Kiddie Pool 21/12/23

Family fun for the weekend

See Santa

• As of Dec. 20 a few slots were still open for Santa’s Christmas celebration at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) on Thursday, Dec. 23 and Friday, Dec. 24. Attractions include a horse-drawn wagon, live animal Nativity, visits with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and live “reindeer,” s’mores kits available for purchase, and hot cocoa and complimentary sugar cookies provided by Mrs. Claus.

• And as of early this week, a few slots still appeared to be available for Afternoon Tea with Santa Claus atYa Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St. in Pelham; yamasgreektaverna.com), on Thursday, Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 24, with times at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The cost is $55 for adults and $35 for kids. Find the link to the eventbrite registration page in a Nov. 25 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

At the movies

• The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org) will host a screening of the 2018 animated film The Grinch (PG) on Thursday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m., with a children’s storytime preceding it at 2 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students, and includes access to the storytime. If you want to attend just the storytime and not the movie screening, admission is $5 per family.

• Also in theaters for the G- and PG-rated crowd: Sing 2 (PG), the animated sequel to the 2016 movie about singing and dancing animals, is slated to open Wednesday, Dec. 22. Clifford the Big Red Dog (PG), the live-action plus CG dog movie, is in theaters and on Paramount+. Encanto (PG), Disney’s latest animated movie, featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is in theaters and will stream on Disney+ starting Dec. 24.

See some lights

Get some hot chocolate to go and buckle in the family for a ride to see some displays of holiday lights:

• Find a map to all the entrants in the Manchester’s Holiday Lights Contest at manchesternh.gov. The site also features three different routes to see lights in different city neighborhoods.

• The Southern New Hampshire Tour of Lights features a listing of decorated homes in Amherst, Bedford, Milford, Jaffrey, Antrim, Fitzwilliam, Keene, Merrimack, Peterborough, Rindge and Troy. See the rec department websites of participating towns for lists of houses on the tour, which runs through Dec. 27.

• Find a list and map of lit-up homes in New Boston at newbostonnh.gov/recreation.

Or for something a little more organized, check out these ticketed events:

• The Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106 North, Loudon), runs daily through Sunday, Jan. 2. The 2½-mile drive-thru light show features a variety of scenes making up more than 500 different light displays along the track. It’s open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. every Sunday through Thursday, and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on weather conditions. The cost ranges from $30 to $35 per carload, and is $60 per limo or bus. See nhms.com/events/gift-of-lights.

• LaBelle Lights continues at LaBelle Winery’s Derry location (14 Route 111) now through Feb. 26. This festive outdoor light show features displays that are being changed periodically throughout its run, taking place on the facility’s golf course along a paved walking path. The display includes a 15-foot-tall selfie station made of wine barrels, designed and installed by LaBelle vineyard manager and professional woodworker Josh Boisvert. Hours of operation are from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on select days throughout the season. Tickets are $15. See labellewinery.com/lights.

Day at the museum

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Otherwise, the museum is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $15, $13 for 65+, $10 for students and $5 for ages 13 to 17 (children under 13 get in free) and can be purchased on-site (masks for all are required), according to the website. This Thursday, Dec. 23, Alli Beaudry will perform from 5 to 8 p.m., as part of the museum’s weekly Art After Work programming (admission to the museum is free after 5 p.m.). Kevin Horan is slated to perform Dec. 30. On Sundays, the Winter Garden Cafe offers a special brunch menu starting at 10 a.m. featuring mimosa flights, according to the website. Current exhibits include “As Precious As Gold: Carpets from the Islamic World,” “WPA in NH: Philip Guston and Musa McKim” and “Tomie dePaola at the Currier,” featuring the works of dePaola, writer and illustrator 270 children’s books.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) is open Tuesdays through Fridays (it will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though normally closed Mondays, SEE will be open Monday, Dec. 27. Current displays and exhibits with hands-on examinations of science include BiologYou. Purchase reservations in advance via the website (masks are required for all visitors age 2 and up); admission costs $10 per person ages 3 and up.

