WMUR reported that on Jan. 22, nearly 150,000 people signed up within the first 10 hours of Phase 1b opening for a Covid-19 vaccine. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, by Jan. 27 this number had increased to 200,000 with another 50,000 signed up by their health care provider. This phase includes anybody 65+ years of age, as well as those with certain health conditions, and others who qualify because of where they work. All totaled, there are about 300,000 in this group. That is an impressive response from our New Hampshire residents, and it gives me hope that the end is on the horizon for a pandemic that has taken so much.
While we’re off to an ambitious start, I continue to hear concern and hesitation about taking the vaccine. Given how quickly both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines received emergency authorization, it is understandable. According to PBS NewsHour, the methodology that both of these vaccines utilize, however, messenger RNA (mRNA), is not new. mRNA has been studied for 50 to 60 years, not only for vaccines but also for cancer treatment. Scientists and researchers have been studying how to utilize mRNA with RSV, MERS and SARS viruses since the early 2000s. Both Moderna and Pfizer built on science that had been collected for many years, thus enabling Moderna to design its vaccine in just two days. After development, both vaccines were required to go through the normal three phases of trials encompassing nearly 70,000 people in the Phase 3 trials. Both companies reported efficacy of approximately 95 percent.
This vaccine is not mandatory. People are free to choose whether or not to receive the vaccine based on their personal circumstances and personal health situation. The decision should be made after fully understanding the facts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers factual information on the vaccines (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html), and the State of New Hampshire’s Covid-19 website (nh.gov/covid19/) is very informative.
We must achieve herd immunity for the pandemic to end. The World Health Organization states that herd immunity should be achieved through vaccination rather than through exposure to the pathogen that causes the disease. To achieve herd immunity, most experts agree between 75 to 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated. Will New Hampshire be first in the nation again and lead the country out of this pandemic? It seems as though we are well on our way.
Romantic eats
Special dinners, desserts and more for Valentine’s Day
From special dine-in menus to takeout dinners and desserts, local restaurants, bakeries and candymakers have you covered this Valentine’s Day. For those that require reservations, be sure to call or check online on availability, as seatings fill up fast. Do you know of a special Valentine’s Day dinner or menu in New Hampshire not on this list? Let us know at food@hippopress.com.
• Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com) is taking orders for specialty Valentine’s Day dinners for two, which feature your choice of either sweet pea and pancetta bisque or local greens and baby arugula salad; an entree (lamb tenderloins, macadamia-crusted Chilean sea bass or chicken and heirloom tomato saute); sides (roasted beefsteak tomatoes and wild mushroom risotto); and assorted mini petit fours and mignon mini pastries for dessert. The cost is $74.95 and includes wine ($69.95 without wine). Order by Feb. 8. Pickups are on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Ashley’s Eats & Sweets (ashleys.eats.and.sweets@gmail.com, find them on Facebook) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Valentine’s Day, like milk, dark or white chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry white chocolate macarons, cocoa bombs, heart-shaped iced sugar cookies and more. Order by Feb. 6. Orders will be ready for pickup or delivery on Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special multi-course dinner for Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Courses include brie en croute with orange preserves, antipasto insalata, petite filet mignon with demi-glace and chicken pomodoro and chocolate-dipped strawberries, macaroons and cheesecake lollipops. The cost is $75 per person. A cash bar will also be available.
• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) will serve a special five-course dinner and wine and chocolate pairing all Valentine’s Day weekend, with seatings on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The cost is $89 per person.
• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) is taking orders for several treats for Valentine’s Day, like chocolate-dipped strawberries, crispy cream puffs, strawberry white chocolate or chocolate mousse gateaux, heart-shaped cream tarts, assorted cupcakes and chocolate molten lava cake.
• Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com) is taking orders for “date night dessert boxes” for Valentine’s Day for $50 each, featuring assorted treats like cupcakes, cocoa bombs, chocolate-covered strawberries, cookies, brownies, cakesicles and chocolate-covered pretzels. Smaller-sized boxes of cupcakes ($10) and chocolate-covered strawberries ($10) are also available. Order by Feb. 6.
• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special four-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, with seating times from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $89 per person ($300 for each additional couple) and reservations are required. This year, the Bedford Village Inn is also offering a special “Valentine’s Day Takeaway” package that you can enjoy at home, featuring a three-course dinner for two and select wines, complete with cooking instructions and housemade bread and Vermont butter. The cost is $135 per couple. Order by Feb. 7. Pickups are on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will serve a special multi-course Valentine’s Day dinner on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring items like oyster oaxacafeller, frisee salad, surf and turf of short rib and stuffed shrimp, and chocolate strawberry martinis.
• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) is taking reservations online now for Valentine’s Day, serving its regular menu with specials.
• Buckley’s Market & Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522, find them on Facebook @buckleysmarketcafehollis) is taking orders for Valentine’s Day “dinner for two” takeout boxes, featuring shrimp cocktail, a bottle of Prima prosecco, a surf and turf dinner of pan seared filet mignon and crab cake, roasted potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, Madeira demi-glace and remoulade, and white chocolate creme brulee and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. The cost is $90 per box. Order by Feb. 10. Pickups are Saturday, Feb. 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. to noon.
• The Cake Fairy (114 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 518-8733, cakefairynh.com) is taking orders for several specialty treats for Valentine’s Day, like chocolate-covered strawberry cheesecake, heart-shaped cookies or cheesecakes, assorted breakfast pastries and more. Pickups are on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Candy Kingdom (235 Harvard St., Manchester, 641-8470, candykingdom.shop) has a variety of specialty treats available for Valentine’s Day, like chocolate-dipped strawberries, assorted heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and more.
• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is offering special Valentine’s Day dinners for two. Entree options include beef tenderloin with port demi, roasted duck breast with cherry gastrique, horseradish-encrusted salmon with sauteed haricot verts, or pan seared chicken breast with porcini cream and roasted asparagus. All dinners come with shallot whipped potatoes and your choice of either pot de creme or baby lemon cake. The cost ranges from $75 to $90 per order. Order by Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Pickups are on Friday, Feb. 12.
• Cask & Vine (1 E. Broadway, Derry, 965-3454, caskandvine.com) is taking reservations for Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, when various specials will be served.
• Cava Tapas & Wine Bar (10 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth, 319-1575, cavatapasandwinebar.com) will serve its annual aphrodisiac tasting menu for Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14, featuring items like yellowfin tuna, scallops and saffron, cherries and figs and more. The cost is $75 per person and reservations are required.
