Quality of Life 24/09/26

Another EEE case

NHPR reported in an online article on Sept. 16 that the New Hampshire Department of Public Health Services has confirmed a second human case of eastern equine encephalitis, EEE, contracted through a mosquito bite. NHPR reported, “The infection was in an adult from Kensington who began experiencing symptoms on Aug. 8. The person was hospitalized and is now recovering at a rehabilitation facility. Last month, health officials announced that a Hampstead resident had died from EEE. It was the state’s first known infection since 2014.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), EEE is a “rare but serious disease. Approximately 30% of people who develop severe eastern equine encephalitis die, and many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat eastern equine encephalitis.

Make that six

In its weekly e-newsletter on Sept. 18, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance announced that one of its “7 to Save” historic buildings was lost this summer. “The Manager’s Residence at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manchester,” the announcement read, “was an important component of an architecturally and functionally cohesive campus that was completed in 1950 as part of a national program to provide medical services to veterans of the United States Armed Forces, particularly to men and women who had served in World War II. This summer, it was demolished for additional parking.” The building was a 2018 “7 to Save.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: The Alliance’s 2024 “7 to Save” list will be announced on Oct. 9. See nhpreservation.org

Another movie theater closes

The AMC Theater in Londonderry permanently closed on Sunday, Sept. 15, as reported by WMUR in a Sept. 19 online article. In addition to first-run movies, the theater was a spot to catch the Fathom Events special screenings. For those who remember the theater back in its O’neil Cinemas days, it’s a bummer to see another multiplex full of screens go dark.

QOL score: -1

Comment: QOL still has a Carmike loyalty card stuffed in QOL’s wallet.

A lot of similarities

A recent study by WalletHub (wallethub.com), an online finance company, says New Hampshire is the 48th most diverse state in the country. In a Sept. 17 press release WalletHub released the findings of a study that examined diversity of income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, language and other factors. The study ranked New Hampshire 47th racially, 46th in terms of generational diversity, and 47th in terms of household types.

QOL score: -1 for our appearance of same-y same-ness

Comment: This study ranked California as the most diverse state, and Maine (49th) and West Virginia (50th) as the least diverse.

QOL score last week : 85

Net change: -5

QOL this week: 80

Tell us what’s affecting your Quality of Life at [email protected].

Sox season at the close

The Big Story – Sox Hang to the End: While it’ll probably be over by the time you see this, you’ve got to give the Sox props for not quitting on the season when it looked most bleak. That would be sweeping a doubleheader from Minnesota, who was then the leader for the final wild card spot, on Sunday when a double loss would have ended the season. With the added bonus being Triston Casas finally doing something to give The Nation a bit of anticipation for 2025 with a three-homer, seven-RBI game in Sunday’s opener.

Sports 101: My friend Mark Ferdinando says Sports 101 should be tougher. So, of the eight original NFL teams from the year the league started having playoffs in 1932, name the six who remain.

News Item – Red Sox Bright Side: While not quite white hot, young right-handerBrayan Bello finished strong after his rough month of June ended. The Sox went 14-4 in his 18 starts since July 1, as his ERA dropped from 5.55 to 4.48 with a team-best 14 wins against eight losses.

That makes him the year’s top Red Sox story, because an organization devoid of pitching and with an embarrassing record of developing their own likely has their pitcher of the future.

News Item – Shohei Ohtani: You want to talk about setting a record in style? Few have done it like the Dodgers star in joining the unprecedented 50-50 club when he went six for six with four runs scored, three homers, two steals and 10 RBI in a 20-4 win over Florida. It left him with 51 bombs and 51 steals. Amazing.

And he may pitch in the playoffs too! He really is the Babe.

News Item – Barf Inducing Broadcast: If I were in the locker room with the guys I’d use, ah, more colorful language, to talk about Kirk Herbstreit’s endless butt-kissing of Aaron Rodgers during the Thursday Night game between the Jets and the Pats. An embarrassing display for a guy doing a national broadcast regularly turning simple five-yard completions into miracles on ice. The only thing missing was partner Al Michaels saying Do You Believe In Miracles. The miracle I wished for was for him to give it a rest.

The Numbers:

7.2 & 6.14 – astronomical runs allowed per nine innings and ERA by the Sox bullpen since the All-Star break as reported by Alex Speier in the Boston Globe.

13.94 – ERA for ex-Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel in his last 11 appearances before being DFA’d by Baltimore last week.

