Summer Guide 2025 — 05/22/2025

On the cover

10 Time to break out your sunglasses — it’s summer, baby! Or, you know, it’s “summertime” — that season between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend when we all try for more relaxed and sunny vibes. In this year’s guide, we offer a look at some of the fairs, fests and other events that make the season shine.

Also on the cover, John Fladd gets all the details of the newly released NH Beer Trail Guide (page 24). Michael Witthaus talks to the Manchester Crafts Market ahead of their mulit-author event (page 20). Michael also talks to comedian Joe Fenti, who can help you kick off a weekend of laughs with a Thursday, May 22, show at Kettlehead in Nashua (see page 32). Find more comedy this weekend and beyond in the Comedy This Week, which is also on page 32.

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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.
Volunteer Fair The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold a Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 22, from ...
Knicks end C’s season
The Big Story – Celtics Season Ends Early: That’s all she wrote for the 2024-2025 Celtics. And maybe for 2025-2026 ...
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.
Competitive Ford fixing As reported by Nashua InkLink on May 8, teams of high school students in auto tech programs ...
A closeup of pink and red geranium flowers.
Thursday, May 15 The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My ...
red haired girl / female with sunglasses looking at sunset
Fairs, festivals, food, fun and more events to look forward to this season Summer is here! OK, maybe it’s more ...
shelves along dark painted wall holding faced out books, neon light above reading "Read Local"
Manchester market hosts author event A collection of new books written by local authors isn’t something one expects to find ...
carved, painted, wooden duck decoy
Dear Donna, We were given this carved duck several years ago. Wondering an approximate value now. It is signed and ...
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News from the local food scene • New Works: The Works Bakery Cafe (1000 Elm St., Manchester, 877-641-4787, workscafe.com/locations/manchester-nh) has ...
high shot of outdoor patio and yard at brewery, with picnic tables, buildings in the mid ground, mountain peak in the far distance.
A new map will make it easier to explore NH breweries. Road-trip enthusiasts who like to follow a theme have ...
head shot of woman standing beside window that looks out on mountain landscape with snow on the ground, woman dressed in cold weather clothes, smiling
Owner/Baker, Big Trees Baking Company “I make sourdough bread, which I sell at some local stores and at the Canterbury ...
fancy martini glass filled with cocktail that is blue at the bottom and white at the top, sitting on counter with limes and cocktail shaker
There’s a trope called “The Ninety-Dollar Tomato.” It describes an all-too-familiar situation that many of us frustrated gardeners go through: ...
album covers for Cautious Clay and Sparks
Sparks, MAD (Transgressive Records) The press notes for this nearly 60-year-old band’s 26th album start with this: “If the world ...
book cover with large text The Art of Winning, Bill Belichick
The Art of Winning, by Bill Belichick (Avid Reader Press, 289 pages) It is challenging to approach Bill Belichick’s new ...
A scene from the Wedding Banquet
Friends contemplate a green card marriage in The Wedding Banquet, a remake of the 1993 movie by the same name ...
Local music news & events • Fab Faux: Unlike many Beatles tribute acts, Studio Two sticks to John, Paul, George ...
man standing in front of wall with large photos of red roses, holding microphone and making shrugging gesture
Comedy Coop comes to Kettlehead Like the classic rock song, Joe Fenti has learned to roll with the changes. In ...

Summer Stage — 05/15/2025

Check out https://hippopress.com/ to read about local food and events or download our always free E-Edition from our Digital Library

On the cover

10 Michael Witthaus takes a look at summer theater — from the shows for kids and the shows by kids to the shows that will take place in the fresh air. Cover photo of a previous production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Saint Anselm College by Matthew Lomanno.

Also on the cover: Michael also takes a look at the Nashua Area Artists Association’s revived ArtHub Gallery (page 15). It’s a good weekend for Greek eats — John Fladd takes a look at Karv Greek Kouzina in Windham (page 18) and offers information about this weekend’s Greek Food Festival at St. Philip in Nashua (page 20). And find all sorts of music this weekend — shows at area restaurants (listed in the Music This Week on page 26), ticketed shows (see the Concert listings on page 30) and Ward Hayden & the Outliers at Pembroke City Limits (page 25, also by Michael).

