Category: This Week

Big Events February 23, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Feb. 23

LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) is bringing Takin’ It To The Streets, a Doobie Brothers tribute band, to perform today at 8 p.m. The performers will do all of the Doobies’ great hits as well as a few deep tracks. Tickets start at $25 and can be bought at labellewinery.com.

Friday, Feb. 24

Today, the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) is hosting a Black History Month Unity Concert. The show will feature Martin Toe and Destin Boy Official, two New Hampshire based hip-hop and Afro-beats artists. Both artists have recently released their debut albums. Showtime is 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are free and can be reserved at ccanh.com.

Friday, Feb. 24

Join the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) for Songs of a Natural Woman: A Carole King Tribute tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature the hits of Carole King, highlighting her 1971 solo album Tapestry, which won four Grammy awards. Tickets start at $30 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Join Balin Books (375 Amherst St., Nashua) for a launch party for local author Elaine Isaak’s newest novel, A Wreck of Dragons. Isaak, who was featured in the Jan. 26 edition of The Hippo, specializes in fantasy and science fiction. Her newest book combines robots, dragons and outer space exploration as characters try to find a place for humans to live. For more information about this event, call 673-1734

Saturday, Feb. 25

The Concord Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1631 (6 Court St.) is hosting its 15th annual blues bash today starting at 6 p.m. There will be food, refreshments, raffles, items for sale, and, of course, live blues music. For more information about this event visit vfw1631.org.

Sunday, Feb. 26

Today is the first day of the Nashua Nor’Easter Run/Walk/Drive race organized by the United Way of Greater Nashua. There will be 5k, 10k, half-marathon and marathon routes available for racers to choose from. The event is self-timed, and money raised by racers will benefit nonprofits in the Gate City. Register to run or view maps and starting locations at tinyurl.com/uwnano23.

Save the Date! April 1
Celebrate the new season and warming weather at Springfest 2023 at Goffstown High School (27 Wallace Road) on April 1. There will be a kids’ carnival with a bouncy house, activities, slides and face-painting, plus food, 70 vendors, and a lot of fun. Tickets are $5, free for children 12 years old and younger. For more information email [email protected].

Featured photo. Author Elaine Isaak.

Big Events February 16, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Feb. 16

Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) for a program about the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II today at 7 p.m. Bob Sheppard will speak about his father, James Sheppard, an aviation mechanic assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron, based at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, according to a press release. He was reassigned to the 301st FS and shipped to the European theater, where he was promoted to crew chief, and was honorably discharged after the war as a staff sergeant, the release said. Bob Sheppard will show part of his video Reflections of a Tuskegee Airman and answer questions, the release said. Tickets (which can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 669-4877) cost $10 per person.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Anheuser-Busch (221 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack) is hosting a beermaster tour today starting at 11 a.m. The tour will give visitors a chance to see behind the scenes how Budweiser is made, as well as enjoying a brew of choice. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased at budweisertours.com.

Friday, Feb. 17

Tonight is the opening night for Leading Ladies at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). The comedy follows two Shakespearean actors as they try to lay claim to the inheritance of a recently deceased old lady. The catch? The men must disguise themselves as her precious British nieces, according to the website. Tickets start at $15 and curtain time is at 7 p.m. The show also runs Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 18

The Derry Frost Fest will take place today from noon to 3 p.m. with free family-friendly events throughout Derry including ice sculptures on the patio at Sabatino’s; a puppet show at the Parks and Recreation office (31 W. Broadway) at noon and 1 p.m; food trucks B’s Tacos and One Happy Clam at Benson’s Lawn, and Frosty the Snowman walking along West Broadway, according to derrynh.org/parks-recreation. Find more ideas for family fun in our Kiddie Pool column on page 21.

Saturday, Feb. 18

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) presents Who’s Bad: Michael Jackson Tribute tonight at 7:30 p.m. All of the king of pop’s greatest hits will be performed at this high-energy show, according to the theater’s website. Tickets start at $35.50.

Sunday, Feb. 19

The World Was Yours, a play by William Ivers that includes bickering artists Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Bob Ross watching three living artists vying for a grant, will finish its run at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) with a show at 2 p.m., according to Hatbox’s website. The show will also run Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for seniors and students.

Save the Date! Saturday, March 18
Pick a side, police or firefighters, at the annual Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship on Saturday, March 18, at 1 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester). The two sides will battle it out on the ice, with proceeds from the game being donated to the kids and families of Dartmouth Health Children’s. Online game tickets cost $15 for ages 6 and up, day-of game tickets are $20 for ages 6 and up, with kids 5 and younger free. Visit getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org.

Featured photo. 1944 photo of James Sheppard preparing to fly reconnaissance mission with the British Royal Air Force from Italy as a flight engineer. Courtesy photo.