• City Moose Cafe & Catering Co. (30 Temple St., Nashua, 943-5078, citymoosenh.com) is taking orders for fully prepared four-course meals for Valentine’s Day, which include your choice of housemade lobster chowder or corn chowder, a “cupid” salad with local hydroponic greens, pomegranate and goat cheese, airline chicken with house pan gravy and petite filets of beef with house demi sauce, and chocolate ganache tart with Champagne berry compote. Order by noon on Feb. 8. Pickups are on Saturday, Feb. 13, between 11 a.m. and noon.
• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, with a chocolate lover’s brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a three-course prix fixe menu from 4 to 8 p.m. The cost is $45 for the brunch and $70 for the dinner menu. Reservations are required.
• The Common Man (25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; Lakehouse Grille, 281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; Foster’s Boiler Room, 231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; Lago, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253; Italian Farmhouse, 337 Daniel Webster Hwy., Plymouth, 536-4536; Airport Diner, 2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040; Tilt’n Diner, 61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204; 104 Diner, 752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120; thecman.com) is taking orders for “Sweetheart Suppers To Go,” or three-course Valentine’s Day dinners for two, that feature crab, spinach and artichoke dip, petite filet and lobster tail, and white chocolate mousse, almond and raspberry torte. The cost is $74.95 per meal for two and includes optional chocolate-covered strawberries for an additional $14.95 per four. Order by Feb. 7. Pickups are on Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Copper Door Restaurant (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677; 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033; copperdoor.com) will serve a special prix fixe dinner menu for one day only for Valentine’s Day, on Sunday, Feb. 14. The cost varies depending on the number of courses ($59 per two-course meal, $69 per three-course meal or $79 per four-course meal). Options include crispy Brussels sprouts, shrimp-stuffed mushrooms, chicken rangoons, roasted beet and potato soup, kale and lemon panzanella salad, five-onion gratinee, caprese stuffed chicken, sesame ginger pork chop, cedar roasted salmon, lobster ravioli, red velvet cupcakes, strawberry shortcake, and bittersweet molten chocolate cake. Reservations are strongly recommended.
• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) is taking orders for special Valentine’s “date boxes,” which come with your choice of either a bottle of Champagne or a four-pack of craft beer, plus heart ravioli, pasta sauce, real Italian ricotta and two cupcakes spiked with strawberries and cream liqueur. The cost is $74.95 per box. All boxes will be ready for pickup on Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Cotton (75 Arms St., Manchester, 622-5488, cottonfood.com) is accepting Valentine’s Day dinner reservations now, from Wednesday, Feb. 10, through Sunday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 8:30 p.m. each day. Online reservations can be made through OpenTable.
• The Cozy Tea Cart (104 Route 13, Brookline, 249-9111, thecozyteacart.com) will hold a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea on Sunday, Feb. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required.
• The Crown Tavern (99 Hanover St., Manchester, 218-3132, thecrownonhanover.com) will be open on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Valentine’s Day specials.
• Cupcakes 101 (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 488-5962, cupcakes101.net) is taking orders for customizable goodie baskets for Valentine’s Day, which can include items like cake pops, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate bark and more.
• Dahlia Restaurant (dahlianomadic.com) is taking reservations for a six-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day, with seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. on multiple days, beginning Feb. 7. Dinners will be served at The Birch on Elm (931 Elm St., Manchester) and are $175 per person. Among the courses are mushroom agnolotti with scallop, carrots and caviar; rib-eye with cauliflower puree, carrots and potatoes; and a buttermilk panna cotta with strawberry preserves, thyme and an almond crumble. Email reserve@dahlianomadic.com for the most up-to-date availability.
• Emilee’s Sweet Treats (find them on Facebook @emileessweettreats) is taking orders for cocoa bombs in a variety of flavors, like milk or dark chocolate with strawberry marshmallows, dark raspberry, amaretto, peanut butter, mint, salted caramel and more. Specialty orders are also available, like an “I Love You” four-pack of cocoa bombs, and a single heart-shaped cocoa bomb inside a heart box. Order by Feb. 3. Pickups are on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Manchester Craft Market (inside the Mall of New Hampshire).
• Fire and Spice Bistro (70 Route 108, Newfields, 418-7121, fireandspicebistro.com) will serve a special prix fixe dinner for two on Valentine’s Day Eve, Saturday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 9 p.m. The meal will include your choice of an appetizer (charcuterie platter, artisan cheeses, crab dip or half-dozen oysters on the half shell); a soup or salad; an entree (crabapple braised beef short ribs, wild mushroom risotto, Korean barbecue pulled pork gnocchi and cheese, mussels fra diavolo ramen bowl, or shrimp and grits); and a dessert (creme brulee cupcake, chipotle chocolate souffle or dark chocolate-covered strawberries). The cost is $99 per couple and reservations are accepted.
• Firefly American Bistro & Bar (22 Concord St., Manchester, 935-9740, fireflynh.com) will be open for socially distanced indoor dining and heated patio dining on Valentine’s Day, and will also be offering takeout and delivery services within eight miles. Firefly will also be offering specialty wine, cocktail and gift boxes for Valentine’s Day, details of which are expected to be available in the coming days, according to event coordinator Rachael Jones.
• Flag Hill Distillery & Winery (297 N. River Road, Lee, 659-2949, flaghill.com) will serve a three-course dinner with wine pairings for Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. Options will include blackberry beet salad, your choice of an entree (seared tuna steak, grilled steak tips or grilled zucchini rollatini) and chocolate hazelnut tart for dessert. The cost is $90 per person (21+ only) and reservations are required.
• The Foundry (50 Commercial St., Manchester, 836-1925, foundrynh.com) will be open for brunch on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as for dinner from 4 to 9 p.m., serving Valentine’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu, like blood orange panzanella, grilled sugar cured New York strip steak, pan seared cod, chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry French macarons and more. Reservations can be made online through OpenTable.
• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) is offering several specialty treats for Valentine’s Day, like conservation heart cakes, double chocolate chunk cookies with hearts, fresh strawberry tarts and more.
• Georgia’s Northside (394 N. State St., Concord, 715-9189, georgiasnorthside.com) is taking orders for a special surf and turf dinner for Valentine’s Day, which includes bourbon-marinated New York strip steak, garlic and herb grilled shrimp kebabs, roasted jewel potatoes, winter salad and Brussels sprouts with bacon, honey and sweet pickled mustard seeds. The cost is $25 per person. Order by noon on Sunday, Feb. 14, for pickup later that day. Georgia’s Northside’s full menu will also be available on Valentine’s Day.
• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com) is offering a variety of specialty chocolates and candies for Valentine’s Day, like milk, white or dark chocolate heart boxes, Valentine malt balls and nonpareils cherry hearts.
• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) will serve a special multi-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day, with multiple seatings all weekend, at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, and at 5 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. The cost is $99 per person, or $130 per person with optional wine pairings. Reservations are being accepted online through OpenTable.
• Hanover Street Chophouse (149 Hanover St., Manchester, 644-2467, hanoverstreetchophouse.com) will serve a special four-course prix fixe dinner menu for Valentine’s Day, on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. Reservations are required.
• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) is taking reservations now for specialty five-course meals all weekend for Valentine’s Day, on Thursday, Feb. 11, Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13. Courses will include your choice of an appetizer (crispy Brussels sprouts, cheese and berries plate, arancini, or roasted pepper and goat cheese flatbread); a soup or salad (creamy tomato basil bisque or field greens salad); an entree (steak frites, roasted cauliflower and black bean tacos, char siu pork tenderloin, brown sugar duck or cast iron shrimp); and a dessert (flourless chocolate torte, Italian lemon cream cake or sea salted caramel cheesecake). The cost is $45 per person.
• The Inside Scoop (260 Wallace Road, Bedford, 471-7009, theinsidescoopnh.com) is taking orders for Valentine’s Day ice cream pies in a variety of flavors, each of which is made with a homemade Oreo crust and a whipped topping. Order by Feb. 10.
• Jamison’s (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) will serve Valentine’s Day specials from Wednesday, Feb. 10, through Saturday, Feb. 13. Options will include foie gras, fried oysters, yellowfin tuna, duck confit tostada, lobster ravioli, statler chicken, roasted filet of beef, bread pudding and banana brulee. The cost is $55 per person for four courses and reservations are being accepted now. All items are also available to purchase a la carte.
• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898, labellewinerynh.com) will host its next Winemaker’s Kitchen cooking class on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m., when participants will learn how to make beet ravioli with goat cheese filling. The cost is $45 per person and includes wine pairings. Then on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. the winery will host “My Funny Valentine Dinner,” featuring a three-course dinner with a performance by Rich DiMare and Ron Poster and The Sinatra Ambassadors. The cost of that event is $85 per person and a full bar with wine, beer and cocktails will also be available for purchase.
• Live Free or Pie Stand (455 East Road, Hampstead, livefreeorpiestand.com) is taking orders for “sweetie-pie” flights featuring three five-inch pies in flavors like dark chocolate chess, dark chocolate peanut butter swirl and pecan. Pickups are on Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Love & Joy Vegan Sweets (Raymond, loveandjoyvegansweets.com) is taking orders for several specialty vegan treats for Valentine’s Day, including heart-shaped macarons, chocolate cashew creams, strawberry-dipped cakes, raspberry lemon entremets and more. Order by Feb. 10. Local pickups will be on Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Madear’s Southern Eatery & Bakery (141 Main St., Pembroke, 210-5557, madears603.com) will serve an all-you-can-eat Cajun brunch for Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring items like chicken and red velvet waffles, beignets, shrimp and grits, Southern greens, catfish nuggets and banana-stuffed French toast. The cost is $25 (plus $15 for unlimited mimosas or a bloody mary bar) and reservations are required. Then from 4:30 to 10 p.m., Madear’s will serve a five-course dinner with optional wine pairings. The cost is $114 per couple and reservations are required.
• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) is taking reservations online now for Valentine’s Day, serving its regular menu with specials.
• New England’s Tap House Grille (1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 782-5137, taphousenh.com) will serve a special “to go” version of its Valentine’s Day Sunday brunch, featuring various items available for takeout, like house frittata, mini pancakes, croissants, blueberry muffins, homefries, bacon and sausage. Add-on options include mimosa or bloody mary baskets. The cost is $55 per order. Order by Feb. 10. Pickups will be on Feb. 14.
• Nelson’s Candy & Music (65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com) is offering a variety of specialty chocolates and candies for Valentine’s Day, like heart-shaped boxes made out of chocolate and filled with various flavors of chocolate-dipped strawberries, as well as solid chocolate dinosaurs holding tiny chocolate-covered marshmallow penguins holding hearts, and chocolate mold pianos filled with brandy-soaked cherry cordials.
• Pearls Candy & Nuts (356 S. Broadway, Salem, 893-9100, pearlscandynh.com) is offering a variety of specialty chocolates and candies for Valentine’s Day, like assorted milk chocolate heart lollipops, classic conversation hearts, gummy sour candy hearts and more.
• Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) is taking orders for a variety of handcrafted desserts for Valentine’s Day, like jumbo chocolate-covered strawberries, Oreo cheesecake truffles, gold-dusted candy bars, assorted cheesecake push pops and chocolate-covered Oreos. Presto is also taking orders for special Valentine’s Day dinners for two, featuring either Caesar or field green salads, your choice of an entree (roast pork loin with rice pilaf and glazed carrots, sirloin steak marsala over penne, chicken Parmesan over penne, baked lobster mac, shrimp scampi over linguine, petite filet over lobster risotto with asparagus, heart-shaped cheese ravioli with garlic bread, or twin beef filet with roast potato and garlic beans), and a sweet (Oreo truffles, strawberry cheesecake, tiramisu or mini pastry sampler). Free chocolate strawberries are also included with all dinner orders. Order by Feb. 8. Pickups are on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13.
• Roots Cafe at Robie’s Country Store (9 Riverside St., Hooksett, 485-7761, rootsatrobies.com) will serve a special Valentine’s Day dinner menu on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. featuring seared scallops with parsnip puree and beet reduction, your choice of an entree (local short ribs with herbed mashed potatoes, ginger and honey carrots with a cabernet demi, or citrus roasted hen with petit roasted potato, spring pea and prosciutto hash), and chocolate cherry mousse with chocolate-covered cherries for dessert. The cost is $150 per couple and includes a red rose, card and Champagne ($100 per couple for just the dinner), and the menu is also available via takeout.
• Sawbelly Brewing (156 Epping Road, Exeter, 583-5080, sawbellybrewing.com) will be open on Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, from noon to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving various specials in addition to its regular menu, like grilled oysters, honey-roasted parsnips, beef Wellington and butternut squash ravioli.
• Surf (207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293, surfseafood.com) is taking reservations online now for Valentine’s Day, serving its regular menu with specials.