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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.
Family bicycle day Trek Bicycles and the Granite State Health & Fitness Foundation will hold a free family-friendly Bike Day ...
Knicks stun Celtics
The Big Story – C’s Go Down 1-2 to New York: There’s not enough space to list the number of ...
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.
Ew, ticks In a May 1 press release Gov. Kelly Ayotte declared May Lyme Disease Awareness Month in New Hampshire ...
A closeup of pink and red geranium flowers.
Thursday, May 15 The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My ...
A previous production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Theatre Kapow at Saint Anselm College. Photo by Matthew Lomanno.
A look at the coming theater season By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com Cooperation, collaboration and interdependence are all hallmarks of New ...
Work by George Eross & Work by Brenda Noiseux. Courtesy photo.
ArtHub in Nashua opens on Main Street By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com Among the many hard-luck stories to come out of ...
Purple Lisianthus flowers. Lisianthus comes in several colors and lasts forever in a vase. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
Start slowly and save your back By Henry Homeyer listings@hippopress.com It’s April, and spring has sprung. Or will soon. Winter ...
A collection of antique dessert silverware.
Hello, Donna, I believe this set of fruit knives and forks may have been a wedding present for my parents ...
Family fun for whenever STEM fun • Family STEM Day, presented by Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, will showcase more ...
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News from the local food scene • Flowers, snacks, flowers, cocktails and flowers: Local Street Eats (112 W. Pearl St., ...
Three delicious-looking gyros well-wrapped stuffed with fries.
Sometimes lamb, sometimes pork By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Alex Lambroulis would like to clear up a couple of misconceptions about ...
A DIY wine dispenser, with four various bottles on display.
Self-service might be the future of NH wine bars By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com A bill is working its way through ...
Poster for the St. Philip Greek Food Festival
Nashua church festival brings gyros and more By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Saint Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua will hold ...
Nick Provencher. Courtesy photo.
Executive Chef at The Birch on Elm (968 Elm St., Manchester, 836-1958, birchonelm.com) “I started by cooking in high school ...
A tasty plate of Guava and goat cheese cookies made by John Fladd.
These cookies are adapted from a recipe in Bodega Bakes by Paola Velez. The idea of cheese in a cookie ...
Malphas, Tales from the Olden Realm (self-released/Bandcamp) & Ches Smith, Clone Row (self-released)
Malphas, Tales from the Olden Realm (self-released/Bandcamp) From the murkiest depths of Michigan comes this sixth album from a one-man ...
Homestand, by Will Bardenwerper
Homestand, by Will Bardenwerper (Doubleday, 301 pages) Batavia is a small city in western New York that most people have ...
A scene from Another Simple Favor
Mom-frienemies played by Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reunite in Another Simple Favor, a sequel to the 2018 movie that ...
Local music news & events • Mixed media: The Currier’s monthly Art Off the Walls event has Black Pudding Rovers ...
Ward Hayden & the Outliers
Ward Hayden & the Outliers bring Springsteen tribute to Pembroke By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com When Pembroke City Limits scheduled its ...

The Kimchi Chronicles — 05/08/2025

John Fladd takes a look at kimchi, the fermented staple of Korean dishes that is on dishes at a variety of area restaurants — and can be a tasty addition in your kitchen.

Also on the cover Twisted Mallow describes itself on its website as a marshmallow company producing “small batches crafted in the US ironically created by a dental hygienist.” See the story on page 18. The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium starts Thursday, May 8 (page 14). Michael Witthaus talks to House Lights singer and lyricist Sam Beachard ahead of their Friday, May 9, show at the Shaskeen in Manchester with SleepSpirit, Moments Of and Empty Halls (page 25).