125 – million dollars paid by the owners of the WNBA’s new Portland expansion franchise.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Down – Lions Fans: The people forcing Lions Coach Dan Campbell to sell his house for a more private location after they harassed his family following a tough Week 2 loss. That’s the same Dan Campbell who turned the Lions from a mostly 50-year joke into an exciting playoff team. What is wrong with these people?

Best Sports Marketing Name of the Week – The Sports Bra: Name of what’s claimed to be the nation’s first sports bar for women, which calls Portland, Oregon, home.

Random Thoughts:

I’m a no on Eli Manning getting into the Hall of Fame. Sorry, two great games in the biggest moment doesn’t make a career. But don’t bet against him getting in in February.

No surprise on Kimbrel. Anyone who saw him with Boston knows he was awful in the clutch and terrible from September on. A stat boy if there ever was one.

After posting a 6.23 ERA in Arizona how many of you folks calling the Red Sox stupid for not giving Jordan Montgomery the huge multi-year deal he wanted still think they were?

Sports 101 Answer: The three easiest originals are the Bears, Giants and Packers, who remain in their original city. Then there’s the Cardinals who started in Chicago and moved to St. Louis before settling in Arizona. The Boston Braves, who became the Redskins before moving to Washington, where they eventually became the Commanders. Finally the Detroit Lions, who started as the Portsmouth Spartans.

Final Thought – News Item – Earth to Bob Nightengale: Yes, with soon to be NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale climbing to 18-3, with a 2.38 ERA this week his trade looks worse by the day. But Earth to the USA Today baseball writer, it was not the worst by the Red Sox since Babe Ruth got sent to the Yanks. Guess he missed sending an in-his-prime Mookie Betts to L.A., where he’s been great, for three stiffs in 2020. And second, while it’s a bad look, they had little choice to move on from Sale after what he gave them for the first $120 million of his $150 million five-year contract — which was nothing. We should drop the finger-pointing over him and just be happy that a guy who always cared but had simple bad luck finally got healthy.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

News & Notes 24/09/26

Nashua’s Blue Ribbon

The Academy for Science and Design charter school in Nashua is one of two New Hampshire schools awarded as part of the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools, according to a U.S. Department of Education press release. The other is Bernice A. Ray School in the Hanover School District. The 2024 cohort has 356 schools; the recognition “highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups,” the press release said.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in the release. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.” 

The Academy for Science and Design Chartered Public School in Nashua describes itself as being “the state of New Hampshire’s top-performing public school and largest STEM-specialty school,” and “is aimed at expanding students’ interest and ability in STEM locally and statewide,” according to its website, asdnh.org. The school serves kids in grades 5 through 12 and will begin accepting applications for the academic year 2025-26 on Monday, Oct. 7, the website said.

Pollen count

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon has partnered with the National Allergy Bureau to install a pollen counting station on the roof of the medical center’s power plant, according to a Dartmouth Health release. Samples collected from the station will be reported to the Bureau for inclusion in its national tracking of allergen levels, the release said. The release said that the third week of September is often considered “peak week” for emergency departments seeing allergy and asthma patients, according to the release. The new station is the only one currently operating in New England, with the next closest located in Rochester, New York, the release said.

“Pollen seasons are changing,” said DHMC allergy and clinical immunology specialist Erin L. Reigh, MD, MS, in the release. “Studies show that ragweed season is two to four weeks longer than it was in the 1990s, and we are seeing allergenic plants spread farther north with the warmer temperatures. Higher CO2 levels also cause ragweed plants to release more pollen.”

According to the press release, the DHMC pollen information will be at pollen.aaaai.org, where you can sign up to have it send updates.

Merci Boxcar

The annual commemoration of the Merci Train Boxcar will take place Sunday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. at the boxcar’s permanent location, 144 Reed St. in Manchester, according to a newsletter from the Franco-American Centre.

The event is organized by 40 & 8 Society, a veterans group, and will feature representatives from France and New Hampshire, the newsletter said. “This year’s event has a special meaning as it comes during the 80th anniversary year of the D-Day invasion and 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s farewell tour of the U.S.,” the newsletter said.

According to mercitrain.org: “49 French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts of gratitude” from French citizens were sent to the U.S. in appreciation of 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to France in 1948. On the Merci Train website, you can see photos of some of the items that had been in New Hampshire’s car as well as photos of box cars and gifts that went to other states.