• To Share Brewing Co. (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com) will hold a “Valentine’s & Galentine’s” weekend from Thursday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 14, featuring themed table games, a beer and chocolate truffle with the Bearded Baking Co., live music and more.
• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com) is offering a variety of specialty chocolates and candies for Valentine’s Day, like assorted chocolate gift boxes, red velvet truffles, custom chocolate-dipped Champagne bottles and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special two-course brunch on Sunday, Feb. 14, with seatings at 10 a.m. or at noon. The meal will feature your choice of lobster Benedict, steak and eggs, a breakfast skillet, braised lamb shank or braised pork shank for a first course, and your choice of banana coconut cream pie French toast, bougatsa French toast, S’mores French toast or chocolate fondue for a second course. The cost is $120 per couple. Four-course dinner reservations are also being accepted that day, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., 5 to 7:30 p.m. and 8 to 10:30 p.m., featuring your choice of a first course (coconut lobster bisque, baked stuffed oysters, vegan grape leaves or Greek village salad); a second course (cheese fondue, house spanakopita or a cold meze platter); a third course (chicken roulade, braised lamb shank, braised pork shank, prime short rib, seafood risotto, or whole grilled branzino), and a fourth course (orange and chocolate-stuffed crepes, crema caramel, or a chocolate fondue for two). The cost is $250 per couple.
• Zorvino Vineyards (226 Main St., Sandown, 887-8463, zorvino.com) will serve a special four-course dinner for Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Courses include burrata blood orange and fennel salad, five spice seared duck breast, your choice of entree (prosciutto-wrapped stuffed sole or coffee-braised short rib) and strawberry cheesecake. The cost is $75 per person and reservations are required.
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Looking back
Live entertainment figures share memories
When the Hippo launched 20 years ago, Granite Staters often had to drive to Boston for live music or comedy. There weren’t nearly as many local venues, and a lot of the venues that were around weren’t interested in showcasing musicians who played original music. In the final piece of our month-long series looking back at some of the subjects Hippo has covered over the years, we talked some of the bigger names in New Hampshire’s music and comedy scene.
Scott Hayward
Scott Hayward is the founder of Tupelo Music Hall, which opened in Londonderry in September 2004 and moved to a larger space in Derry in the spring of 2017.
How would you describe the local live entertainment scene 20 years ago?
New Hampshire didn’t have as many venues as it has today and the music offerings were more specific. Typically, people would go to Boston to see a show 20 years ago. There weren’t many multi-genre venues. There were blues clubs, jazz clubs, rock clubs, etc. Today, venues are providing much more diverse programming aimed at a patron demographic rather than a musical genre.
What do you think the most significant changes have been over the last 20 years, pre-pandemic?
Twenty years ago, artists were able to make a living selling recorded material. Touring was not as important as it is today. Now, as CD and record sales have taken a back seat to Spotify, Pandora, and other streaming services, artists need to tour constantly. Ticket sales and merchandise sales at shows is what artists are living on these days.
How did your efforts impact the local live entertainment scene?
Tupelo Music Hall opened using a multi-genre model focused on a patron demographic. We were one of the first venues to do this in New England. About five years after Tupelo Music Hall opened, other venues started using the same model, booking similar artists.
What has surprised you about the way the state’s live entertainment scene has developed?
New Hampshire has a very vibrant music scene and offers venues from capacities of 50 to 12,000. I believe this is in response to more people moving into southern New Hampshire from Massachusetts as the Route 93 corridor has improved from Concord into Boston. There’s really no need to go into Boston to see a show anymore.
What do you think the live entertainment scene will be like 20 years from now, and what challenges will it face?
The recent Covid crisis that we are in will definitely change the music business. How it will change remains to be seen, but I suspect that cleaning protocols, refund policies, and general health awareness will all be permanently modified. Although streaming shows have definitely improved in quality and viewership during Covid, I believe artists will always be touring and people will always prefer to see a live performance. I suspect there will be more consolidation of venues and less independent venues. I hope I’m wrong about that particular suspicion.
Aside from your own venue, what’s your favorite spot to enjoy live entertainment?
The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion is a favorite spot for me and my wife when we can get away from our own venue.
Jim Roach
Jim Roach is the President of JJR Productions, and books shows across the region. The Christmas Buzz Ball, Concert for the Cause and Veterans Park Summer Concerts are among the events he’s involved with, as well as music and comedy shows at the Palace and the Rex Theatre in Manchester.
How would you describe the local live entertainment scene 20 years ago?
Twenty years ago, the music and entertainment scene in New Hampshire was in rough shape. There were few venues to perform in, and most of those venues wanted cover music or background music. Talented musicians were having to make a living off other musicians’ music.
What do you think the most significant changes have been over the last 20 years, pre-pandemic?
I believe the most important decision came when local officials moved forward with the civic center — formerly the Verizon Wireless Arena, now SNHU Arena. The Palace Theatre was one of the few places to see well-known, live entertainment in Manchester at the time. The clubs catered to cover bands, or the occasional hair band trying to make a comeback. With big acts coming to the civic center, restaurants and bars opened to serve those fans. Some were worried that those big shows would hurt the Palace and others. Just the opposite: Manchester was now a destination for entertainment. Strange Brew brought in blues bands, and other venues started to experiment with live music. I think Hippo was a big factor helping push other print and broadcast media into covering local, regional and national talent.
How did your efforts impact the local live entertainment scene?
My effort to bring more entertainment to the area has always been about building a team. To produce successful shows, you need that team to work together. First you need a venue, a place for people to gather. … Second, you need a performer or performers that have crafted their art onto something they want to share. Third, you need to find a way to market those shows: print, radio, television, social media, word of mouth. Finally, you need people that will buy tickets and come see your event. I truly believe my role is to bring the pieces together. When you have an audience that connects with an artist, it does not matter your race, creed, color or preference; you can be red or blue. In that room, we are humans experiencing art that might make us smile, laugh, sing, dance or even cry. At that moment, we are more human. We need that now more than ever.
What has surprised you about the way the state’s live entertainment scene has developed?
In New Hampshire, I am surprised at how long it has taken for people to embrace live entertainment. I want more people to get off their couches to see, hear and feel something that touches their soul.
What do you think the live entertainment scene will be like 20 years from now, and what challenges will it face?