• The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; 622-7531, manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum) is normally open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (The museum will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; it will be open until 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31.) Admission to the Millyard Museum costs $8 for adults, $6 for 62+ and college students, $4 for children 12 to 18 and free for children under 12. In addition to the permanent exhibits about Manchester’s history, the museum currently features the “New Hampshire Now” photography exhibit.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820), featuring exhibits about the people and events of New Hampshire’s aviation history, will be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but open Sunday, Dec. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 29, through Friday, Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m., and thereafter Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Exhibits include the annual “Festival of Holiday Toy Planes and Model Aircraft.” Admission costs $10, $5 for 65+ and children (6 to 12) and a family max of $30; children 5 and under get in free (masks are required), according to the website.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but will be open daily Sunday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Dec. 31, and Sunday, Jan. 2, and Monday, Jan. 3, with sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The center recommends purchasing timed tickets in advance; admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors and $8.50 for kids ages 3 to 12 (admission is free for children 2 and under; masks required for visitors over the age of 2). Planetarium show tickets are also available and cost $5 per person (free for children 2 and under); see the website for the schedule of planetarium shows.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (2 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) requires pre-purchased admission (which costs $11 per person, $9 for 65+ and no charge for children under 1). The museum will be open Thursday, Dec. 23 (from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.) and Sundays, Dec. 27 and Jan. 2 (from 9 a.m. to noon), and then Tuesday, Dec. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 30 (from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.), with special programming on Dec. 31 (see box). Masks are required for all guests over 24 months, the website said.

• The New Hampshire Telephone Museum (One Depot St. in Warner; nhtelephonemuseum.org, 456-2234) is open Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults, $6 for 60+ and $3 for students.

Winter plantings

Enjoy paperwhites and amaryllis indoors

As winter drags along, I long for warm sun and green plants surrounding me outdoors. It’s much too early to start spring seeds (even indoors), but I can plant some flower bulbs. I love paperwhites and amaryllis, and both are readily available for planting now — and they will bloom indoors while it snows outside.

Paperwhites are a type of daffodil specifically for forcing indoors now. Most grocery stores sell them, as do garden centers and feed-and-grain stores. They usually cost about a buck a bulb, and will produce flowers in four to six weeks. They are not hardy in New England, so don’t bother saving the bulbs to plant outdoors. Just enjoy them, and accept that they are a one-shot deal.

Amaryllis blossoms come in red, white, pink and striped. Courtesy photo.

I should warn you that paperwhites have strong scents, and not everyone is enthralled with their smell. But I like the scent, which I can smell once I walk into a room with freshly blooming paperwhites. If you don’t like strong-smelling musky scents, there is one variety that is barely fragrant: Grand Soleil d’Or. Instead of the traditional white blossoms these bulbs produce gold or yellow blossoms.

If you are in a hurry for blossoms and can select your bulbs from a bin, select those that already have started to grow. They are just aching to grow. Select a nice bowl or pot that will hold water, and get some small stones — three quarters of an inch to an inch is a good size. Garden centers sell white marble chips for this, but you can pick up stones from your driveway or garden, too. Just rinse off any stones before using them.

Arrange the three to five bulbs on a layer of stones, then fill in around the bulbs with more stones. The stems and flowers will get up to 18 inches tall, so they may tip over if not firmly seated and surrounded with stones.

Next, add water until it just kisses the bottom of the bulbs. You do not want the bulbs to sit in water. Those dry roots will quickly wake up and extend into the pool of water around the stones. Top up the water as needed, but try not to let it go dry.

Some people wait until the bulbs have grown an inch or two, drain off the water, and replace it with a 7-to-1 dilution of gin or vodka. This will, I am told, produce shorter, sturdier stems that will not flop. Or use rubbing alcohol and dilute a bit more, 11 to 1.