Butterfly results

The Second Annual Capital Area Butterfly Survey conducted on July 27 by the New Hampshire Audubon counted 981 individual butterflies from 38 distinct species, according to the NH Audubon September newsletter. “These surveys are part of a nationwide effort through the North American Butterfly Association to track butterfly populations and gain insight into how habitat and weather affect them,” the newsletter said. Six teams with a total of 36 participants spread out through the Concord area at 19 different sites, the newsletter said. “Several teams reported sightings of the delicate American Copper. … Ninety-three Crescent butterflies gathered in an open area of the Boscawen Town Forest. At the Karner Blue Conservation Area, observers were treated to sightings of six Karner Blues, along with several Edward’s Hairstreaks and a Coral Hairstreak. A few rarities were also recorded. One team encountered a Giant Swallowtail … a small team guided through the grassy areas of the Concord Airport, where they recorded a Variegated Fritillary. A Buckeye made an appearance at the Pembroke National Guard property, and a Common Sootywing was observed in the Concord Community Gardens,” the newsletter said.

Seeking volunteers

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) will hold a volunteer open house on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. “The Aviation Museum is specifically seeking volunteers to help carry out its educational programming to young people from preschool through high school ages,” according to a museum press release. “The museum hosts field trips, school visits, and operates a popular ‘Flights of Discovery’ summer camp. In addition, the museum welcomes families with young children to participate in hands-on activities in its classroom. Volunteers can help all these programs.” Volunteers also help with special events such as the annual car show, fundraising gala and more, the release said.

Seeking essentials

The Zonta Club of Concord is asking for donations of toiletries and other essentials to be given to women at shelters and transitional housing as part of its Purse Program to be brought to the Fall Fling on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m. The event will explain more about the club and its programs, according to a Zonta Club of Concord fall newsletter. “For over 60 years, the members of our club have been making a difference in the lives of women and girls through service projects and scholarships,” according to zontaclubofconcordnh.org.

Seeking understanding

United Way of Greater Nashua (20 Broad St., Nashua, 882-4011, unitedwaynashua.org) will hold its ninth annual United We Sleep event Friday, Sept. 27, at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St., Nashua, 578-8900, nashuacc.edu) “to raise funds to combat homelessness and support vital community services,” according to a United Way press release.

“The funds raised through United We Sleep support $400,000 in annual grants to local safety net organizations, emergency funds for homeless youth and adults (with $25,000 allocated so far this year), and programs at United Way that combat food insecurity,” the release said.

Visit fundraise.givesmart.com or text sleepout2024 to 71777 for information on how to participate or donate.

The Red, White & Brew Craft Beer and Wine Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 28, at FunSpot in Laconia with a general admission time of noon to 4 p.m. The event benefits Veterans Count NH and will feature craft beer, wine, food, a car show, an auction, raffles, live music with The Bob Pratte Band and more. Admission includes sampling tickets and a commemorative glass, while supplies last (food is not included). Tickets cost $50 for VIP access (which starts at noon) and $35 general admission. See vetscount.org/events/red-white-brew.

Catch Highway to the Ranger Zone, the monthly open mic show featuring Andrew North & The Rangers, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the BNH Stage in Concord (16 S. Main St., ccanh.com) with sign-ups starting at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 6:45 p.m.

NAV Arts will feature New Hampshire Poet Laureate Jennifer Militello at the Word Search Open Mic event on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bookery Manchester. Militello’s new collection, Identifying the Pathogen from Tupelo Press, is slated for a 2025 release; see jennifermilitello.com. NAV Arts holds its open mics — which include poetry, music and other performers — on the second Wednesday of the month from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Nashua Choral Society is inviting new singers to join its 2024-2025 season. Check out a rehearsal — Monday evenings 7 to 9 p.m. at the Judd Gregg Auditorium, Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St. in Nashua. Rehearsals will be open to new singers to this non-auditioned chorus with no obligations until Oct. 14. See nashuachoralsociety.org.

The week of the Manchester Citywide Arts Festival

Meet some artists, learn some moves

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

The weeklong Manchester Citywide Arts Festival is back, with free art exhibits, free dance lessons for kids, chances to meet artists, an open mic night, demos, tours, and, to cap it all off, a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The festival runs Monday, Sept. 16, through Saturday, Sept. 21, at various locations, with two closing events on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Katie Lovell, Director of Operations at the Palace Theatre, talked about the festival that celebrates the community and its artists.

“This is our third year and it’s basically a week-long celebration of the arts in New Hampshire…. It’s a good variety, different things. All the arts are covered,” Lovell said. “We are trying to do community events to bring a lot of people downtown to show everyone all the amazing things that Manchester has to offer and bring in more families and family-friendly events as well.”

