Meal on the town

Where to eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Looking for someone else to cook a special holiday meal? Here are a few places serving up special eats. Did we miss a spot open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or serving a special holiday dish? Let us know at food@hippopress.com.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) is hosting The Feast of the Seven Fishes on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres before a meal of three plated courses, all featuring fish, followed by Italian desserts like ricotta pie, cannolis, tiramisu, cookies and chocolate mousse.

• Through Saturday, Dec. 30, Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-2581, colbyhillinn.com) will be serving its Chef’s Christmas Cheer Menu from 4 to 8:30 p.m.; it will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Entrees on the menu include pork wiener schnitzel with cucumber dill salad, sweet and sour red cabbage and french fries ($40), lobster and scallop pot pie with whipped potatoes and garlic confit ($54) and ricotta honeynut squash ravioli with broccoli rabe, chanterelle and black trumpet mushrooms and truffle butter ($40). Rum cake with coconut pineapple ice cream, peppermint panna cotta, apple strudel with whipped cream, an adult cookie tray and Black Forest cake are for dessert.

The Grazing Room will be serving beverages and food like bratwurst and apple strudel during the Winter Wonderland Barn Market on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, with local craft food and art vendors. Also that Sunday is Christmas! High Tea at 12:30 p.m. with mimosas, Christmas treats, holiday cocktails and punch. It is $65 per person for this event.

Open Christmas Eve

• Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040, thecman.com)is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Alan’s Restaurant (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a three-course prix fixe menu from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the dining room followed by a dessert buffet and cash bar at the Great Hall. Dinner will also be served at Fondi from 4 to 8 p.m. as well as breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, buckleysgreasteaks.com, 424-0995) is taking reservations for Christmas Eve.

• Chez Vachon (136 Kelley St., Manchester, 625-9660, chezvachon.com) will be open regular hours.

• CJ’s Great West Grill (782 S. Willow St., Manchester, 627-8600, cjsgreatwewstgrille.com) will be open until 5 p.m.

• The Common Man (Lago, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253; Camp, 298 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3003; Lakehouse, 281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 1 Gulf St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; 231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764; Route 104 Diner, 752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120; 61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204; 2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040; thecman.com) is open for dining on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at their Lakehouse, Meredith, location, and from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashland, Concord and Merrimack; Route 104 Diner in New Hamptonis open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com)is accepting reservations until 8 p.m. and will be open until 10 p.m.

• CR’s The Restaurant (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972, crstherestaurant.com) is taking reservations for Christmas Eve dinner from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Epoch Gastropub (90 Front St., Exeter, 778-3762, epochrestaurant.com) is open for Christmas Eve brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• The Farm Bar and Grille (1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276) is open from noon to 4 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.

• Foster’s Boiler Room (231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764, thecman.com) is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (799 Union Ave., Laconia, 528-2022; 155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022, fratellos.com) will be open until 8 p.m.

• Friendly Red’s Tavern (22 Haverhill Road, Route 111, Windham, 437-7251; 111 W Broadway, Derry, 404-6606, friendlyredstavern.net) is open until 8 p.m.

• Lakehouse Grille (281 Daneil Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com/lakehouse-grille) is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Pasta Loft Restaurant & Brewing Co. (241 Union Sq., 627-2270, pastaloft.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Red Arrow Diner (112 Loudon Road, Concord, 415-0444; 137 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 552-3091; 61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118; 149 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 204-5088, redarrowdiner.com) is open for its regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Concord, 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Londonderry, 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Manchester open 24 hours; Nashua 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.)

• Surf (207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293; 99 Bow St., Portsmouth, 334-9855, surfseafood.com) is taking reservations via phone.

• T-Bones (25 S. River Road, Bedford, 641-6100; 404 Main St., Concord; 39 Crystal Ave., Derry, 434-3200; 77 Lowell Road, Hudson, 882-6677; 1182 Union Ave., Laconia; 311 S Broadway, Salem, greatnhrestaurants.com) closes at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve at each location.

