European tour with dinner

With stops in Loire River Valley and Piedmont region

Take a virtual trip to two famous European wine-producing regions. Imagine the chateaux of the French Loire Valley and the hilltop towns of Italy’s Piedmont region.

Our first wine comes from Montoire sur le Loir, France. Domaine Le Montoire 2018 Sancerre (originally priced at $51.99, and on sale at the NH Liquor and Wine Outlets at $25.99) is a real delight. This is comprised of 100 percent sauvignon blanc grapes and is a wine many shy away from as it frequently tastes of grapefruit or grass. This wine does neither! The color is of straw, with just a slight bit of green. To the nose it has fruit and floral notes along with a bit of lemon zest. To the mouth the citric notes are dominant, with the ever so slight bitterness of marmalade, turned to a very slightly sweet lemon dessert-like finish. This is not a sweet wine, nor is it a bitter wine. This is a very light wine that when chilled can be sipped on a late summer afternoon, along with some fine triple crème cheese and summer fruit: peaches, raspberries, or strawberries. For entrees, light seafood, such as scallops or shrimp, or white-fleshed fish would pair well with this wine.

This wine comes from a vineyard of about 34 acres, planted about Crézancy en Sancerre, a small village of about 500 people in the central Loire River Valley region. The soils are of clay and limestone, which give the wine its slight minerality. The Loire crosses the mid-region of France, just south of Paris. Its proximity to Paris has provided the valley the opportunity to become a major source of wine to the capital of France from its earliest times. Given its wide climate range and chalky soils, the 200-mile-long valley has become the source of an amazing variety of wines. The Loire is also home to an incredible number of grand chateaux and estates constructed from the 1500s to the 1700s in this same central region of the Loire River Valley, the source of this light, bright Sancerre.

Our second wine comes from the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, approaching the borders of France and Switzerland. Nezzoni Barolo 2014 (originally priced at $39.99, and on sale at the NH Liquor and Wine Outlets at $19.99) is a prime example of a Barolo wine that is produced from nebbiolo grapes. The Piedmont is a region of Italy blessed with compact villages and roads with hairpin turns as they traverse the many hills and valleys that make up the terrain of sand, clay, gravel and glacial moraine. Almost every inch of land is dotted with vineyards. According to its label it is “refined for at least 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks before bottling. Rich, complex, with delicate tannins and great balance. Pairs well with game, red meat, elaborate main courses, truffles and mature savory cheeses. Serve at 60.8-64.4 degrees F.” The color is ruby to amber and somewhat translucent. To the nose it is spare; to the mouth it is very dry with pronounced tannins. Paired with our barbecued ribs, it was perfect as the wine cut right through the fat of the ribs and the sweet and sourness of the sauce.

This wine is of the 2014 vintage, a vintage plagued by almost incessant rains up until just before harvesting. I fully expect this Barolo should be able to cellar as well as more fortunate vintages for a predictable 20 years. In fact, there may be a true bargain in picking up this Barolo at 20 bucks a bottle!

Bowlful of goodness

Manchester eatery to specialize in rice and pasta bowls

Inside Nickles Market on the east side of Manchester, a new takeout eatery is getting ready to serve up a variety of made-to-order rice and pasta bowls prepared with fresh ingredients.

Bowlful, on track to open in the coming weeks, is the project of Gerard “Jay” and Lori Desmarais, who will be running the restaurant with the help of their adult daughter, Amanda. Earlier this year the Desmarais family took over the takeout kitchen space in the back of the store, which most recently housed a Mexican restaurant.

Bowlful’s menu to start will consist of various rice, pasta and salad bowls, served in 32-ounce-sized biodegradable containers, with many of the options inspired by Jay Desmarais’ travels.

“Bowls are the one thing that you can put anything into. You can make a Korean bowl, a Japanese bowl, [or] a Tex-Mex bowl,” he said. “So we’re not really going to focus on any one type of food. We want to create a lot of different flavor profiles that people are going to enjoy.”