Classes and demonstrations throughout the week lead up to a big party on Saturday.

“The main event is the Street Fair,” Lovell said. “On that day we shut down Hanover Street in front of the Palace Theatre and we have over 50 art vendors that will be set up so people can walk around, view their art, make purchases … everything from knitted blankets to handmade stickers.” There will also be food trucks and a stage with live performances, she said.

Lovell said the street fair usually brings 8,000 to 10,000 people.

Before that, during the week, there will be plenty of events at dance studios and art galleries, some free, some not. Not all require signup in advance, but some do.

For visitors on Monday, it’s time to boogie and see some sculpting, with a free drop-in pottery demonstration in the afternoon at Studio 550 on Elm Street and two free dance lessons at Forever Emma Studios.

Tuesday, muralists get a spotlight. “In Manchester we have tons of beautiful murals that have gone up in the last few years,” Lovell said, “so we’re going to have some of the muralists come to the Bookery and Cat Alley and people will be able to meet with them.”

Dimensions in Dance will host a youth ballet class on Wednesday.

Then for Thursday evening, the libations begin to pour. “Dew Collective, which is a beautiful flower shop right on Hanover Street, they just opened up a few months ago, they’re going to host a meet-the-artist cocktail reception. They’ll have a bunch of local artists in the flower shop and then you’ll be able to make floral arrangements in there as well, have a drink and meet with colleagues and network.” That same evening, the Currier Museum of Art will have a free “Art After Work” session. “You can go to the Currier and walk around the museum and then everyone is going to meet after in the museum, have a cocktail, and chat with each other,” Lovell said.

A competition unfolds on Thursday as well: an open mic night at the Rex that Lovell described as “like a ‘Manchester’s Got Talent.’ Anyone can submit any talent and we’ll review the submissions. And it’s also a free event.”

For Friday, the day before the Street Fair, “the Manchester Arts Commision is going to host an opening cocktail party with the Palace Theatre in our Spotlight room,” Lovell said. “We’re going to invite all of our sponsors, the artists, and it’s going to be open to the community as well. The Pop-up Gallery will be open that night also…. You can kind of get a little preview of what you’ll see on Saturday, what you can purchase, and you can meet with them as well.”

Saturday night visitors should be on the lookout for the Foot Clan. “We’re hosting the 1990 version of the Ninja Turtles movie at the Rex Theatre on Saturday night with Granite State Comic Con and we’re going to have the original Ninja Turtles from that movie there for a Q and A as well. We’re all trying to support each other,” she said.

The Manchester Citywide Arts Festival is a great coming together of business and art.

“All the downtown businesses, we’re all trying to work together just getting more people downtown,” Lovell said. She called it “a very positive event and experience.”

Lovell is excited for the Festival and hopes to see everyone on the street. “I love Manchester. I’ve worked at the Palace now for almost 13 years and I just love to see it so busy and the city bustling and so much positivity around it.”

Manchester Citywide Arts Festival


When: Monday, Sept. 16 to Saturday, Sept. 21
More info: palacetheatre.org/manchester-citywide-arts-festival (Some of the Studio 550 Arts and Dimensions in Dance events may require sign-up)

Arts and Crafts Fair
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where; the Opera Block of Hanover Street

Arts Festival Schedule
Monday, Sept. 16
2 to 4 p.m.
FREE Pottery Demonstration
Studio 550 Arts Center (550 Elm St.) See how we make our Paint-your-own-pottery items for this live drop-in demonstration.
4 p.m.
FREE Intro to Dance (Ages 3-5) at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St.)
5 p.m.
FREE Dance Technique (Level 1) at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St.)

Tuesday, Sept. 17
10 to 10:45 a.m.
FREE Ballet and Storytime (Ages 2-4) at Dimension in Dance (84 Myrtle St.)
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
FREE Art Ramp Painting
Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St.)
5 to 6 p.m.
FREE Meet the Muralists at
The Bookery (844 Elm St.)

Wednesday, Sept. 18
10 to 10:45 a.m.
FREE Ballet Class (Ages 3-5)
Dimensions in Dance (84 Myrtle St.)
10 to 10:45 a.m.
FREE Specialty Class
AR Workshop (23 W. Merrimack St.)

Thursday, Sept. 19
10 to 11:15 a.m.
FREE –Adult Ballet
Dimensions in Dance (84 Myrtle St.)
4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Family Sculpting (All Ages)
Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St.)
5 to 7 p.m.
FREE Art After Work
Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St.)
6 to 8 p.m.
Meet the Artist Cocktail Reception at the Dew Collective (34 Hanover St.) Featuring Peter Noonan, Laura Braciale, Ron Lohse, Verne Orlosk, and Lauren Boisvert
7 p.m.
FREE Open Mic Night
The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St.)