• Lobster ravioli, salmon, maple sausage pizza and more will be served at Wild Rose Restaurant (3351 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway, thewhileroseresaturant.com, 356-3113) on Christmas Eve from 5 to 8 p.m. Visit their website to make your reservation.

• 900 Degrees (Dow St., Manchester, 641-0900, 900degrees.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will be open until 6 p.m. for gift card sales.

Open Christmas Day

• Airport Diner (112 Loudon Road, Concord, 415-0444; 137 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 552-3091; 61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118; 149 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, 204-5088, redarrowdiner.com) is open regular hours on Christmas Day at each location and will be offering a turkey dinner for $18.99.

• Lakehouse Grille (281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com/lakehouse-grille) will be open for breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. and for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a special Christmas menu.

• Salt Kitchen and Bar (Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 422-7322, opalcollection.com) will have a brunchfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wentworth Ballroom with smoothies, a Belgian waffle station and a carving station. Seats are $89.95 and $26.95 for children under 12 years old.

They will also have Christmas dinner from 1 to 10 p.m. with sliced prime beef tenderloin, Scottish salmon, sous vide pork chop and coq au vin chicken. Seats are $69.95 and $26.95 for children under 12 years old. Visit their website to make reservations.

An Italian Christmas

Bedford Village Inn hosts Feast of the Seven Fishes

The halls are decked at Bedford Village Inn with garlands, decor and an upside-down lighted Christmas tree suspended 30 feet high from the ceiling in the Great Hall, where the Inn will host the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American celebration, on Thursday, Dec. 21.

“When you enter for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which is traditionally held on Christmas Eve … [you’re] greeted by … beautiful holiday decor,” said Melissa Samaras, the sales and marketing director at the Bedford Village Inn. “There’s courses all including fish that go out into an extended over-indulgent evening of incredible wine and cuisine that is very heavily focused on fish.”

While the Feast of the Seven Fishes is not an official tradition or term, and its true origins are not known, eating fish on Christmas Eve could stem from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat other than fish before communion, according to a post by Brian Trembath on the Denver Public Library website. Sydney Dominick, writing for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, says the tradition comes from Italian immigrants who came to America during the 20th century.

“As the guests are seated for dinner, each course is going to be accompanied with a wine pairing that will complement each item being served,” Samaras said. “We change the menu [but] it kind of follows the same prototype in a sense. [There are] certain things you always want to include.”

The evening starts with a cocktail hour with passed and stationary hors d’oeuvres such as shrimp cocktail with bloody mary cocktail sauce and lemon, oysters on the half shell with Champagne citrus mignonette, and smoked trout crostini with chives. As per tradition, hors d’oeuvres are followed by a salad, which will be a grilled calamari salad with pickled vegetables, radicchio and arugula. The second course is spaghetti with clam sauce and parsley, followed by the third course of cod puttanesca with herb-roasted Yukon potatoes and green beans with garlic and almonds. Dessert includes assorted cannolis, tiramisu cups, ricotta pie, chocolate mousse and Italian cookies.

“People can vary as to what they offer,” Samaras said. “You don’t have to stick to any course options; they just have to be fish-focused.”

Italian cuisine is special to Jack Carnevale, the owner of Bedford Village Inn.

“[It] goes back to [his] Italian roots. [He] just really [loves to celebrate] and bring that focus and those memories from his childhood…,” Samaras said. “This celebration … is near and dear to him and he wanted to create the event here to share with everyone else. … It’s really special for us to be able to extend those kinds of celebrations here….”

Feast of the Seven Fishes
When: Thursday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.
Where: Great Hall at Bedford Village Inn, 2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford

Featured photo: Torre di Fruitti di Mare. Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 23/12/14

News from the local food scene

• New Thai eatery in Plaistow: After construction-related delays in the summer, the family-owned SaNouk’s Local Thai Eatery has opened at 5 Plaistow Road in Plaistow, offering various curries and stir-fries; “appethaizers” such as spring rolls, summer rolls, fried dumplings and crab rangoons; and other dishes. SaNouk’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit sanouks.com.

• Free wine tasting: Ambra from Crush Distributors will be at Wine on Main (9 N Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. with different wines from all around the world. Stop by for free samples and to purchase.

