliciousness

On-the-go deliciousness More and more food trucks featuring all kinds of eats are popping up in locations throughout southern New Hampshire. Find out where to get everything from egg rolls and vegan ice cream to tacos and chicken wings.

Also on the cover, find Uncommon Art on the Common in Goffstown, p. 6, and the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s annual fair online, p. 10. And there’s a series of outdoor music happening in Concord this summer, p. 26.

Most New Hampshire public school districts are expected to go to a hybrid school model in the fall. This will ...
Boris, NO (self-released) Already charter members of the cool kids club, the Japanese experimental bliss-metal trio are completely indie as ...
Making your garden a very special place By Henry Homeyer [email protected] My garden is the place I go in times ...
The NBA restart begins this week with some tune-up games in advance of the playoffs. All will be played in ...
Uncommon Art event is on in Goffstown The Goffstown Main Street Program will host its 12th annual Uncommon Art on ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz An enterprising duo finds money in baked goods in First Cow. Otis Figowitz (John Magaro) ...
Michael Simmons of Manchester is the head chef of Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com), ...
lyCovid-19 updateAs of July 20As of July 27Total cases statewide6,2496,441Total current infections statewide565407Total deaths statewide398409New cases190 (July 14 to July ...
No Multicultural Festival this year...This year’s Concord Multicultural Festival, typically held in September, has been canceled due to the uncertainty ...
Concord concert series spotlights local music With big-name shows canceled throughout the state, local music is enjoying a welcome moment ...
All quotes are from The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance, by Tom Brady, born ...
Summer is the perfect time to explore sours I often talk about sour beer as if it’s simply its own ...
For more than 300 artisans in and around the Granite State, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s annual Craftsmen’s Fair ...
• A look at Manchester’s ponds: The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) presents a new exhibit, “Manchester’s Urban Ponds: ...
• Stepping up: After a long pandemic-caused hiatus, Thirsty Thursday jam sessions return to Auburn Pitts. In a tradition for ...
• Jewish food festival goes virtual: The New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival, normally held in July at Temple B’nai Israel ...
Dear Donna,Can you help with an approximate value on old 1930s to 1940s Christmas cards? I just don’t want to ...

Just keep running

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more wildlife you might find in your neighborhood

12 Just keep running You don’t have to run every day, or far, or quickly, to reap the benefits of running. Find out how and why to get off the couch, why streaks are, in fact, awesome (should you choose to go that route), and why running a virtual race is a great way to alleviate the fear of the starting line.

Also on the cover, for its first live, in-person performance in months, Hatbox Theatre presents Copenhagen, p. 10. It’s blueberry and raspberry season; find out where to pick your own, p. 22. And Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette, p. 23.

How to make your flowers happy It is mid-summer now, and my garden is full of gorgeous flowers, some finishing ...
John Carpenter, “Skeleton”/”Unclean Spirit” (Sacred Bones Records) It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it? I would have loved to ...
Ready or not baseball kicks off Thursday, July 23, in what will likely be the strangest baseball season ever. No ...
Parakeet, by Marie-Helene Bertino (224 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux) The bride, “ethnically ambiguous,” has been banished to a luxurious ...
Something new in sparkling wines Carpe diem — seize the day! Embark on something new! Even John Keating, played by ...
In December 2019, Jon Buatti of Auburn took over ownership of Michelle’s Gourmet Pastries & Deli in Manchester, bringing with ...
How to challenge yourself to get going, stay at it and get in a race — even now Two years ...
Comic check inFree Comic Book Summer, the Covid-era-reworking of Free Comic Book Day, kicked off in mid-July and continues into ...
A show for the littlesThe 2020 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series continues at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover ...
Amanda McCarthy makes her move With a combination of innate talent and plucky determination, Amanda McCarthy has become a fixture ...
Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette You won’t see it right away when you step inside Bunny’s Superette in Manchester’s ...
Governor’s updates Covid-19 updateAs of July 13As of July 20Total cases statewide6,0686,249Total current infections statewide621565Total deaths statewide391398New cases158 (July 7 ...
Copenhagen opens as live shows return to the Hatbox Theatre The Hatbox Theatre will reopen on July 24 with Phylloxera ...
No fall sports for UNH players and fansThe University of New Hampshire Department of Athletics announced July 17 that its ...
Well, Cam Newton signing at this late date for a hitch in Foxboro was a bit surprising. But it was ...
Pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries After an unusually short season for strawberries at some local farms, pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries are ...
All quotes are from The Flame Trees of Thika, by Elspeth Huxley, born July 23, 1907. Leo (July 23 – ...
Camp offers creative outlet for teen girls Tracey Miller, a wellness coach and yoga instructor from Manchester, and her teenage ...
• Author discusses women’s suffrage: The Tory Hill Author Series will feature feminist historian and biographer Susan Ware on Saturday, ...
“It is America! You should be speaking English!” “Is anybody here illegal?!” “It’s America speak English!” Those words rang out ...
• One-man band: When all the pieces are engaged, Lee Ross delivers a bold, brassy sound that definitely seems like ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz U.S. Army soldiers operating in a remote corner of Afghanistan find themselves under attack in ...
• Mobile scoops: The Loudon Firefighters Association (8 Cooper St.) will host a drive-thru ice cream social on Saturday, July ...
Dear Donna,I’m trying to figure this watch out; it’s working, but other than that I know nothing. I bought it ...