Friday, Sept. 20
3 to 5 p.m.
Dew Collective School’s Out Playful Art at Dew Collective (34 Hanover St.)
4:15 to 5:15p.m.
Family Pottery (Ages 9+)
Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St.)
6 to 9 p.m.
MAC Cocktail Party at the
Spotlight Room at the Palace Theatre (90 Hanover St.)

Saturday, Sept. 21
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FREE – Street Fair
Opera Block of Hanover Street
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FREE – Spotlight Room Pop-Up Gallery at the Palace Theatre (90 Hanover St.)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FREE – Positive Street Art Satellite Gallery at theManchester Chamber of Commerce (54 Hanover St.)
10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
FREE – Tours of 83 Hanover Street Red Oak Apartments (84 Hanover St.)
1 to 2 p.m.
FREE Glass Pulling Demonstration at Studio Verne (412 Chestnut St.)
7 p.m. Screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) as part of the Granite State Comicon, screening is at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St.)

Sunday, Sept. 22
10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
FREE – Spotlight Room Pop-Up Gallery at the Palace Theatre (90 Hanover St.)
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FREE Closing Breakfast with MAC at the Spotlight Room at the Palace Theatre (90 Hanover St.)

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

This Week 24/09/19

Friday, Sept. 20

Tonight the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) has a treat for Spider-Man fans. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Concert will feature the movie of the same name showcased on a colossal HD screen and complemented by a diverse ensemble of musicians and instrumentalists performing the film’s iconic score and soundtrack, live including a full orchestra and a skilled scratch DJ on turntables, as well as percussion and electronic instrumentalists, according to the website. The show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $37.75.

Friday, Sept. 20

Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St, Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) will host Gimme Gimme Disco, a DJ-based dance party playing ABBA hits plus other disco hits from the ’70s and ’80s., tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $17.60.

Saturday, Sept. 21

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (blackheritagetrailnh.org) and the Manchester Historic Association (129 Amherst St., Manchester, 622-7531, manchesterhistoric.org) will dedicate a new marker today, recognizing and honoring enslaved people’s contributions to Manchester’s textile industry. The unveiling ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. The marker will be located on the south end of the Mill #3 building at 200 Bedford St., also the home of the Millyard Museum. The location of the marker is the site of a three-story picker house where bales of raw cotton were delivered.

Saturday, Sept. 21

The New Hampshire Reptile Expo will be held at the New England Sports Center (7 A St., Derry, 537-9663, nesportscenter.com) today from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The show provides everything attendees need to properly care for their reptiles, from high-quality reptile equipment to friendly vendors who assist in reptile husbandry and adoptions. General admission tickets are $10 and VIP tickets are $15 at showmereptileshow.com.

Wednesday, Sept 25

The Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org) will present A Feast of Words with Richard Lederer tonight at 7 p.m. Lederer is a former Concord Monitor columnist and the author of 60 books including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current title, A Feast of Words. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Sept. 25

The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org) presents “The Language of Leaves: The Not-So-Secret Science Behind Fall Foliage” this evening at 6:30 p.m. There will be a lecture as well as hands-on activities.

Wednesday, Sept. 25

The Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) will hold a behind-the-screens community event tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn how community support keeps the Theatres going. There is no cost to attend this event but attendees should register on the Red River website by Monday, Sept. 23, to reserve a seat.

Save the Date! Sunday, Sept. 29
The Busch Lumberjack Championship comes to the Biergarten at Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 DW Highway, Merrimack, 595-1202, anheuser-busch.com/breweries/merrimack-nh) Sept. 29, 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Enjoy a day of music, food, kids activities and more. Watch competitors vie to become the Top Lumberjack. Tickets are $15 online, $20 at the door; kids 12 and under are free.

Featured photo: Oliver at the Palace Theater.

Comics, Turtles and a Power Ranger

Fans of all stripes will find fun at the Granite State Comicon

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

The Granite State Comicon is here with most of its action on Saturday, Sept. 21, and Sunday, Sept. 22, at the DoubleTree Downton Manchester and SNHU Arena across the street.

“When we started Granite State Comicon in 2003, we just used a small room at the hotel, and then over the number of years we’ve been growing, [we had] to take on a larger room and larger space. And then we went for two days. And then for the past couple years, we’ve kind of noticed, ‘hey, we’re getting really tight on space.’” said Chris Proulx, owner of Double Midnight Comics and con organizer.