• Sip and plant: Create your own miniature ecosystem with The Knotted Finds at Spyglass Brewing Co. (36 Innovative Way, Nashua) on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 6 p.m. All materials and supplies will be provided as you are guided through the process of creating your own terrarium with three plants, rocks, moss, sand and soil. Each participant will receive a drink ticket for a glass of beer to enjoy during the process. It is $35 to attend and you must be 21 years or older. Get your tickets at theknottedfinds.com/events.

• Blankets and beer: Make a blanket and enjoy a beer with Jill from The Cozy Co. at Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road) on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $115 and include materials, the class and a pint of beer. Visit pipedreambrewingnh.com.

• New Year’s Eve party: Ring in the new year at LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111) from 6 to 10:30 p.m. with a three-course dinner, music by the Freese Brothers Big Band, dancing and a stroll through LaBelle Lights. The first course is crab rangoon, followed by sake-braised short rib and black sesame profiterole. The vegetarian dinner option includes vegetable rangoon and soba noodle bowl. Tickets are $120 and can be purchased at labellewinery.com.

• Candles and wine: Enjoy wine and make 19 custom tealight candles in the scents and colors of your choice with Ross, owner of Candle Tree Soy Candles at Wine on Main (9 N. Main St., Concord) on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person. Sign up at wineonmainnh.com.

On The Job – Georgia Brust

Landscape designer

Georgia Brust is a landscape designer with her own company, The Floral Hound, based in Salem.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I am the owner and designer of The Floral Hound, a landscape design and fine gardening company. I meet with clients, walk the property and get a feel for the space and what they’re envisioning. From there, I create beautiful yet sustainable outdoor spaces.

How long have you had this job?

The Floral Hound celebrated its official one-year anniversary in June 2023.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

Growing up, my father had beautiful gardens all around our yard where he would always be working, so naturally I was always doing something in the yard. In 2016 I started working at Canobie Lake Park on the grounds crew and absolutely fell in love with gardening, maintenance and the design aspect of things.

What kind of education or training did you need?

In 2019 I started studying at NHTI. In 2021 I graduated with my degree in Landscape and Environmental Design. In fall of 2020, I took part in the UNH Extension Natural Resource Stewardship program. I learned a lot of neat little tips and tricks, but the best training is getting out and just doing the job.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

My beloved Timberland hiking boots that I’ve had for years, a long-sleeve shirt, and you can almost always find me in a pair of black leggings (Lululemon to be exact — I’ve tried a lot of leggings and these are one of the only brands that stand up to the demands of the job).

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

Mother Nature. A large part of my job is figuring out how to roll with her punches… .

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had invested in some kind of wrist and back brace.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish others knew how rewarding the job actually is. I love creating something beautiful for a client that is living and will hopefully live for many years to come.

What was the first job you ever had?

Scooping ice cream at Findeisen’s Ice Cream in Salem when I was 15. I was still practicing getting my license, so my father would drive me to work. His payment: ice cream at the end of my shifts.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

A dear friend had told me once ‘The devil is in the details.’ … Don’t overlook the small things.

Five favorites
Favorite book: I’m a sucker for the Twilight series.
Favorite movie: I’m sure you can guess from my favorite book
Favorite music: Folk-pop
Favorite food: Anything sweet
Favorite thing about NH: I love the ability to enjoy outdoor activities in multiple seasons. My favorite seasons? Fall and stick season.

Featured photo: Georgia Brust. Courtesy photo.

Welcome to ski season

What to expect on the slopes this winter

As the crisp winter air settles in and the first snowflakes begin to fall, winter sports fans eagerly anticipate the start of the ski season. We talked with Aly Coakley, marketing director of McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester where they kicked off the season on Dec. 9, to get an insider’s perspective on gearing up for the winter months.

How are you getting ready for the season?

We have all the snowmaking [processes] on, and our staff is out there at every cold window of opportunity making snow. We have top-to-bottom on the Queen’s Trail open, and our beginners’ area is also set. We have quite a bit of snow stacked up. We haven’t seen a ton of cold snow days, but at this point there’s plenty of snow out there for people to get out and enjoy.