Big Events February 9, 2023 and beyond

Friday, Feb. 10

If you’re in the mood for flowers, check out the New Hampshire Orchid Society’s show and sale, which starts today (1 to 5 p.m.) and runs tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott (2200 Southwood Drive in Nashua). The show will feature speakers, exhibits, vendors, tours and displays, according to nhorchids.org, where you can find the lineup of programming and purchase tickets. A one-day ticket costs $10 for adults and $8 for age 65+ (admission is free for students with a current college ID and children under 12), according to the website. A three-day pass costs $20. Tickets will also be for sale at the door.

Friday, Feb. 10

LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry; labellewinery.com) is hosting a Valentine’s Day Disco today with Booty Vortex Band. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35 per person.

Friday, Feb. 10

Almost, Maineopens at the Epping Playhouse (38c Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) today at 7 p.m. The show follows the town’s residents as they fall in and out of love in the strangest of ways, according to the website. Tickets start at $15.

Saturday, Feb. 11

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) is welcoming April Cushman to its stage tonight at 7:30 p.m. Charlie Chronopoulos will guest star. Tickets cost $29.

Saturday, Feb. 11

The Southern New Hampshire University Penmen men’s and women’s basketball teams will have games today against The College of Saint Rose at Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road in Manchester). The women’s game, their annual Pink Day game to raise breast cancer awareness, starts at 1:30 p.m. and the men’s game starts at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free. A fair in the lobby starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes silent raffles, face painting, a balloon aritst and more. See snhupenmen.com.

Saturday, Feb. 11

McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way in Manchester; mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) is participating in the Vertical Challenge race today. The race is a series of casual competitions for skiers and snowboarders at different resorts across New England, according to the website. The race is free to participate in, with competitors only needing to buy lift time, according to the website, where you can sign up for the competition.

Saturday, Feb. 11

The New Hampshire Audubon is inviting Granite Staters to join in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey starting today at 8 a.m. and ending Sunday, Feb. 12, at 5 p.m. Count up how many birds and species visit your yard, and visit nhbirdrecords.org to report the findings. See nhaudubon.org.

Wednesday, Feb 15

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) is hosting the Poetry Society of New Hampshire and Amanda Russell, who will be doing a poetry reading today at 4:30 p.m. Russell will read from her debut chapbook, Barren Years.

Save the Date! Saturday May 13
Monster Jam will come to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester) Saturday, May 13, at 1 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 14, at 1 p.m. See the “mechanical beasts” competing against each other to determine which monster truck is the best, according to snhuarena.com, where tickets are listed at ranging from $18 to $73.

Featured photo. orchids.

Big Events February 2, 2023 and beyond

Thursday Feb. 2

Today is the last day to purchase tickets for the Snowball Gala hosted by the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill. The gala will have live music, live and silent auctions, a photo booth, a surf and turf dinner, and more. The gala is on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Manchester Country Club (180 S. River Road, Bedford). Tickets cost $100 a person and can be purchased at educational-farm-at-joppa-hill.square.site.

Friday, Feb. 3

Catch “Masters of the Telecaster” G.E. Smith and Jim Weider tonight at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Find more concerts this weekend in the concert listings on page 34.

Saturday, Feb. 4

The Queen City Rotary Club’s annual Comedy Bowl returns tonight at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St. in Manchester). A social hour starts at 6 p.m., a buffet dinner starts at 7 p.m. and the comedy starts at 8 p.m. with a lineup including Joe Yannetty, Jody Sloane, Jeff Koen and Rafi Gonzalez, according to queencityrotary.org. The event also features a silent auction and a cash bar with proceeds from the event benefiting youth charities and agencies in Manchester, according to a press release. Tickets cost $50; call 391-1110 to purchase.

Saturday, Feb. 4

There will be a Valentine’s craft and vendor fair at the Eagles Wing Function Hall (10 Spruce St. in Nashua) today from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be more than 40 vendors and crafters selling handmade goods, valentine-themed sweets and treats, and more. For more information, visit facebook.com/BazaarCraftEvents.

Sunday, Feb. 5

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road in Warner) is hosting a mid-winter social today starting at 2 p.m. The social will have dancing, a potluck dinner and a performance by the Black Thunder Singers. Reservations are not required for this event. Visit indianmuseum.org for more information.

Wednesday Feb. 8

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) is doing a special screening for the 100th anniversary of the silent filmSafety Last tonight at 7 p.m. The film will have live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Safety Last is a comedy that follows famous silent film actor Harold Lloyd’s character as he tries to make his mark on the Big City and impress his sweetheart in the process. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at palacetheatre.org.

Save the Date! Oscar Watch Party
Celebrate awards season with the Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord) with a special Oscar watch party on Sunday, March 12, at 7 p.m. The theater invites attendees to sit back, unwind and watch one of the biggest award shows of the season. Comfortable clothing, including pajamas, is encouraged. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased online at redriv ertheatres.org. As part of its Oscar Party Weekend, Red River is also hosting an Oscar Party Trivia Night on Saturday, March 11, at 6 p.m. For this night, the dress code is Hollywood glamor and tickets ($90 per person or $760 for a table) for a red carpet experience, food (dinner is served at 7 p.m.) and a trivia game, according to the website. Trivia night will take place at the Grappone Conference Center (70 Constitution St. in Concord).