Over the last couple of weeks, he said, they’ve spent time cooking potential menu items at home and revealing some of the options to the eatery’s social media pages. They’ll include a cilantro lime rice bowl with your choice of meat, chipotle black beans, green chili corn, fresh salsa and a dollop of sour cream; a grilled teriyaki chicken bowl with bacon fried rice, broccoli and a sprinkle of sesame seeds; an “unstuffed pepper” bowl with shredded cheddar cheese; and a pork bibimbap bowl with sauteed mushrooms, carrot ribbons, sesame sauce and a Sriracha drizzle.

“One of my favorites is an enchilada rice bowl. We take the sauce that you would normally [use] when you’re making enchiladas, and we toss it in the rice,” Jay Desmarais said. “We also have something called the California bowl. That one comes with chickpeas, avocado and a brown rice and tri-colored quinoa blend. So it’s got a nice nutty texture.”

On the pasta side of the menu, macaroni and cheese will be offered, while a few salad bowls will be available as well. Desmarais said he would like to explore the possibility of eventually doing soups in the winter, as well as sweeter dessert bowls.

All bowls can be made fresh to order using inductance cookers, but if you come to the restaurant after hours, Desmarais said you can also pick up premade bowls out of a grab-and-go cooler and purchase them at the Nickles Market counter.

Bowlful
An opening date is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Visit the website or follow them on social media for updates.
Where: 1536 Candia Road, Manchester (inside Nickles Market)
Hours: TBA
More info: Visit thebowlful.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram @thebowlful, or email [email protected]

Kiddie Pool 20/08/06

More than peanuts and Cracker Jack

The Fisher Cats are hosting “Dinner on the Diamond” on Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, with entry times at 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. For $5 entry and then $15 or $20 per meal, you can eat dinner on the field at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester. The menu includes all-ages-friendly fare such as chicken tenders, hot dog and burger plates as well as lobster rolls and steak tips (beer, wine and cocktails are also available), according to the website. Bring a glove to play catch on the outfield before and after meals; entertainment will also be provided on the video board, according to nhfishercats.com, where you can make reservations.

Outdoor adventure

Beaver Brook Nature Center (117 Hollis Ridge in Hollis; beaverbrook.org, 465-7787) has outdoor programs scheduled throughout August. Upcoming events include:

• Bugs, Butterflies and Beetles of Field and Pond” on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m. The cost is $10 plus $8 per additional child.

• “Forest Forts” on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 1 p.m. Learn the basics for building a shelter. The cost is $15 plus $12 per additional child.

• “Introduction to Letterboxing” on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m. Learn letterboxing and then search for a six-box letterbox series based on Charlotte’s Web, the website said. Appropriate for ages 6 and up; the cost is $15 plus $12 per additional child.

• “Through the Meadow Storytime” on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 7. The cost is $10 plus $8 per extra child.

These events are not drop-off and require parents to be present to help with mask wearing and social distancing, according to the website.

Movie nights

See the most recent adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear inToy Story 4 (G, 2019) at Merrimack Parks & Recreation’s presentation of Movies in the Park in Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road) on Friday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m. The movie will be postponed in the event of rain. See merrimackparksandrec.org.

Catch The Goonies(a 1985 PG; Common Sense Media gives it an age 10+ rating) on Sunday, Aug. 9, via O’neil Cinemas’ drive-in at The Ridge shopping plaza in Rochester (92 Farmington Road). The screening is one of four held in August by O’neil. Tickets to the Rochester presentation cost $30 per car with up to five occupants (additional people cost $6) and can be purchased in advance at drivedinerewind.com, as can concessions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the screening starts at 8 p.m.

Soundtrack to your summer

7 performers talk about playing in a time when local music is center stage

In the midst of live music’s strangest season — with most national acts having canceled their tours — local talent is getting a lot of love.

“From farmer’s markets to on stage gigs, everyone has been so attentive and so appreciative,” Paul Driscoll said. “I’ve gotten some of the best and most generous feedback this year.”