An amaryllis bulb does not need much soil and needs to be planted like this. Courtesy photo.

A more expensive but more dramatic flower for forcing is amaryllis. This is a tropical flower originally from South Africa — and many are still imported from there each year. Properly cared for, your investment in an amaryllis bulb will produce a plant that will last for up to 75 years, blooming every year

Amaryllis bulbs are big: They are anywhere from 2 to 4 inches across. They are often sold with a kit that includes an appropriate-sized plastic pot, the bulb, and enough potting soil to plant it in.

Smaller amaryllis bulbs are younger and less expensive, but you get what you pay for: A $5 amaryllis at a Big Box Store will probably produce one stem with three or four large blossoms. A $12 bulb will be bigger and should produce two stems with eight or more blossoms. In time, your small bulb will get bigger if you care for it properly.

Planting an amaryllis is easy. You should plant it in a good potting soil, not soil from the garden, which may stay too wet and get compacted. It is important that the bulb not be buried in soil. It may rot if you do that. The shoulders of the bulb should stick up above the soil line, up to one third of the bulb. The potting soil should be lightly moist, not dry or soggy when you plant it.

Place your amaryllis in a sunny window and wait. Sometimes when you buy an amaryllis it will have already started to grow in the box. I like that, as it means that my amaryllis will start growing for me right away.

Other times an amaryllis will sulk for weeks, doing nothing. There is nothing I know of to encourage it to grow, though maybe whispering encouragement to it will help. Only do that, however, when you are the only person in the room!

Amaryllis stems tend to lean toward the light, so rotating the pot every few days will help to keep it growing straight up (and give you something to do). You may need to insert one or more thin bamboo sticks and tie with yarn to help keep the heavy blossoms — up to 4 inches across — from pulling the stem over.

After the first stem has bloomed you may get a second stem. You can cut off the first stem after it is finished blooming. Sometimes the first and second stems grow at the same time, which leads to a little pushing and shoving in the pot, much like teenagers. Once a stem is finished blooming, you can cut it off.

After blooming, keep it in the pot, and put it outside in a sunny location all summer, but bring it inside by Oct. 1. Remove from the pot and let it dry out. Cut off the leaves and place it in a paper bag and keep in a cool, dark place for five or six weeks. Then pot it up, and it will bloom again.

So if you miss gardening, get an amaryllis or some paperwhites. And spring will be along in no time!

Featured photo: 5 paperwhite bulbs fit into this soupbowl with gravel. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/12/23

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Still time for art gifts: If you’re still doing some last-minute gift shopping, these arts and craft shows have you covered.

“Small Works —Big Impact,” the annual holiday exhibit at Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford), is going on now through Dec. 31, in person at the gallery and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

Two Villages Art Society’s (46 Main St., Contoocook) Holiday Art Show and Sale will be open on Thursday, Dec. 23, from noon to 4 p.m., featuring handmade gifts by more than 30 local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more. Visit twovillagesart.org or email info@twovillagesart.org.

The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Holiday Fair is still open for online shopping and will be open for in-person shopping at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) on Thursday, Dec. 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll find seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media, jewelry and more by juried local artists and craftspeople. Visit craftworkersguild.org.

The Seacoast Artist Association’s holiday exhibit, “Big Gifts in Small Packages,” is open at the gallery (130 Water St., Exeter) on Thursday, Dec. 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 26, Wednesday, Dec. 29, and Thursday, Dec. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit features a variety of small works of art priced under $100 for gift buying. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

The New Hampshire Art Association presents its holiday exhibition, “Let it Snow,” at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) through Jan. 2. It includes works in a variety of media, as well as books and cards for sale. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• New Year’s music: Get your tickets now for The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s annual New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops concert, which will be held at the Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Friday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. The concert will feature special guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and guest vocalist Jacyn Tremblay, with music ranging from Broadway to Hollywood, including selections from Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Cabaret, Chicago, The Godfather, West Side Story and a collection of Gershwin swing pieces. Tickets cost $38. Attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• Last call for classics: There are still a couple of opportunities to catch the traditional Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol this holiday season.