Your backyard creature adventure

Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more wildlife you might find in your neighborhood

Meet 22 birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that you might glimpse in your backyard, from the common white-tailed deer to the more elusive bobcat.

Also on the cover, after delaying Hippo’s Best of 2020, we’ll be sharing the results in August! Find out more about that and how to vote in a new mini Best of poll, p. 13. Taste of the Region returns to Derry — live and in person! — p. 22. And find live music all week long in our Music This Week listings, starting on p. 34.

Jeff Cosgrove, History Gets Ahead of the Story (Grizzley Music)This album is pretty niche indeed, combining a few things I ...
Go for a crisp, refreshing Pilsner It’s beach time and it’s pool time — and if you’re relaxing in the ...
The Great Indoors, by Emily Anthes (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 220 pages) In any other year, a book about “the ...
Bistro 603 to open soon in Nashua A new eatery coming soon to Nashua, Bistro 603 will offer an eclectic ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Tom Hanks is the captain of a Navy destroyer escorting ships across the Atlantic during ...
The abbreviated version of the 2020 baseball season kicks off next week when the Sox and Orioles go at it ...
Doug Loranger of Nashua is the owner of Ranger’s BBQ (rangers-bbq.com, find them on Facebook @rangersbbq17), a food trailer specializing ...
At the AudubonThe New Hampshire Audubon is offering an in-person event at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; ...
Alternate Routes performs at Tupelo Drive-In Crisis is often a catalyst for great art. That’s been true twice for Alternate ...
Covid-19 updateAs of July 6As of July 6Total cases statewide5,9146,068Total current infections statewide826621Total deaths statewide382391New cases143(July 1 - July 6)158(July ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti become stuck in “one of those infinite time loop situations ...
Finding fun at homeReader Claire wrote in to praise several local efforts to make staying at home more bearable, specifically ...
Taste of the Region returns to Derry EVENT UPDATE:Just after going to press on Tuesday, July 14th, Taste of the ...
All quotes are from The Friendly Persuasion, by Jessamyn West, born July 18, 1902. Cancer (June 21 – July 22) ...
Cellphone videos are all over the web and the media today, documenting incidents of confrontation between those wearing a face ...
• Return to the big screen: Cinemagic Stadium Theaters in New Hampshire (1226 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 644-4629; 11 Executive Park ...
• Dance night: While pulsing music can’t be experienced on a packed dance floor, Velvet Rope offers a socially distanced ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Charlize Theron is an immortal warrior in Netflix’s The Old Guard. Andy (Theron) leads a ...
• Common Man Roadside opens in Manchester: A new Common Man Roadside Market and Deli opened at 1805 S. Willow ...
The Palace brings back live theater with summer series After suspending its programming for four months, the Palace Theatre reopened ...
Dear Donna,Can you help me with this item? It looks to be silver, and we were thinking maybe it’s a ...
What your plants, trees and lawn need June, for most of us, was a very dry time. When weeds and ...
Hovering hummingbirds, colorful salamanders, the occasional porcupine and more neighborhood wildlife Curious about the wildlife you’ve seen during your neighborhood ...

Have a Greek food weekend

This year’s Greek food festivals may have been canceled or postponed, but you can still get your fill of great Greek eats. Find out where to go for your pastichio, gyros, baklava and more.

Also on the cover, yes, you can grow roses in your garden, p. 12. Find live music all week long in our Music This Week listings, starting on p. 34. And, after delaying Hippo’s Best of 2020, we can’t wait to bring you the results in August! Find out more about that and how to vote in a new mini Best of poll, p. 11.