MB Padfield, a Granite State native who heads home from L.A. every summer, agrees.

“People are bored of being bored and I think they’re far more receptive now that they’ve had this time to really reflect on priorities in their life,” she said. “Quarantine was a really big pause button.”

Here’s a look at seven performers currently playing around the state.

Gabby Martin

Performing since 2017, Gabby Martin is from Rochester and currently lives in Thornton.

What should people know about your music?

First of all, I see myself as a local kid — I really do love the state of New Hampshire. I love the venues and just being able to meet members of the community that I normally would not interact with. … Musically, I love performing covers. I do write music as well but there’s something really special about recreating music that people know and love in my own way.

What did you do during quarantine?

One thing that makes me unique from some of the other artists is that I’m also in grad school so that keeps me busy. During quarantine I did a live concert every Sunday and also learned some new equipment, played with some software. I am not one of those that wrote an entire album or anything like that.

When did you start playing out again?

May 22 at Schilling Beer Co. in Littleton.

How’s your summer going so far?

It’s going well. The biggest challenge would be the weather. I’ve been playing at Schilling Brewery in Littleton about once a weekend and that’s been a good addition, something that I didn’t have on the books before the beginning of the summer. It’s going well and it’s very nice to be back out with people.

What are some of your favorite venues?

Schilling Beer … the Copper Doors, Kettlehead Brewing, and I love Hart’s Turkey Farm — it’s a classic New Hampshire venue.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

I’m finding it’s going very quickly compared to last summer.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

I’m pretty active on Facebook and Instagram and I also have a YouTube page.

Typical set list

“Bennie and the Jets” – Elton John

“Bobbie McGee” – Janis Joplin

“Big Yellow Taxi” – Joni Mitchell

“Valerie” – Amy Winehouse

“Angel from Montgomery” – John Prine

“Wish I Knew You” – The Revivalists

“Love Song” – Sara Bareilles

“Put Your Records On” – Corrine Bailey Rae

“Sunrise – Norah Jones

“Ironic” – Alanis Morissette

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 7 – Lone Wolf Brewing, Wolfeboro

Aug. 8 – Tumbledown Café, Sanbornville

Aug. 9 – Ore Mill, Warren

Aug. 11 – Common Man, Ashland

Aug. 13 – Sea Dog Brewing, Exeter

Aug. 27 – Revolution Taproom, Rochester

MB Padfield

Performing since she was 16, MB Padfield is originally from Manchester and is now based in North Hollywood, California. She comes back to New England to perform from the end of June to Labor Day since she moved to L.A. in 2017.

What should people know about your music?

The elevator pitch is I’m a pretty versatile live performer but my original music is grounded in pop and songwriting, so I’d like people to know that I’m a songwriter and that I write original music as well as play it in addition to live performances.

What did you do during quarantine?

I was just writing. I was songwriting and working on recording. I’m prepping, I want to do a record and I’m in the place I think mentally now where I’m really ready to do that, and I have the songs. So I spent the entire quarantine time just writing and making good music and then learning new stuff — spending time on, you know, things that I think were on the to-do list but I haven’t gotten to yet. … I wanted to learn a new computer program, I wanted to learn more about bass, and I think I was able to have that time so I could really dive in.

When did you start playing out again?

June 24 at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester [a weekly residency for the summer].

How’s your summer going so far?

Everything has honestly been really great other than the fact that I lost more than half of my work — shows that I booked at the beginning of 2020 and canceled and then rebooked and then with the shutdown they canceled again. … But crowds want to be entertained and they are a bit more receptive. … In a world of background noise, I feel like now has been the time where we’re able to really step out from that.

What are some of your favorite venues?