The New Hampshire School of Ballet will perform The Nutcracker Suite at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Sunday, Dec. 26, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $22. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) has its final showtime for A Christmas Carol on Thursday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors age 65 and up and $15 for kids under age 12. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

Festive painting

Muse Paintbar (42 Hanover St., Manchester) is offering family-friendly and adult paint-and-sip painting classes with a variety of winter and holiday themes now through December. Projects include a snow-capped sunset and Buddy the Elf on Thursday, Dec. 23, a white frosted eve on Sunday, Dec. 26, penguins at play on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and more. The cost ranges from $20 to $45, depending on the class. Visit musepaintbar.com to see the full schedule and book a class.

• Handmade gifts: The Sanbornton Community Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old Town Hall (19 Meetinghouse Road, Sanbornton). More than 30 local artisans will be selling unique handmade items, including jewelry, stained glass, cards, quilted wall hangings, birdhouses, baby blankets and knitted clothing, home decor, soaps, tie-dye shirts, gourmet treats, handbags and totes, candles, ornaments, flower arrangements and more. Search “Sanbornton Community Arts Festival” on Facebook for more information.

It’s the final weekend for Twiggs Gallery’s (254 King St., Boscawen) annual holiday showcase, “Sleighbell Studio,” which closes on Saturday, Dec. 18. The show features a wide selection of fine art, jewelry, cards, books, honeys, soaps and more, all locally made and priced affordably for gift buying. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

NYC artist exhibit

The Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) has a special exhibition featuring the paintings and sculpture of New York City artist Emily Noelle Lambert on view now through Jan. 9. Lambert has shown her work nationally and internationally in solo exhibitions in New York City, Chicago and South Korea as well as a number of group exhibitions. “I love swimming in a kind of visual mystery of things between abstraction, landscape and figuration,” Lambert said of her work in a press release from Saint Anselm. “I search for interactions between materials, colors and forms and often switch things up to keep my curiosity fresh.” The exhibition was curated by Fine Arts Professor Kimberly Kersey-Asbury, with assistance from fine art students on the layout and installation process. Visitors must wear masks inside the gallery. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.

• Carols galore: The Piccola Opera presents “The Dickens Carolers on Tour” at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for seniors and children and $20 for adults. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

Eve Pierce and her band of singers and musicians will perform festive music in Depot Square in downtown Peterborough on Friday, Dec. 17, starting at 6 p.m., as part of the town’s annual holiday caroling program. Call 547-8323.

The Rockingham Choral Society presents its holiday concert, “Invitations and Carols,” on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington), and on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3:30 p.m. at Christ Church (43 Pine St., Exeter). Tickets cost $12. Visit rockinghamchoral.org.

Manchester sports history

The Manchester Historic Association’s Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) celebrates Manchester’s sports history from 1989 through 2009 with a special exhibit, “Queen City Athletic Hall of Fame.” The exhibit features original photos depicting many of the 240 Hall of Fame inductees, as well as trophies, artifacts and memorabilia from the city’s sports community during those two decades. Admission to the museum costs $8 for adults, $5 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18 and is free for children under age 12. Current museum hours, according to the website, are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

ART

Exhibits

• HOLIDAY ART SHOW AND SALE Featuring handmade gifts by more than 30 local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). Now through Dec. 23. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• CRAFTWORKERS’ GUILD HOLIDAY FAIR Features seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media, jewelry and more by juried local artists and craftspeople. Now through Dec. 23. In-person shopping at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an online shop. Visit craftworkersguild.org.

• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• “LET IT SNOW” The New Hampshire Art Association presents its holiday exhibition. Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). Now through Jan. 2. Features works in a variety of media, as well as books and cards for sale. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• EMILY NOELLE LAMBERT Solo exhibition by New York City artist Emily Noelle Lambert. Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). On view now through Jan. 9. Masks required inside the gallery. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.

• “THE DYSFUNCTION OF SOCIAL PRACTICE” Kelley Stelling Contemporary presents an exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture and performance works by five New Hampshire artists. Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). Now through Jan. 14. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening and weekend visits available by request. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

• “SALON 2021” Exhibition features offbeat and experimental works in a variety of media by regional artists with diverse studio practices and artistic approaches. The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com). Now through Jan. 14. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening and weekend visits available by request.

• “BIG GIFTS IN SMALL PACKAGES” The Seacoast Artist Association’s annual holiday exhibit, featuring a variety of small works of art priced under $100 for gift buying. Now through Jan. 7. 130 Water St., Exeter. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA” Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.

• “9/11” Exhibit features images of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, taken by war photographer Jim Nachtwey. On view now. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “ECHOES: ABSTRACT PAINTING TO MODERN QUILTING” Exhibit features abstract paintings inspired by the bold colors, asymmetry, improvisational layout, alternate grid work and negative space in composition of modern quilting. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). April 22 through May 14. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• “FOR THE LOVE OF IMPRESSION” Exhibit features prints created using traditional techniques and materials, combined with contemporary aesthetics, new materials, and technology. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). Feb. 11 through March 5. Visit twovillagesart.org.

“NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). May 27 through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.

Workshops and classes

• WINTER ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

THEATER

Shows

•​ PETER PAN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Thurs., Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• THE NUTCRACKER The New Hampshire School of Ballet presents. Sun., Dec. 26, at 6 p.m., at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tickets cost $22. Visit nhschoolofballet.com.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

• SCENE CHANGES Produced by New World Theatre. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 7 through Jan. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• MARY & ME Produced by Glass Dove Productions. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 28 through Feb. 13. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• LAST GAS Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Feb. 11 through Feb. 13. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for youth ages 17 and under, $16 for seniors age 65 and up. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 through March 6. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• MUSICAL MOM Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). May 5 through May 15. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• THE BALD SOPRANO Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). June 17 through June 26. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Classical

• NEW YEAR’S EVE CHAMPAGNE POPS The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra presents its New Year’s Eve concert. The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth). Fri., Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $38. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• “WINTER VOYAGES” The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.

• DRAWN TO THE MUSIC 2022 – STORIES IN MUSIC The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., April 9, 2 p.m., and Sun., April 10, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.

Happy Hogmanay!

Celebrate the new year Scottish-style

You don’t have to live across the Atlantic to celebrate Hogmanay — Scotland’s New Year’s Eve tradition is coming to Manchester this year, on Sunday, Jan. 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Derryfield Country Club.

“In Scotland this is a very big deal,” said Amy Lehman, program coordinator for NHSCOT, which is putting on the event. “People will travel to Scotland to celebrate Hogmanay.”

This is the second time NHSCOT has held a Hogmanay celebration, the first being in 2019, pre-Covid.

“We had a really good crowd [of hundreds of] people of all ages, and I felt like we had [activities] for everyone,” Lehman said. “We’re very excited that we’re going to gather again this year.”

Kelpies. Courtesy photo.

She said NHSCOT has been working to expand its events so there are more of them year-round, to complement the popular New Hampshire Highland Games and Festival that typically takes place at the end of the summer. People who have enjoyed the Highland Games will find some of the same fun traditions at Hogmanay — though it will likely be significantly colder. Most events are held outside, with plenty of warming fires and a s’mores station to keep things cozy.

“Fire is the center of Hogmanay celebrations,” Lehman said, noting that in Scotland they’ll have fire festivals to drive away bad spirits.

Street curling, which was at the Highland Games for the first time this year, will be available for people to try, and other “try-its” include drumming, Highland dancing and Scottish country dancing.