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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.
Rail trail The South Manchester Rail Trail has been selected as an American Public Works Associations 2025 Public Works Historical ...
C’s have NY in sight
The Big Story – Celtics vs. Knicks Playoff Series: There have been a few skirmishes the last two decades. But ...
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.
A reprieve from pollen Although this time of year is typically one of high pollen counts, recent rainy weather has ...
two young actors portraying Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd in a production of Sweeney Todd
Friday, May 9 The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts teens will present Sweeney Todd School Edition tonight at 7 p.m.; ...
Kimchi cabbage, Korean homemade fermented side dish food
The many uses for this Korean cuisine staple For Susan Chung, owner of Sue’s Kimbap House, kimchi is as much ...
collage of 4 headshots of sculptors
Sculpture symposium returns to Nashua Most art exhibitions focus on already completed works, but the City of Nashua is unique ...
The Art Roundup 25/05/08
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Reopening: ArtHub, the gallery of the Nashua Area Artists Association ...
old coins laid out on dark paper, pieces of round paper beside them with dates
Hello, Donna. Maybe you can help in giving me some information on these coins. They are all buffalo nickels. They ...
Family fun for whenever Faire time • The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, which bills itself as a “family-friendly, educational, visual, ...
Variety of hand made marshmallows cut into squares and sitting in rows, different colors and different toppings
Small batch marshmallows play with flavor Krista Melina has a day job, but she spends a lot of her time ...
two eyedropper bottles, one labelled chipotle, one labelled bubble gum, sitting on bar top, partially full of colored liquid
A bartender explains how bitters & tinctures add flavor When a bartender is developing a new cocktail, a constant challenge ...
white woman bartender in front of bar shelves, closed mouth smile, looking slightly mischievious
Bar Manager at Spice Restaurant & Bar (300 Main St., Nashua. 417-7972, thespicenashua.com). “I got into bartending in 2004. I ...
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News from the local food scene • Gutted by fire: As reported by WMUR in an April 24 online article, ...
pink cocktail in martini glass sitting on counter surrounded by bottles of alchohol
Every cocktail sends a message. A draft beer from a major brewery sends one message. Garnishing it with an orange ...
album covers for Michael Younker, “So What!” and This Is It, Message
Michael Younker, “So What!” (self-released) Ack, if you ever need to count your blessings, you can start by being thankful ...
cover for How to be Well by Amy Larocca showing scented candle on pink background with large black title text
How to Be Well, by Amy Larocca (Knopf, 291 pages) At some undefined point between Helen Gurley Brown and Gwyneth ...
screen still showing cast of Thunderbolts
A scrappy band of Marvel secondary characters come together in Thunderbolts*, a movie that pretty nicely sells you on the ...
Local music news & events • Two covers: Paying tribute to two classic rock bands in one show, Foreigners Journey ...
5 male band members wearing white t-shirts, standing on staircase, photo effect to make it look old fashioned
House Lights celebrate new release at Shaskeen It’s been two years since post-hardcore alt metal band House Lights released their ...

Adventures in Movies — 05/01/2025

The first Friday in May is (still? once again?) the start of the summer slate of movies. We use that as an excuse to check in on O’Neil Cinemas as they plan a return to Londonderry, and Red River Theatres in Concord, which has, for about the last year, been the only theater in Concord. And we look at the movies scheduled for release over the next four months. Get your popcorn!

Also on the cover Saturday, May 3, is the greatest of holidays: Free Comic Book Day! Michael Witthaus explains what local shops are doing on page 14. Manchester’s Taco Tour is Thursday, May 8; John Fladd has the details on page 18. Dubai chocolate is trending; what is it and who is innovating with those flavors (page 27).