“There’s things we want to fit in that we can’t fit in. The attendance was getting a little tighter, and we knew if we wanted to bring in more comic artists, more celebrities, and especially if we’re getting from bigger franchises, we would need more space,” Proulx said.

Which venue should be chosen for this quest?

“If you’re looking for more of the comic-centric things, you would kind of hang out on the hotel side, because that’s where all of our guest artists are,” Proulx said. Meanwhile, at the other venue: “And then if you’re looking for more of the celebrity and pop culture stuff, you’re looking at the arena. Both of them have vendors and lots of stuff to see. So there’s unique stuff at both venues. It’s definitely worth crossing Elm Street.”

Like with Gotham or Metropolis, the city itself is integral. “What we’ve been kind of talking about is referring to the third venue [as] downtown Manchester, trying to get some of the restaurants and bars involved, you know, whether it’s if they offer some kind of special drink or, you know, some kind of special menu or get dressed up,” Proulx said.

It’ll be a day for the arts on Saturday. “We’ll be promoting the [Manchester Citywide Arts Festival], so that way people can kind of cross-pollinate and just see the more positive sides of Manchester,” he said.

“We talked to the Rex because we wanted to do a screening of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s a beautiful venue and they agreed to partner with us on that and it’s going to be a fun night. We decided to go all in on it and celebrate it, or ‘shell-a-brate it,’ as they say. So we’ve got actors from the 1990 movie, the ‘87 cartoon, tons of artists and writers who have worked on the Ninja Turtles over the years, including Kevin Eastman,” he said. See palacetheatre.org for tickets to the screening, which starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

But those aren’t the only stars at the con.

”John Rhys Davies, you’ll be able to find him at the hotel. He’ll be doing signatures, professional photo ops, he might have some props with him for photo ops, like Gimli’s ax from The Lord of the Rings. My business partner has met him a bunch of times and he’s the sweetest, nicest guy, so we’re very excited to have him join us,” Proulx said.

“Amy Jo Johnson, she’s the original Pink Power Ranger. There’s been many many iterations of the Power Rangers over the years but she’s one of the the original cast members so we’re very excited to have her joining us. She recently wrote a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic book mini-series. She had a couple of the artist guests that we have that had done covers for it, so it’s a pretty cool thing,” Proulx said.

“Then we have Kevin Nash, who was a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. He’s also been in a bunch of movie and TV projects, like The Punisher, and he was Super Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. He was a nice crossover there.“

“We’ve got Nolan North, who is the video game voice of Deadpool, and Cal Dodd, who is the voice of Wolverine in X-Men, the animated series. There’s a lot of cool guests, plus we have the original four voices of the Ninja Turtles from the ’87 cartoon. It’s a big Turtle-centric thing this year because it’s the 40th anniversary of the Turtles. They’re created by Eastman and Laird in New Hampshire,” he said.

Be sure to check out the website for more information. “The full program is up there, so you can see all of our panels and workshops. There’s information on KidsCon, movie cars, all of the various features.”

The event even attracts fans from all over the world. “We never thought people would be coming from multiple countries to Manchester, New Hampshire,” Proulx said.

“We want to make sure people are having a good time…. Our show’s very family-friendly and entry-level so you’re not like, ‘oh man, if I want to go to Comicon I gotta go to New York, I gotta travel four hours, I gotta pay for a hotel, I gotta pay for this, everything’s more expensive,’” he said.

Patrons do not need to have read a single comic book to have fun at Granite State Comicon.“We always say everybody’s a geek over something. The people that play fantasy football, that’s geeky. We’re all geeks. So there’s literally something there for everybody. So whether you’re into anime or board games or comic books or costuming, there’s literally something for everybody and it’s a great time. We’re very affordable for a family trip. There’s lots of stuff for kids to do. So it’s a really good fun time and we feel like it’s a great fun event for Manchester,” he said.

Even as the convention grows, what makes Granite State Comicon special stays the same.

“A lot of people like our vibe. It’s not hyper stressful, it’s fun, we have that focus on the fans so people really dig that. We have a really good team and we want to continue to grow at a good pace without breaking who we are,” Proulx said.

Granite State Comicon
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: DoubleTree, 700 Elm St., Manchester, and SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester
Tickets: $20 to $125 (various packages)
More: Visit granitecon.com and doublemidnight.com. Email [email protected] or call 669-9636.

Featured image: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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