“Scottish country dancing you do with a group of people … at a wedding or at parties,” Lehman said. “We’ll have a caller for that. Highland dance is usually done with someone who’s more highly trained.”

A “haggis throw” (cornhole) will be set up near the fires, and sledding will be available as long as there’s enough snow on the ground. Rebel Collective and the Pipes and Drums of NHSCOT will take turns playing live music in a heated tent throughout the event.

Indoors, there will be Scottish board games and a jigsaw puzzle challenge.

Stramash, a Scottish board game. Courtesy photo.

Tickets include a buffet for adults, with fish and chips, lamb stew and shepherd’s pie. Kids get chicken strips and french fries, though Lehman said a lot of the kids are interested in trying some of the “adult” foods. There will be a cash bar as well.

The day will conclude with a torchlit parade.

“We’ll all gather outside and everyone will be led [in a short parade] by pipes and drums, so it’s very festive,” Lehman said. “We have some banners kids can hold, and we end up around the fire and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at 7 p.m., which is midnight in Scotland.”

As the event winds down, NHSCOT will have a “First Footing,” which says the first visitor to enter a home in the new year bearing gifts will bring good luck — particularly if that visitor is tall, dark and good-looking.

Visitors will be given small gifts on their way out to honor that Scottish tradition.

Lehman said that last year they had a good mix of people who attended, including plenty with no Scottish background and having never attended the Highland Games.

“It’s a family-friendly event that makes everybody happy,” she said.

Schedule of events

Indoor

  • Scottish jigsaw puzzles – ongoing
  • 4 p.m. Team Puzzle Challenge
  • 4 p.m. Stramash – Scottish Board Games
  • 4 p.m. Snare Drumming Try It – Pipes & Drums of NHSCOT
  • 5 p.m. Royalty Announcement: Lord, Lady, Lassie & Lad
  • 5:30 p.m. Tenor Drumming Try It – Pipes & Drums of NHSCOT

Outdoor

  • Sledding, ongoing as snow conditions allow
  • 4 to 6 p.m. Dinner (ticket required)
  • 4 p.m. Highland Dance Try It – Shelley Stiles
  • 4:30 p.m. Scottish Country Dancing – Merrill Henderson
  • 5 p.m. Highland Dance Try It – Shelley Stiles
  • 5:30 p.m. Scottish Country Dancing – Merrill Henderson
  • 6:30 p.m. Parade
  • 7 p.m. Toast to Hogmanay & singing of “Auld Lang Syne”
  • First Footing

Hogmanay

When: Sunday, Jan. 2, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Where: Derryfield Country Club, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester
Cost: Adults, $42, which includes buffet-style meal; children, $20, which includes chicken and french fries
Contact: info@nhscot.org, 219-1772

Featured Photo: Hogmanay Bonfire. Courtesy photo.

This Week 21/12/23

Big Events December 23, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 23

Need to do a little last-minute shopping? Two Villages Art Society’s (46 Main St. in Contoocook, twovillagesart.org) Holiday Art Show and Sale,featuring handmade gifts by more than 30 local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more, is open today from noon to 4 p.m. The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Holiday Fair 3A Meetinghouse Road, behind the library, in Bedford; thecraftworkersguild.org), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through today. The Artisan’s Market at the Cider Mill Gallery (24 Francestown Road, Route 136, in New Boston, 487-5522) is open Friday, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24

Looking for some holiday eats? While deadlines for special orders have probably passed, a pie or cookie plate may be available for last-minute pickup and there are restaurants with special meals or limited hours for today and tomorrow. Check out Matt Ingersoll’s listing of food-related gifts, holiday eats to bring home and places to dine out in the Dec. 9 issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com, where you can find the e-edition. The stories start on page 22.

Sunday, Dec. 26

Get in one last dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy when the New Hampshire School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suite at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) today at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $22.