What is your expectation for the length of this season?

We’re anticipating operating all the way until the end of March. That’s usually our goal. Last March we experienced a “miracle March” with so much snow. We’re hoping for the same this year, maybe with more frequent snowstorms throughout the season, so we can keep going through March.

What are the environmental considerations in your snowmaking process? Is that something you have to think about?

Yes, paying attention to the weather is really important because we don’t want to be making a lot of wet snow when it’s too warm, as it’s a waste of electricity and resources. We are very conscious of when and how we operate. Using better snowmaking equipment, like better snow guns and snow fans, allows for more effective operations. It’s really important to stay on top of the latest technology to ensure that our environmental impact is as limited as possible.

Do you notice a difference between man-made and natural snow?

One of the big differences with man-made snow is that it’s squeaky. The nice thing about natural snow is that it’s all caught in the trees, and it just looks beautiful. There’s nothing better than waking up to a powder day with a nicely groomed trail of man-made snow underneath and natural snow on top. That combination makes the perfect powder day.

Are there any special events or unique attractions planned for the upcoming season?

Yes, we have some really cool events coming up. One highlight is our Park Affair event, a women’s snowboarding competition that’s open to any skiers and riders who identify as she/her/they/them. The first prize is $5,000, which is a big deal. Park Affair is a great partner, and they’ll be here on Sunday, Jan. 14. We’ll have everyone from the youngest in our backpack program to really talented athletes who compete in larger competitions. In January, we also have our Gilman race, followed by several other exciting events with great prizes. Then, in March, we have our Little Max Jamboree, which is like a fun race where kids from our snow sports programs participate, dress up in costumes and compete for various prizes, like Best Costume. We also host our pond skim event, where people dress in Hawaiian outfits or any crazy costume they want and skim across a man-made pond we create at the end of the season. Last year we had a big balloon arch, which was wild. At the end of March we have the Vertical Challenge, a fun, free race. Participants who perform well can win tickets to go to Jay Peak for the finals. Alongside these, we have ongoing programs like our learn-to-ski and Tuesday night adult race league. Another popular program is our One Great Race, where for $68 you can ski, snowboard, snow tube, take lessons, and it includes rentals. This program starts in January and has become hugely popular.

How does McIntyre engage with the local community or collaborate with other ski areas?

We collaborate quite a bit with other ski areas. Through Ski New Hampshire, which is our collective, we work together to address any issues we’re facing as a group. In addition to that, we engage in a lot of reciprocal activities. We’re part of the Freedom Pass program, which is included with our junior or adult season passes. This offers 30 free days on the mountain at any of the Freedom Pass partner locations. We’ve also partnered with places like Pats Peak, Plattekill in New York, Ragged Mountain and Great Glen Trails. All these partners offer different ticket options to our passholders, which is a fantastic benefit for those skiing at McIntyre. If they’re going on a ski vacation up north, they can check out Great Glen Trails or visit Ragged Mountain. We all work together to ensure that skiers get great value from their investment in our passes.

Looking ahead, are there any new technologies or innovations you’re considering to enhance future ski seasons?

We’re always looking to enhance our facilities and have a wish list of upgrades and what’s actually feasible. We’re considering RFID options and new lift technologies. Upgrades in snowmaking and the system itself, beyond just the fans, are on our radar. We’re also focusing on expanding our programs in ways that are affordable for families but also cater to their varying needs. We’ve added a new rental fleet of snowboards from Burton and are looking to expand the snowboard line in our retail shop. Our seasonal lease program has grown with additional perks for those opting for seasonal rentals. We’re staying on top of what consumers and our guests are looking for, as well as what makes sense for McIntyre. In the lodge, one small but significant change is adding a water bottle refill station. As a mom with two kids, I find it hugely convenient to fill up water bottles right there. We’re doing these small things where we can, and then tackling bigger projects as they fit into our budget. The biggest future enhancement from my perspective would be implementing RFID technology, not just for smoothing operations but for our hill as well. This would reduce lines at the ticket counter and provide a more accurate count of guests going up and down the hill, among other benefits.