I’m not sure about the next 20 years. What I know is that the next five years are going to be the most important. Getting through this virus is the biggest concern right now. Keeping venues alive until then is the only way we can secure the future of entertainment. In the next year, we are going to find a way to build on virtual events and socially distanced events … events that allow patrons to feel safe and be safe with mask wearing and being respectful of each other. If we work together with our elected officials and the health community, we can get to a place where a year from now we can gather with friends we know and others we don’t to immerse ourselves in the arts. I am excited to see new rooms opening: The Rex, Bank of NH Stage, Showroom in Keene, The Colonial and C.A.K.E. in Laconia, Jimmy’s on Congress in Portsmouth….
What’s your favorite spot to enjoy live entertainment?
Everywhere! I love a dive bar with a killer blues band, a lounge with jazz performers opening your mind, a theater or club packed for a play or an artist playing their hits we heard on the radio, a field with a stage, good vibes and a beer tent. My favorites include Hampton Beach Casino, Flying Monkey, Tupelo Music Hall, Strange Brew, The Rex, Bank of NH Stage, Meadowbrook, The Palace, Capitol Center for the Arts … and so many more.
Paul Costley
Paul Costley runs NotSoCostley Productions and books the lion’s share of live entertainment in New Hampshire’s night clubs and restaurants. He’s also a musician, a drummer who has co-hosted several open mics and played in a number of groups, including the Josh Logan Band.
How would you describe the local live music scene 20 years ago?
The music scene back in the 2000 was lots of fun. People tended to pay a little more attention to music back then. Today when you play at a venue it always amazes me how many people are on their cell phones and checking their social media versus really paying attention to the music that is taking place in front of them.
What do you think the most significant changes have been over the last 20 years, pre-pandemic?
There’s a lot more venues that have music than back 20 years ago. I feel there are a lot more options for people to get out and see music. Many small little cozy venues are springing up, with some great live acoustic music, which I think is great.
How did your efforts impact the local live music scene?
I’ve worked hand in hand with many of the venue owners that I book music for to see the best way to keep patrons and my musicians safe during this crazy pandemic, and still have live music take place. Hopefully, with the vaccines now being distributed, things will start opening up again in the spring and fall.
What has surprised you about the way the state’s live music scene has developed?
I’ve run an open mic with Nate Comp since 2010 and it’s very promising to see all the young talent that we have in this state. We’ve had so many young people attend our open mics as well as our friends’ open mics and they all say the same thing. There’s still a lot of young people trying to make their mark with the local music scene, which I love seeing take place.
What do you think the live music scene will be like 20 years from now, and what challenges will it face?
To be honest with you, I don’t really have a clue, as the technology changes on a daily basis. But it will be fun to just sit back and watch what takes place.
What’s your favorite spot to enjoy live entertainment?
I personally love seeing music in a small intimate setting where you can really get up close and personal with the musician that’s performing. … On the other hand, I think it’s wonderful that we have great live music venues like Tupelo Music Hall and the Bank of NH Pavilion, where you can listen to some of the best music in this country.
Rob Steen
Rob Steen is a standup comic and entrepreneur who runs Headliners Comedy Club and has spent 35 years booking shows throughout New England at venues that include several opera houses, restaurants and night clubs, the Chunky’s Cinema & Pub chain and his own showcase club in Manchester’s DoubleTree Hotel.
How would you describe the local comedy scene 20 years ago?
Well, back in the late ’80s there were many shows all over the state in small venues and bars. Nearly every venue would have a comedy night. It was great, as you could work literally seven nights a week and make a decent living. Patrons would follow comics from place to place and they really supported the local comedy. Comics would create a following, which really helped. Also, we had such great comics like Bill Burr, Lenny Clarke, Dane Cook, Tony V, Steve Sweeney and other great Boston and New York City comics working up here on a regular basis, especially if they were already in the area doing Boston or a corporate show. Occasionally you would have Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Steven Wright and other national acts popping in to do sets while in the area too, which was super exciting.
What do you think the most significant changes have been over the last 20 years, pre-pandemic?
In the past 20 years comedy has changed in that now every area and market has a handful of local comics who are very funny, so the need to bring in acts from out of New England has shrunk. New England continues to pump out some of the best comics in the country. I think it’s due in part to the fact that there are so many unique venues and opportunities now, as well as a very diverse and talented pool of comics here. Comics in the Northeast are able to work colleges, high schools, cruise ships, corporate shows, fundraisers and clubs. … This all makes for a well-rounded comic who is able to work any situation. Also venues now know what comedy is and are aware of what they are getting on every show due to YouTube, the web and social media. Comics now can create their own brand and market that brand directly to the customers, which really helps agents and promoters when booking the shows.
How did your efforts impact the local comedy scene?
When I began doing shows in New Hampshire in 1986 I was very young, and like most comics I was just trying to find my voice. I was living in the Boston area and booking shows around the North Shore in Massachusetts. I began promoting shows in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, as there were not many agents focusing on northern New England. My goal was always to give everyone I could a stage to perform on. Currently, I’ve had the longest-running weekly shows in New Hampshire. I partner with a few local venues like the DoubleTree in Manchester and Chunky’s Cinemas who share the same goal to create a comedy scene here in New Hampshire. I have seen many young comics grow from open mic to touring with national acts and even go on to do late-night television and sitcoms. … I would never take the credit for their success, but I feel honored to have played a small role. I continue to book and produce over 50 events a week for local and regional acts to cut their teeth on. I welcome the next generation of comics to my stages. From what I’ve been seeing, we have a very talented crew coming up.
What has surprised you about the way the state’s comedy scene has developed?
One of the most surprising things I’ve seen is how supportive the comics are. There is a sense of camaraderie that is so prevalent now. I see comics who are very talented and gifted helping the younger generation. There are some comics that coach, and in some instances mentor, the younger comics and show them the ropes. I also have seen a shift in that we [comedians] … have always offered to give back to the community by doing countless fundraisers for all types of organizations.
What do you think the comedy scene will be like 20 years from now, and what challenges will it face?
I think the scene will continue to grow and evolve. I feel that in recent times we have been forced to explore other areas to express ourselves and perform. Live comedy will always thrive in New Hampshire thanks to the support of local venues, as well as patrons that want to see comedy. Not only will we see live comedy grow, I’m sure we will see growth in the streaming of these shows online so patrons in small areas can join in. We are in the beginning stages of Zoom comedy. It will be great to see what this will be like moving forward. … [And places like] Manchester … [have] been growing so fast and really becoming a hub for smart and energetic people. There are many businesspeople, like Dean Kamen, for example, who are playing a major role here in New Hampshire. What he and others are doing is awesome and helping to make New Hampshire a place to be. This will inevitably help all of us here in the arts.