Featured photo. Jody Sloane.

Big Events January 26, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Jan. 26

Catch Jim Dozet, the scheduled musical performer at this week’s Art After Work, tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). Admission to the museum is free and the evening features gallery tours as well as a full menu available in the Winter Garden Cafe. Find more art and theater events in the Arts section, which starts on page 14. For live music at area restaurants, breweries and other locations, check out Music This Week, which starts on page 36.

Friday, Jan. 27

The Boogie Wonder Band brings disco to the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Find more concerts this weekend and beyond in our listings on page 38.

Saturday, Jan. 28

See illusionist Leon Etienne at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Etienne has been featured on America’s Got Talent, Jimmy Fallon, and Penn & Teller: Fool Us! and is bringing his critically acclaimed show to the Granite State. The family-friendly performance will have illusions, comedy, sleight of hand and more. Tickets cost $29. Visit palacetheatre.org to purchase tickets.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Join Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord; 224-0562) today at 1 p.m. for an author meet and greet with Christopher Golden about his book All Hallows. Golden, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Bram Stoker award for horror writers, will discuss his newest book, which takes place in a small Massachusetts town in 1984, where two families try to protect young trick-or-treaters from The Cunning Man on Halloween night. To learn more about this book or the event, visit gibsonsbookstore.com. Find more upcoming author events in the book listings on page 33.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Celebrate the 1980s at the Strand Theatre (20 Third St., Dover) tonight at 8 p.m. with Neon Wave, a tribute band to the iconic dance bands of the ’80s. The theater is inviting the audience to wear a gown, a tux or their best ’80s costume. Those dressed up will be entered for a chance to win a $20 prize at the show, and everyone dressed up will get door prizes. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at thestranddover.com.

Sunday, Jan. 29

McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Ct. in Manchester; mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) will hold the Bob Gilman Fun Run, a ski and snowboard race for all ages and abilities, today starting at 11 a.m. The $20 fee includes a lift ticket for the day. Go online to register.

Save the Date! Monday, Feb. 13
The cult classic Pitch Perfect (PG-13, 2012) will be screening today at 7 p.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord) as a “Galentine’s day” special. The showing will be hosted by Katie Reynolds and Lydea Irwin, the creators and hosts of the podcast My Husband Made Me Do It. There will be a music trivia event beforehand with a chance for audience members to win prizes. Tickets cost $12 for general audience, $10 for members, and can be purchased at redrivertheatres.org.

Featured photo. Illusionist Leon Etienne.

Big Events January 19, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Jan. 19

Cirque Du Soleil will bring its production “Corteo” to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) today through Sunday, Jan. 22. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. today and Friday, Jan. 20; 3:30 and 7:30 on Saturday, Jan. 21, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22. Tickets cost $39 to $129.

Friday, Jan. 20

TheAll New Piano Men, highlighting the music of Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Freddy Mercury, kicks off a three-week run at the Palace Theatre in Manchester today at 7:30 p.m. The show is an original production of Carl Rajotte, artistic director at the Palace (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), according to the website. The show will run through Sunday, Feb. 5, with showtimes on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

Friday, Jan. 20

Catch comedians Jim Colliton, Chris Pennie and Jeff Koen at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. for the Tupelo Night of Comedy. Tickets cost $22. Find more laughs in Comedy This Week on page 31.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Today is Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire, one of two such days each year when you can fish without a license (other fishing regulations must still be followed; the other free fishing day is the first Saturday in June). Find out all the fishing rules and watch a video on ice fishing at nhfishgame.com.

Saturday, Jan. 21

After getting extended a weekend, today is the final day of the LaBelle Lights winter lights walking tour at the LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111 in Derry; labellewinery.com, 672-9898). The attraction is open Wednesdays through today from 4:30 to 9 p.m.; buy tickets online or on site.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

The New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045) will hold a timber rattlesnake talk today at 5 p.m. where wildlife biologist Brendan Clifford (NH Fish and Game, Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Porgram) will discuss the snake and the Center’s resident timber rattlesnake may make an appearance, according to the website. The cost is $15; register online.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Marek Bennett will discuss his latest graphic novel, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby , Volume 3: 1864, today at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562). Angie Sykeny talked to Bennett about his latest book in the Jan. 5 issue of the Hippo; find the e-edition at hippopress.com (the story is on page 6).

Save the Date! Friday, Jan. 27
Concord NH Winter Festival will run Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, with events in downtown Concord and the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament (which has events Thursday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 29) in White Park. Scheduled events include ice carvings on the Statehouse lawn including an ice carving competition on Saturday, fireworks in White Park on Friday at 7:15 p.m., the “Art in Bloom” exhibit at the League of NH Craftsmen, a screening of Frozen at Red River Theatres (Saturday at 10 a.m.) and more, according to the schedule at intownconcord.com.

Featured photo. The Piano Men.