Snow making

President and general manager Ross Boisvert

Can you explain the technology and process involved in making man-made snow and its impact on activities like skiing, snowboarding and tubing?

Our system includes an air system and a fan gun system, which is water to our fan guns. These fan guns are state-of-the-art, pretty new within the last three to five years. They have onboard weather stations that measure temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and wet bulb temperature. This allows the guns to give us readings to operate them at their highest capacity. The colder and drier the air, the more snow we can make. For instance, last night, when [the temperature] was in the teens, we had much better productivity compared to the night before, which was evident just walking in from one morning to the next. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity decrease the productivity of snowmaking.

When we turned one of the guns on last night, which we had shut off during the day, we made more snow in an hour than we did all of the previous night. This morning we walked into about a 10-foot pile at the base, compared to a couple of inches the night before. So we had a very productive night versus a very expensive night with low productivity previously.

We run fan guns, which look like cannons. They have big fans that push out air and water molecules, with onboard compressors that provide compressed air to help make the snow. Essentially, there’s what’s called a nucleus that puts out a bead of water. As more water is added, those crystals bond with other water molecules, creating snow quickly. Man-made snow has more density than natural snow. If you compare a pile of natural snow and a pile of man-made snow under a burner, the natural snow would melt quicker due to its lower density. Natural snow is smoother and quieter to ski on, but if we didn’t have snowmaking abilities in this day and age, ski resorts really wouldn’t exist. We rely heavily on our snowmaking system and, more importantly, our snowmakers, our staff that’s out there at all hours of the night, making sure the guns are running efficiently. It’s always great to go and hug a snowmaker.

Winter forecast

Derek Schroeter, a meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather Service office in Gray, Maine, which covers weather predictions for northern New Hampshire, offered what insights he could into the winter 2023-2024 season, emphasizing, first, the uncertainty in long-term snowfall predictions.

“We cannot make any definitive predictions on snowfall,” he said.

The NWS is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA’s role is to provide weather forecasts up to a week in advance, Schroeter said, and while the Climate Prediction Center offers seasonal outlooks, it focuses mainly on temperature and precipitation trends rather than specific snowfall predictions. For the December to February period, “Northern New England is likely to experience above-normal temperatures, with equal chances for precipitation,” Schroeter said.

These forecasts are influenced by El Niño conditions in the Pacific, he said, typically leading to warmer temperatures in the northern U.S.

Despite the general trend, however, Schroeter recalls that past El Niño events have sometimes led to above-normal snowfall in New Hampshire.

“Statistically, the majority of El Niño events favor below-normal snowfall, but this does not rule out the possibility of this El Niño event leading to above-normal or near-normal snowfall,” he said.

Regarding the potential for repeat snow events, Schroeter noted the current absence of a favorable storm track, but remains optimistic.

“It’s too hard to pin down at this time range,” he said, “but typically, every winter, even in below-normal snowfall years, we tend to get into a favorable pattern for snowstorms that can lead to at least a short window of good skiing.”

WHERE TO SKI

Here are some of the New Hampshire spots to hit the slopes. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Abenaki Ski Area
390 Pine Hill Road, Wolfeboro
Hours of operation: Regular: Wednesday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday/Vacation: Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; MLK Day and Presidents Day: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Pricing:
• Day passes: kiddie tow $5, resident $8, non-resident $16, resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $10, non-resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $20
• Season passes: youth $50/$100, senior (55+) $50/$100, adult $75/$150, family $250/$375 (resident/non-resident rates)
• Rentals available
More info: 569-5639, wolfeboronh.us/abenaki-ski-area

Attitash Mountain Resort
775 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Pricing and availability are date-specific; visit the resort website for the most up-to-date lift ticket pricing
More info: 223-7669, attitash.com

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center
Where: 1573 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift: adult $22/day, junior (age 16 & under) free with a paying adult; senior (age 65+) $20/day.
• Season passes: adult $195, senior $175
• Rentals: skis/snowshoes $23/day; skate skis $28/day
• Lessons: private instruction $50, group lessons adult $60 adult, child $40
More info: 374-2277, bearnotchskitouring.com