Monday, Dec. 27

New England’s own Recycled Percussion kicks off a string of more than a dozen shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today with a show at 7:30 p.m. Future dates include Tuesday, Dec. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 1, at 4 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 2, at 4 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 8, at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 through $45.

Tuesday, Dec. 28

See Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (aunt of George) in White Christmas (1954) at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today at 10 a.m., part of the Senior Movie Mornings Series. Tickets cost $10.

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Looking for something interesting to pour at your New Year’s Eve gathering? WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; winenotboutique.com, 204-5569) has some opportunities for trying new beverages this week. Today it’s a sake tasting, starting at 5 p.m. Tomorrow, Dec. 30, it’s a tasting of exotic sparkling wines. Both events are free but online pre-registration for a specific time slot is required.

Save the date: Thursday, Jan. 27

Tickets are on sale now for the 18th annual Winter Wine Spectacular to benefit Easterseals, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. Tickets cost $65 for the grand tasting (the room featuring wine and restaurant vendors serving hundreds of different bottles for tasting) and $145 for “full access,” which includes access to the Bellman’s Cellar Select Room (which opens at 5:30 p.m. and features a selection of $200 high-end wines). See nhwineweek.com.

Featured photo: Recycled Percussion. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 21/12/23

Preserving New Hampshire

The Land and Community Heritage Investment Program has awarded more than $4.7 million in matching grants for 40 projects throughout New Hampshire that support historic preservation and land conservation. According to a press release, these grants will bolster outdoor recreation, food-producing farmland and working forests and will help preserve old buildings. For example, several old towns halls have received grants: Salem’s, built in 1738, and Wilmot’s, built in 1906, are the oldest and newest buildings to get grants, while the Mont Vernon Town Hall has received a $25,000 grant to support the restoration of its windows and sashes. Other building projects are at historic churches, like the First Church of Nashua, which got a $60,000 grant to support the restoration of its bell tower, the release said.

Score: +1

Comment: Grant recipients have to raise a minimum of $1 for each dollar provided by LCHIP, the release said, and this year’s awards will be matched by $19 million that the projects’ sponsors will raise on their own.

Winter optimism

More than 3 million visitors are expected to travel to New Hampshire and spend about $1.2 billion this winter season, the state Division of Travel and Tourism Development announced last week. According to a press release, the department will launch its winter ad campaign in January, including in Quebec and Ontario, now that the Canadian border is open to non-essential travel again. The campaign will mainly promote winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing, plus some non-outdoor activities like shopping and dining.

Score: +1

Comment: “We know the outdoor recreation assets in New Hampshire like our ski resorts and winter trail networks are among the largest drivers of our state’s economy,” Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said in the release. “They bring tourists to spend a weekend but also increasingly more new residents seeking to restore their work/life balance.”

Make the most of matching donations

For every dollar raised by the New Hampshire Food Bank by the end of the year, an anonymous private foundation will match the donation, up to $100,000, potentially providing a total of $200,000 in funding. That would equate to about 400,000 meals, according to a press release. This is the seventh year in a row that this foundation has provided matching donations, which, in conjunction with public support, has resulted in more than $4 million raised and 80 million meals given to those in need.

Score: +1

Comment:The pandemic has increased the need for food assistance throughout the country, and in New Hampshire one in nine people face food insecurity, the release said. Donations can be made at nhfoodbank.org.

Unlikely elves

New Hampshire State Prison residents created more than 400 hand-drawn cards and more than 200 hand-drawn coloring books for kids at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth this holiday season. According to a press release, Cards for Kids and Coloring Books for Kids originated through the Resident Communication Committee’s Lifer & Long-term Incarceration Subcommittee, which also made a treasure chest so CHaD staff can hand out prizes when they play games with the kids.

Score: +1

Comment: The items were recently delivered to CHaD by a state prison lieutenant.

QOL score last week: 82

Net change: +4

QOL this week: 86

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!