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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.
Bedford traffic The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is working on F.E. Everett Turnpike, in both directions, at the Bedford ...
The week that was
The Big Story – NBA Playoffs: Yes, the NFL draft captured a lot of attention, but since it’s four months ...
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.
Pasta and water, but not pasta-water A recent study by online insurance company Choice Mutual (choicemutual.com) set out to determine ...
Two Renaissance Faire actors sing and dance for a crowd
Thursday, May 1 The Craftworkers’ Guild’s 2025 Spring Craft Shop opens today and will run through Sunday, May 25. The ...
Empty red seats in cinema with blank screen.
O’Neil Cinemas returns to Londonderry and we check in with Red River Theatres in Concord PLUS A look at the ...
front cover of comic book showing man driving car
Area stores participate in annual event On May 4, 2002, Free Comic Book Day was launched to coincide with the ...
dried, saved hornet's nest attached to small branch
I know this isn’t an antique. I was just told not to throw them away because they are collectible. Do ...
Family fun for whenever Spring carnival • The Manchester Spring Carnival runs Wednesday, April 30, through Sunday, May 4, opening ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
News from the local food scene • Food trucks and more: First Friday Concord returns on Friday, May 2, from ...
man and woman dressed as tacos as they walk down the street during community event
100 types of happiness in tortillas It’s time for Taco Tour, one of the high points of Manchester’s food calendar ...
large squares of filled chocolate topped with pistachios, sitting in paper wrappers on metal table
One of the internet’s favorite ways to chocolate One of the hottest food trends right now is Dubai-style chocolate. Originating ...
rows of small cookies covered in frosting sitting on baking sheet
Cookies Large handful (20 g) fresh mint leaves 1½ cups (320 g) white sugar ½ cup (1 stick) butter 2 ...
album covers
Hexenhaus, Awakening (Roar Records)As a genre, “tech-metal” is one in which I lost interest after the second or third Pendulum ...
Book cover for Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
“It is a strange fact of human history that we tend to focus so little on disease,” John Green writes ...
Bill Skarsgard wearing a pink hoodie and dark jacket, standing next to car in graffiti covered alley, in screenshot from movie Locked
Bill Skarsgård picks the wrong car to steal from in Locked, a fun example of simplified concept horror. Eddie (Skarsgård) ...
Local music news & events • Sibling sound: Sixteen years since their bracing major-label debut album, The Avett Brothers are ...
four male band members standing in large empty room, photo in sepia tones
Tribute act opens with original rock One of many tribute acts to form in the aftermath of Ronnie James Dio’s ...

10 Easy Plants — 04/24/2025

on the cover

We can all garden, so says Henry Homeyer, who offers up his advice for 10 un-mess-up-able varieties of plants to grow.

Also on the cover Chefs have an opportunity to get chef-y with plants and other vegan eats during the Manchester Vegan Chef Challenge in May (page 16). The Manchester Community Theatre Players present The Bridges of Madison County (page 12). John Fladd investigates wines without alcohol (page 18).

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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.
Senate race update U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander told WMUR that she will not seek the U.S. Senate seat in 2026, ...
Draft winds blow tonight
The Big Story – NFL Draft: It comes your way on ESPN and The NFL Network starting Thursday at 8 ...
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.
Gold (golden brown) anniversary As reported in an April 18 online story by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), the chicken ...
Independent Bookstore Day Logo
Friday, April 25 Nashua Theatre Guild presents the New Hampshire premiere ofIncident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a play ...
Veggies, flowers and trees for a low-effort gardening season Alright, if one more person tells me they’re not a gardener ...
male and female actor on stage in front of photo backdrop showing covered bridge with trees behind, actors looking at camera as if about to take a photo
The Bridges of Madison County musical in Manchester Even though it won Tonys for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, ...
The Art Roundup 25/04/24
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Childhood memories: Nashua Theatre Guild presents the New Hampshire premiere ...
ceramic pitcher with elaborate top, painted with floral designs, and an eagle standing on as shield
Hi, Donna, I’m attaching a couple of pics of a ceramic pitcher and wonder if you can tell me its ...
Family fun for whenever Vacation day at the museum • The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
News from the local food scene • Opened: There’s a new coffee bar on the north end of Manchester’s Elm ...
focus on hand holding chip topped with vegetable stew and leafy greens, man blurry in the background
Manchester will host a Vegan Chef Challenge Throughout May, restaurants across Manchester will compete to produce the best plant-based dishes ...
inside of Barrel & Baskit showing large room with wooden floor and wooden walls, tables set up, display fridges with products against the back walls
Barrel & Baskit finds reasons for fun There are many reasons why businesses host fun events. For Beth Richards, the ...
smiling man wearing t-shirt, standing next to barrels and holding a glass of red wine
A look at alcohol-free wines According to Richard Jacob, one of the hottest trends in alcohol at the moment is ...
black and white photo of a cocktail in a stemmed glass sitting on a counter surrounded by bottles
She doesn’t come up in conversation very much — not today, anyway; 100 years ago it was a different story ...
Stella Cole, Stella Cole (Iron Lung Records) & The Crystal Teardrop, The Crystal Teardrop Is Forming (Popclaw/Rise Above Records)
Stella Cole, Stella Cole (Iron Lung Records) Don’t be fooled by the disposable-template look of the album cover. The world ...
The book cover of Tilt, by Emma Pattee
Tilt, by Emma Pattee (Marysue Rucci Books, 227 pages) If you’ve ever imagined yourself in the middle of a natural ...
A scene from SINNERS (R)
Director Ryan Coogler crafts a very good supernatural thriller studded with a few top-shelf musical set pieces — including one ...
• Abba dabba: Time travel back to the ’70s with Abba tribute act Mamma Mania! The New York City based-band ...
man standing on dirt road holding guitar
David Wilcox performs in Manchester A lot of David Wilcox’s fans consider him a musical minister, his songs providing spiritual ...