Black Mountain
Where: 373 Black Mountain Road, Jackson
Hours of operation:
• Monday, Thursday and Friday (non-holiday) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holiday periods 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday periods include Dec. 26 through Jan. 1; Jan. 13 through Jan. 15; Feb. 17 through Feb. 25
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) weekend and holiday $91, weekday $71; Junior (6-17) weekend and holiday $65, weekday $55; senior (65+) weekend and holiday $60, weekday $60; tot (5 and under) free.
• Surface lift: $25
• After 2 p.m. ski free with purchase of full-price next-day ticket
• Locals ski on Sunday afternoon for $25 (with valid ID from specific counties)
• Group sales: Special rates available, contact for more information
More info: 383-4490, blackmt.com

Bretton Woods
Where: 99 Ski Area Road, Bretton Woods
Hours of operation:
Through Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; starting Dec. 22, Friday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: Early season (before Dec. 22): adults $91 to $109, teens $72 to $82, juniors $52 to $62, seniors $42 to $105; Regular season (after Dec. 22): adults $111 to $139, teens $72 to $92, juniors $52 to $72, seniors $42 to $124
• Season passes available for purchase with various options and benefits, including discounts at resort retail shops and unlimited use of certain lifts
More info: 278-3320, brettonwoods.com

Cannon Mountain
Where: 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia
Hours of operation: Depends on Mountain Report; see website
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: adult (18-64) $96 to $111, teen (13-17)/college $83 to $98, military $58 to $73
• Two-day lift tickets: adult $177 to $192, teen/college $151 to $166, military $101 to $116
• Season passes: Adult Cannon Pass starts at $591, prices vary with purchase date and age categories
More info: 823-8800, cannonmt.com

Crotched Mountain Ski Area
Where: 615 Francestown Road, Bennington
Hours of operation: Sunday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets: junior (7-17) weekday $70, weekend $84; adult (18-64) weekday $80, weekend $94; senior (65+ years) weekday $70, weekend $84
More Info: 588-3668 or visit crotchedmtn.com

Gunstock Mountain Resort
Where: 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $49, junior (6-22) $599, adult (23-59) $899, senior (60-69) $599
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $63, weekend $75; adult weekday $87, weekend $99; senior weekday $63, weekend $75
More Info: 293-4341, gunstock.com

Loon Mountain Resort
Where: 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln
Hours of operation: Non-holiday Monday through Friday lifts open at 9 a.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays lifts open at 8 a.m. Individual lift closure times vary. Check the Mountain Report for times.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $30, junior (6-18) $919, adult (19-64) $1,449, senior (65-79) $1,099
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $59, weekend $89; adult weekday $71, weekend $107; senior weekday $63, weekend $95
• Two-day pass: junior $102, adult $123, senior $108
More info: 745-8111 or loonmtn.com

McIntyre Ski Area
Where: 50 Chalet Way, Manchester
Hours of operation: full day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; night 4 to 9 p.m.; half-day morning 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; half-day afternoon 1 to 6 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: adult (18-64) $439; junior (4-17) $419; senior (65+) $35; toddler (age 3 & under) free with purchase of an adult season pass (special offer: buy two junior passes and get up to two adult season passes at $179 each)
• Special tickets $68 for 3:30-to-9 p.m. ticket (includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing, rentals) $58 for 5:30 p.m.+ until 9 p.m.
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 23/12/14

Dear Donna,

What can you tell me about these tiny drink umbrellas? They have tags on them that say ‘Made in Japan.’

Thanks.

George

Dear George,

I can start by saying I remember going to Asian restaurants and begging my mom for one in my milk!

These novelty drink umbrellas were very popular mid-century. Yours were made in Japan, but they were invented in Hawaii. They started off to provide shade in a drink so the ice wouldn’t melt too quickly. They were perfect-size accents for Barbies and other similar dolls.

The value on them original with the bands seems to be under $2. A box full like you have is probably in the $30 range. Priceless, though, for the memories!

Thanks for sharing, George, and have fun with them.

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