What’s your favorite spot to enjoy live entertainment?
Whenever I work locally, I like to go out after my shows. I like going to see a blues and jazz band at Strange Brew. I also like Penuche’s on Elm for their bands. Tupelo has really done a great job bringing in so many great acts over the years. Honestly, there are so many places now to enjoy live music or dancing. New Hampshire really has something for everyone now.
Featured photo: (From, left to right) Scott Hayward, Jim Roach, Paul Costley, Rob Steen.
The Music Roundup 21/01/28
• Soulful: Along with winning a NEMA for best male performer a few years back, Munk Duane is skillful at making money in the music business, with thousands of paid downloads and licensing deals. He often fronts powerhouse band Soul Jacker, but the pandemic dictates Duane play solo for now. Check out his latest video, “Fanblade,” a groove-soaked throwback with a serious Prince vibe. Thursday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Stumble Inn, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry. See munkduane.com.
• Stretch: Uniquely combining exercise and music, Disco Funk Yoga with DJ Funky Foley-B adheres to safety protocols with a class size limit of eight participants and a program with a bevy of disco-era booty-shakers, over 90 minutes of high-energy vinyasa yoga flow. Head back to the ’70s as the lights go down and a laser show mixes with a few dance breaks throughout the practice. Friday, Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m., Vibe Yoga, 182 Main St., Nashua, $25 and $30 at vibeyoga603.com.
• Relaxing: A microbrewery and restaurant housed in a historic fire station offers Tyler Allgood as part of its regular live music schedule. “Brewery shrinks” Jason Palmer and Stanley Tremblay make beer and food on site. Their latest tap creation is an amber lager dubbed Men Are From Marzen; their Cinnamon Cookie Cream Ale is also tasty. Allgood plays covers and many fine original songs. Saturday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m., Liquid Therapy, 14 Court St., Nashua, 402-9391.
• Paternal: Enjoy a hearty meal and music from Pete Peterson at a hub for the local scene. Over the winter the restaurant-bar has weekend entertainment, but as things warm up there’s someone playing every night. One of the more ubiquitous performers in the state, Peterson also performs with his daughter Yamica in the band Family Affair and hosts several open mics. Saturday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m., Derryfield Restaurant, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880.
• Regular: A Seacoast eatery does its part to keep musicians working as Alex Anthony holds down multiple dates, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, playing solo. Anthony is a singer and songwriter who received radio airplay a few years back for “Burning In The Sun,” which he released as Seven Mile Drive. He covers artists like Ray Lamontagne, James Taylor, City and Colour, and Damien Rice. Monday, Feb. 1, 9 p.m., The Goat, 142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 590-4628.
At the Sofaplex 21/01/28
We Can Be Heroes (PG)
Pedro Pascal, Priyanka Chopra. Other adults include Christian Slater and Adriana Barraza. But really, this movie is about the kids.
Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin) thought she had a deal with her dad Marcus (Pascal) that he wouldn’t be going on any more superhero missions since her mom passed away. But the day that aliens arrived on Earth, all of the heroes headed skyward to fight them off and all of them got captured. This leaves only their children — most of whom have magic powers, though varying levels of control of their abilities — to save the day.
This is part of writer-director Robert Rodriguez’s Shark Boy and Lava Girl cinematic universe — those kid characters from the 2005 movie are now a grown adult couple with a daughter, the super strong little Guppy (Vivien Blair), who can also manipulate water. Slo-Mo (Dylan Henry Lau) moves super fast but super slowly (it’s a cute visual effect), twins Rewind (Isaiah Russell-Bailey) and Fast Forward (Akira Akbar) can manipulate time, A Capella (Lotus Blossom) can move people and things by emitting different sound waves — and so on. This live action movie has a very Odd Squad energy, if you’ve seen that PBS Kids show, and while there is some cartoony-style violence (little Guppy kicking and punching human-appearing aliens) it’s a fairly peace-loving good-hearted take on little kid X-Men-style superheroes. And, as in the Spy Kids movies, the cast is diverse in an organic way that allows more kids to see themselves in this league of heroes. There’s some good messaging about confidence, teamwork and everybody having their own strengths and abilities as well. B+ Available on Netflix.
Shadow in the Cloud (R)
Chloë Grace Moretz, Beulah Koale. Moretz plays Maud Garrett, a female pilot who was part of the WASP program in World War II (the Wikipedia basics: the Women Airforce Service Pilots were federal civil service employees and they sound like bad-asses and why haven’t there been more WASP movies?). She shows up on a foggy New Zealand military runway with a mysterious bag, orders to get the bag to American Samoa on an airplane with the name “Fool’s Errand” painted on the side of it and a bunch of “it’s classified” responses to the questions of the men on board, none of whom are psyched to have her there. “For her safety” but probably also because it makes her an easier mark for hazing, they put her in the sperry (think a plastic egg stuck to the bottom of the plane with a gun mounted in it) as the plane takes off and begins its travel.
As the movie begins, it’s not clear whether this is a kick-butt lady-at-war movie, an improbable-mission thriller or a supernatural action movie. You’re in luck, it’s all three! The movie gets down to business and comes in at a tidy hour and 23 minutes (of which at least six minutes are credits; the first part of the credits feature images of actual WASPs and their British counterparts and, again, here is your next action movie franchise right here). This might not be the highest-budget movie ever but it makes up for its shortfalls by using Moretz’s spot in the sperry wisely (she’s hanging in the wide-open sky but actually all of the action is taking place in a chair) and keeping some things in shadow for a while. B+ Available for rent or purchase.
Honest Thief (PG-13)
Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh. Really, there are only six characters of any consequence in this movie. Neeson is a guy named Tom, who is a very tidy bank robber, and Walsh is Annie, the lady whose presence in his life leads him to give up bank robbing more or less the moment he meets her. Everybody else is an FBI agent: Nivens (Jai Courtney) and his partner Hall (Anthony Ramos) and Meyers (Jeffrey Donovan) and his partner Baker (Robert Patrick).