The Big Cookie — 04/17/2025

on the cover

10 In this week’s cover story, John Fladd looks at the Big Cookie — you know the one. It’s a supersized sugar or chocolate chip cookie, bigger than your standard teaspoon-full-of-dough size, that is more a full dessert than snack. It offers you sharing opportunities or is a special indulgence just for one. How are they assembled? What are their tastiest qualities? John looks at the art of the gloriously big cookie.

Also on the cover: Take a look back at Manchester history with the book Grenier Air Base (see page 15). Is there a better combination than waffles and doughnuts (page 18)? And find all sorts of live music for your weekend including shows at area bars and restaurants listed in our Music This Week (see page 27) and ticketed shows in our Concerts listings (page 30).

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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.
Senate race update Former Governor Chris Sununu told WMUR that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat in ...
Celtics go for 19th title
The Big Story – Celtics Begin Title Defense: The play-in Tournament Tuesday to send four teams to the NBA’s main ...
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.
*#$^&@-%! weather A reminder that New England can still New England in April, the snow totals from last weekend’s snowfall ...
Independent Bookstore Day Logo
Friday, April 18 Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) hosts a Gilligan’s Island Paint Night this evening ...
The art of supersizing your favorite treat By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com If you buy a cookie from a bakery, chances ...
Leah Dearborn. Courtesy photo.
Book recounts the roots of Manchester Airport By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight across the Atlantic in ...
A tall black urn, with a detailed base and large prominent handles.
Hi, Donna. The New Boston Historical Society wonders what you might know about an old urn that’s now in the ...
Family fun for whenever Free wild fun • Discover Wild New Hampshire Day brings the state’s outdoor adventures to the ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
News from the local food scene By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com • New ownership: The Sal Terrae line of spices has ...
The "Waffle Donut Dragon", a food fan that sells waffle donuts.
New Dessert House satisfies a sweet tooth By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Have you ever eaten a doughnut and thought to ...
Nashua sauce-maker Allison Marques holds up her prized "G-Mom's BBQ Sauce".
G-Mom’s BBQ Sauce goes beyond the grill By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Nashua sauce-maker Allison Marques’ dream recipe comes from a ...
A "Shmeegan" (Vegan) Lemon Bundt Cake, sliced and ready to serve. Styled next to a lemon.
There’s a word that rhymes with “shmeegan” that we’re not going to say, because it makes some people nervous. It ...
Iron Lung, Adapting // Crawling (Iron Lung Records) & Mac Sabbath “Pair-a-Buns” (self-released)
Iron Lung, Adapting // Crawling (Iron Lung Records) Holy catfish, fam, this is the craziest thing I’ve heard since — ...
Source Code, by Bill Gates
Source Code, by Bill Gates (Knopf, 315 pages) Of all the Big Tech moguls, Bill Gates is the one getting ...
A scene from G20 (R)
Viola Davis is Madame President Bad-ass in G20, which is like Air Force One but radder. U.S. President Viola Davis ...
By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com • Folk duo: Celebrating 10 years since releasing their debut album, A Wolf in the Doorway, ...
Hildaland
Brewery concert series welcomes folk duo Hildaland By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com A wry and oft-repeated maxim at Berklee College of ...

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