Finally, there is real on-field news to talk about. The Red Sox opened summer camp last week, the Celtics opened ...
Get a bit of Italy in a glass While Covid-19 has limited our ability to travel, summer with its long ...
Tokyo Motor Fist, Lions (Frontiers Music SRL) Clear the decks, grandmothers, it’s a bona-fide ’80s melodic-metal fest, a new project ...
Many years ago, I attended the funeral for the mother of a very dear friend. During the eulogy, it was ...
The Madwoman and the Roomba, by Sandra Tsing Loh (W.W. Norton, 276 pages) Can we say that it’s a little ...
Derry teacher earns sabbatical for Promoting Just Schools The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has awarded its 2020 Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Go watch Hamilton, the movie created from filmed performances of the musical made in the ...
Your guide to finding Greek festival favorites Nearly all of this year’s Greek food festivals in the state have been ...
Ed “Monkey” Ellis of Candia and Kim Ricard of Concord are the owners and founders of Monkey Time Bakery (177 ...
Cars and food trucksThe Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) will hold its annual ...
Soulful Concord band plays in Bow FieldHouse Sports, a Bow facility better known for year-round indoor soccer, is the latest ...
Governor’s updates Covid-19 updateAs of June 29As of July 6Total cases statewide5,7605,914Total current infections statewide958826Total deaths statewide367382New cases212 (June 23 ...
Bummer about baseballThe Fisher Cats announced last week that Minor League Baseball has officially canceled the 2020 season. According to ...
They’re easier to grow than you might think I love roses, but I avoided planting any for a long time ...
All quotes are from One Man’s Meat, by E.B. White, born July 11, 1899. Cancer (June 21 – July 22) ...
Meet Youth Poet Laureate Elliot DelSignore New Hampshire Youth Poet Laureate is an honorary position held by a New Hampshire ...
• Children’s theater is happening: The 2020 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series is going on now through mid-August ...
• Good times: One of the region’s musical treasures, Charlie Chronopoulos is a triple threat. He writes lyrically complex and ...
• Outdoor tastes: Get your tickets now for a special socially distanced version of the annual Taste of the Region ...
Dear Donna,Would you have any information on the value of this set? I am interested in selling it. There are ...

47 ideas for family fun this summer

There are still two months of summer ahead of us, and with more places reopening, there are plenty of ways to get out of the house and have some fun safely. Check out this guide to find ideas that the whole family will love, from getting ice cream for dinner to watching a movie in the park.

Also on the cover, after delaying Hippo’s Best of 2020, we can’t wait to bring you the results in August! Find out more about that and how to vote in a new mini Best of poll on p. 33 and in the publisher’s note on this page. Plus, find live music for your long weekend in Music This Week, starting on p. 32.

Pick flowers, play mini-golf — and more ideas for getting out of the house After months of limiting your away-from-home ...
Limousine Beach, Stealin’ Wine + 2 (Tee Pee Records) More than any other record company that sends me stuff, the ...
Put some thought into creating a gorgeous garden Let’s say you have recently purchased a house and want to create ...
Shakespeare for Squirrels, by Christopher Moore (William Morrow, 271 pages) In one of the more memorable songs from the musical ...
Porkopolis, by Alex Blanchette (246 pages, Duke University Press) When Alex Blanchette first moved to “Porkopolis,” residents asked if he ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Take the musical numbers from the Trolls animated movies and divide them by a Spinal ...
New foster care program supports young adults In April, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division for ...
Saucy options at new Milford food trailer A new food trailer now open on the Milford Oval is offering its ...
Beer can be a marinade too I love the complexity, texture and flavor that a rich, dark beer can bring ...
Carly Feins of Bedford is the owner of Carly’s Custom Cakes (carlyscustomcakes.com, find her on Facebook or Instagram), a homestead ...
Blues rockers return to the stage Downtown Dave & the Deep Pockets played their last pre-quarantine gig on March 8, ...
Gurung’s Kitchen opens inside Bunny’s Superette Inspired by the supper club, or the concept of serving creative comfort foods and ...
Film Reviews by Amy Diaz Dave Bautista is another tough guy befriending a kid (see also: The Rock, John Cena, ...
Covid-19 updateAs of June 22As of June 29Total cases statewide5,5585,760Total current infections statewide929958Total deaths statewide339367New cases233 (June 16 to June ...
2020, part 2More businesses and organizations in New Hampshire are reopening and the state is coming out of shutdown mode ...
All quotes are from The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets, by Jean Craighead George, born July ...
The last few months have been unprecedented — and rough. In addition to the immeasurable health effects of the pandemic ...
• Handcrafted ornament: The League of NH Craftsmen has announced its 2020 annual holiday ornament, “Midnight Clear,” designed by Ken ...
• Mountain music: A Concord trio consisting of guitar, drums and keyboard, Holy Fool favors smooth soulful grooves with jazzy ...
• Gate City Brewfest canceled: The eighth annual Gate City Brewfest, which had been scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, at ...
Dear Donna,My name is Cathy and my daughter found this at an antique store in New Hampshire. She thought I ...

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