After a year of dating Annie, Tom wants to move in with her and spend the rest of their lives together. But he doesn’t want his bank robberies (all committed after banks were closed, no injuries to people and he even patches up and repaints the drywall he cuts through to get into the banks; his no-nonsense crimes earn him the name “the in-and-out bandit,” which makes it sound like he’s a raccoon stealing cheeseburgers) hanging over their heads and so he tries to turn himself in. This would have been a 10-minute movie if Tom hired a lawyer like a normal person; instead, he randomly calls the FBI and talks to Baker, an agent who’s all, “yeah, sure, buddy, you’re the in-and-out bandit.” He tells Tom they’ll get back to him and gives the “go check on this nutjob and his crazy story” task to Nivens and Hall. It takes them a few days but they do go to see him, no more impressed than Baker was, even when he hands them a key to a storage locker where he says the money is. But then they find the cash, cash that Nivens decides is just free money that they can take with no consequences. There are about a dozen reasons this is a terrible idea, and Hall seems to think of a few of them, but he goes along and the crazy plan to steal stolen money from a naive (but explosives proficient) thief quickly goes awry.
This is another movie of Liam Neeson’s “a Man with a Very Particular Set of Skills” oeuvre. This isn’t a good movie in the way Taken was when it first came out and kicked off the “old guy kicking butt” part of Neeson’s career. This isn’t even quite up to the level of the enjoyable silliness of something like The Grey. But it’s also thoroughly watchable, low-pressure enough that you don’t need to give it your full attention to still get your money’s worth, and has just enough fun to justify spending an hour and 39 minutes with it. C+ Available for rent or purchase.
The War with Grandpa (PG)
Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman. Back in the Before times, when families were spending time together in multi-generational groups, there needed to be movies that everyone could see together and be OK with — not deeply enjoy, just be OK sitting through next to your kid or your grandma or whatever. That’s what The War with Grandpa, a movie which came out in theaters this fall and is now available on VOD, is. De Niro is the titular grandpa, forced to live with his family (daughter played by Uma Thurman, son-in-law played by Rob Riggle, and their three kids) after he gets in assorted old-guy trouble (running over the mailbox, a little civil unrest at the supermarket after a run-in with self checkout). He doesn’t particularly like this new arrangement but his grandson, Peter (Oakes Fegley), likes it even less. Peter had to give up his bedroom for his grandfather and now lives in a bat- and mouse-infested unfinished attic. Rather than embracing this situation (which, like, his teenage older sister and elementary school younger sister have to share a room; life’s not that bad, Peter), Peter declares war on his grandpa, to the victor goes the finished bedroom. And sure, Peter has the advantage of understanding how to use the technology that can give his grandfather annoying midnight wake-up alarms, but grandpa has the benefit of knowing how to use a screwdriver and take apart all of Peter’s furniture.
This isn’t a great example of either the “benign family entertainment” or the “old guy comedy” genres — it’s not even the best of De Niro’s entries in this field — but it’s, you know, fine. There is nothing terribly objectionable about the movie and it features fun small roles with Cheech Marin, Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour. B- Available for rent or purchase.
Wild Mountain Thyme (PG-13)
Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan.
Also Christopher Walken and Jon Hamm — all actors who deserve better than this strange movie that I think is supposed to be a romantic comedy. Whimsy? Is this supposed to be whimsy, I thought as I watched this movie. Rosemary (Blunt) has loved Anthony (Dornan, of Fifty Shades of Grey fame; I didn’t really see it with him in those movies but he’s appealing enough here) since they were kids. They are the sole remaining children living at their parents’ neighboring farms in Ireland and Rosemary is somewhat patiently waiting for the day Anthony will realize he loves her too and their farms can become one or something. Anthony is kind of a twitchy oddball who appears to have spent a significant amount of his life in love (or at least in infatuation) with somebody else. When Anthony’s dad (Walken) starts to prepare Anthony for his impending death, he toys with the idea of giving the farm to his nephew, Adam (Hamm), a handsome American who maybe has a better shot at getting married and continuing the family legacy at the farm. Or maybe Walken-dad is just saying that to get Anthony to propose to poor Rosemary. Or who knows. I think probably this movie thinks that it’s charming — a charming movie about two people who live in their own dream worlds, or something. It’s really more taxing. It’s a lot of accent and wig choices and “quirky” behavior that maybe sounded cute, in a movie pitch meeting, but just comes off as, at best, extremely mannered and movie-like. C- Available for rent.
Outside the Wire (R)
Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris. In 2036, human U.S. Army drone pilot Harp (Idris) is sent to the front lines of an Eastern European conflict to serve under Capt. Leo (Mackie), who is a fancy A.I. robot. Leo is, of course, smart and strong but he’s also sort of moody and maybe a little too certain of his own mental processing abilities — flaws that make you think his makers never saw a single Terminator movie. Harp and Leo are the only ones, for some reason, who can head off on a mission with the goal of keeping old Soviet nukes out of the hands of the region’s warlord (who is played by Pilou Asbæk, former fan favorite-punching-bag Euron Greyjoy of Game of Thrones; poor guy, not really catching any breaks here either).
This movie has A Lot of ideas about war and the morality of war and the morality of drones and the U.S.’s roles in international conflicts and its use of drones in those conflicts. The ideas aren’t terrible as a way to help give heft to an action movie, but this movie doesn’t ever really seem to know what to do with it all. Its characters get some speeches but there is just too much going on for it to ever really build to a coherent point.
I’ll give Mackie, who I like in other stuff, the benefit of the doubt and say the “big tangle of ideas and plots” problem is what hurts his performance. Maybe he didn’t know how he was supposed to play this character, suggested my movie companion. I agree; it’s like Mackie thought “beats me what’s happening here; how about I just riff on Training Day?” Damson Idris might have action movie potential but the movie didn’t give him much to do either; I feel like “stand around and look shocked” was the gist of a lot of his direction. C-
MLK/FBI (NR)
The FBI’s surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quickly moved from investigation of someone they thought had subversive political opinions to what seems like tabloid-y attempts to document King’s alleged extramarital affairs. While documents about the surveillance were recently released, the FBI’s tapes won’t be released until 2027. Should they be released and what should historians do with this information obtained in such a shady, J. Edgar Hoover fashion? Those are some of the questions this documentary addresses as well as an examination of why the government would undertake this surveillance to begin with in interviews from historians, people like Clarence Jones and Andrew Young who knew King and, make of this what you will, former FBI director James Comey. The movie includes a fair amount of footage of King himself, not just the big speeches but interviews and other archival footage that could not feel more modern and relevant. B+
The movie is available for rent and is at some theaters. While it does not appear to have a rating, Amazon gives it “13+” and that feels about right.
The Midnight Sky (PG-13)
George Clooney, Felicity Jones. Clooney also directs this depressing (but pretty!) movie in which a scientist at the North Pole tries to warn a very small crew of astronauts away from returning to a mostly uninhabitable Earth. Whatever disaster has suddenly caused a spread of toxic and radioactive air across the globe is not something anyone seems to believe they’ll survive. Instead, Augustine (Clooney), a scientist who had long advocated for colonizing a life-supporting moon on Jupiter, is desperate to communicate with the crew of the Aether, which is just returning from a trip to that moon. If they head back, they may be able to survive; if they return to Earth, they’re done for, like everybody else. He has stayed behind in the Arctic station where he has been working to try to reach the Aether. He eats alone, sleeps alone and hooks himself up to some medical treatment alone (we learn early on that even without the “event” he didn’t have a long time left to live). At least, he thinks he’s alone. After some mysterious incidents involving food, he discovers that a little girl (Caoilinn Springall) is also at the empty station. Attempts to get someone to come back for this left-behind child fail and so Augustine finds himself caring for her while he also tries to solve the problem of reaching the Aether.
Meanwhile, up in space, the Aether crew thinks a malfunction on their end is keeping them from communicating with Earth — or at least Sully (Jones), the communication technician, seems to believe this. Team leader Adewole (David Oyelowo), Sanchez (Demian Bichir), Maya (Tiffany Boone) and pilot Mitchell (Kyle Chandler), whose wife and sons are back on Earth, seem to be choosing to believe this for now. Though the silence from Earth, even from non-allied countries, is getting to the crew, Sully is pregnant and for her and Adewole thinking about their unborn child seems to help mitigate the tension.
I’ll admit, I’m just not in a place where “world-ending disaster” is fun entertainment and for me this movie doesn’t offer anything artistically intriguing enough to get me over what a bummer it is. Yes, it’s lovely — from its space scenes to its trek by Augustine into the Arctic. And I did on a few occasions think, “huh, Clooney is turning into a more interesting actor as he ages.” But neither one of those elements was enough to get me excited about what I was watching. Though the movie’s trailer blathers about “hope,” this is a pretty hope-free movie (the ending is actually quite dark if you play it out based only on the information we have). And all this woe unfolds pretty slowly; it was hard not to fast-forward (and I will totally admit to both checking my place in the runtime and doing a little desk clearing while the movie was on). Is this fair? Would I have felt differently if I saw this movie in Alternate Timeline Winter 2020-2021, sitting maskless in a theater less than six feet from other patrons? (It was always a Netflix release so there’s a good chance I would have seen this at home in any timeline.) I can’t answer that but I can’t recommend that you spend what precious escape-from-reality time you have with it either. B- Available on Netflix.
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (TV-MA)
This new Netflix documentary follows the development and spread of crack cocaine and the government’s response to it from the beginning of the 1980s into the late 1990s — and it does this in about 89 minutes. This is an introductory survey to all of the wider cultural and political issues related to crack, without time to spend too much on any one facet. The documentary does have some good details when it focuses in tightly to look at the human cost, with help from interviews with dealers and those who suffered from addiction, and when it addresses the mid-1990 legislation meant to take on drug-related violence. Former Rep. Charles Rangel discusses the way the legislation was developed and the unintended consequences of some elements of it (such as the penalties for crack possession that were far greater than the penalties for possession of powdered cocaine). This part was interesting, particularly for how many familiar-to-modern-audiences faces (President Biden, Chuck Schumer) show up in archival clips, and I wished we could have seen a deeper dive on just those Clinton-era crime bills. The subject feels like it could sustain an enlightening six-part series. This movie, which speeds away just as a subject starts to get interesting, feels a bit like the Cliffs Notes on that. B —Available on Netflix.
The Fundamentals of Caring (TV-MA)
Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez. The Netflix algorithm decided I had to watch this 2016 movie, so I did and, hey, it isn’t half bad. My two thoughts while watching it were: one, Paul Rudd is good at making a nice guy interesting enough to hang out with for a whole movie, and two, have I seen this movie before? It is the kind of bland pleasantness you could easily see and forget but that doesn’t make it less worthy of a watch, especially if it’s of the “on in the background while you pair socks” variety. Ben (Rudd) is a newly minted professional caregiver but, we learn, an old hand at being stuck in quiet despair. His reasons for this are valid, which is perhaps why he clicks so well with new client Trevor (Craig Roberts), an 18-ish-year-old transplant from England who uses a wheelchair and has a degenerative disease that will likely give him only another decade or so of life. Trevor, who is rigid in his routine and reluctant to leave the house he shares with mom Elsa (Jennifer Ehle), usually takes his frustrations out on the caregivers, shocking or dismaying them. But Ben is beyond shock and dismay, so they begin to get along, well enough that Trevor decides to throw routine to the wind and take a little road trip.
Buddy road movies tend to need a girl, which is where Gomez comes in and she is perfectly fine as Dot, a girl with her own reasons to set out into the world. The Fundamentals of Caring has a few rough moments for those of us who have gone soft and can’t take kid-in-peril situations but it is otherwise sweet, lightly humorous and generally goodhearted, for all that I can totally see myself forgetting I ever saw it. B- Available on Netflix.
Film
Movie screenings, movie-themed happenings & virtual events
Bank of NH Stage in Concord
16 S. Main St., Concord
225-1111, banknhstage.com
Chunky’s Cinema Pub
707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com
Red River Theatres
11 S. Main St., Concord
224-4600, redrivertheatres.org
Wilton Town Hall Theatre
40 Main St., Wilton
wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456
• Red River Virtual Cinema Red River Theatres is currently offering indie, foreign language and documentary films via a virtual cinema experience. Recent additions include City Hall, a documentary about Boston city government. See the lineup on the website.
• Star Wars Trivia Night Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Manchester, 21+. Reserve a spot by purchasing a $5 food voucher per person.
• Dirty Dancing (PG-13, 1987) a 21+ screening of the 1980s film will take place Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. at Chunky’s in Nashua, Manchester and Pelham. Tickets $4.99
• The Freshman (1925) silent Harold Lloyd film accompanied by live music performed by Jeff Rapsis screens on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Admission is free but a $10 donation is suggested.
• 7th Heaven (1927) silent romance film accompanied by live music performed by Jeff Rapsis screens on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Admission is free but a $10 donation is suggested.
• The Bride’s Play (1922) silent film featuring Marion Davies accompanied by live music performed by Jeff Rapsis screens on Sunday, March 14, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Admission is free but a $10 donation is suggested.
• War Horse (National Theatre Live) rebroadcast of the London production at Bank of New Hampshire Stage in Concord, Sunday, March 21, 1 p.m. Tickets $15 for adults, $12 for students.