I love playing at Bernie’s Beach Bar, it has a big stage, and at Wally’s; Hampton Beach feels like the Las Vegas strip.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

I’m still taking requests for private parties and events and I’m still looking to book new venues and more venues. For the most part things have been status quo, or they have been in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully the Covid numbers will continue to decline and we’ll be able to start really moving past this.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

All my shows are on my website, mbpadfield.com

Typical set list

“Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman

“Pretty for a Living” – MB Padfield

“Whole Lotta Love” – Led Zeppelin

“Havana” – Camila Cabello

“Into You” – MB Padfield

“The Real Slim Shady” – Eminem

“War Pigs” – Black Sabbath

“Full Throttle” – MB Padfield

“Can’t Take My Eyes off of You” – Lauryn Hill

“The Cat Song” – MB Padfield

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 8 – Bernie’s Beach Bar, Hampton Beach

Aug. 9 – Wally’s, Hampton Beach

Aug. 10 – Bernie’s Beach Bar, Hampton Beach

Aug. 12 – Murphy’s Taproom, Manchester (Wednesday residency)

Aug. 13 – Stumble Inn, Londonderry

Brad Bosse

Brad Bosse, originally from Milford, has been performing full time for eight years. He currently lives in Hooksett and has a summer place in Wells, Maine.

What should people know about your music?

I’m upbeat. I bring a good time. I do everything from Sinatra to Notorious B.I.G. to Sublime to Kenny Chesney. I kind of do it all, but I kind of make it into my own style.

What did you do during quarantine?

I was super bummed just because I’m a driven guy [and am] used to working all the time. The first couple of days, it was nice to have some time off, but I forecast my schedule six to eight months out and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I have no income.’ … I went on unemployment [so] I was making some money. I did a couple of livestreams … I called them Pajama Jams … but sitting in front of your phone in your bedroom playing guitar just doesn’t have the same effect as playing live. Then I said, when have I had this much time to just relax and write music, to not have to perform? Just picking up my guitar … it was nice to just do it for the pure joy of music again.

When did you start playing out again?

The first Monday that New Hampshire opened up outdoor dining May 20 at Penuche’s, then I played Wednesday at Stumble Inn in Londonderry, then Thursday at Tuscan Kitchen in Salem.

How’s your summer going so far?

It’s been really good. I was worried about the weather, because you just never know, and I personally super lucked out … every [time] it’s rained it was either before or after my gig. I’ve only gotten rained out twice. In regards to people coming out it’s a sense of normalcy that’s nice. … I love my job. It’s work, but at the same time I like that with music I get to forget anything else in life for three hours and just get lost in the music. I missed that, and it’s nice to have that again.

What are some of your favorite venues?

Instabar — that’s a new and really fun place. Stumble Inn is great … and Tuscan [Market & Kitchen in Salem].

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

More of the same. … I was doing Friday, Saturday and Sunday doubles every single week last summer, and I decided to stop, but when somebody offers me a gig, I have such a hard time saying no even though I know the day is going to kick my ass. This summer … I picked up a couple, because I had gigs set up before Covid hit, then I booked all these new dates.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

My Brad Bosse Music Facebook page is the best place.

Typical set list

“Steal My Kisses” – Ben Harper

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – “Rolling Stones

“No Diggity” – Blackstreet

“Franklin’s Tower” – Grateful Dead

“Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra

“Humble” – Kendrick Lamar

“Danny’s Song” – Kenny Loggins

“Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman

“Closer to the Sun” – Slightly Stoopid

“Small Worlds” – Mac Miller

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 7 – The Oven, Epping

Aug. 8 – Community Oven, Hampton

Aug. 9 – Instabar, Hampton & Cheers, Concord

Aug. 11 – McGuirks, Hampton Beach

Aug. 14 – Stumble Inn, Londonderry & The Oven, Epping

Aug. 15 – Community Oven, Hampton

Aug. 16 – Instabar, Hampton

Aug. 18 – McGuirks, Hampton Beach

Paul Driscoll

Paul Driscoll, who was born in Stoneham, Mass., grew up in Everett, Mass., and spent most of his life in Colorado, is now based in Milford and has been performing for three and a half years.

What should people know about your music?

I always want to give people something new, whether it’s my original music or something that I know that they probably haven’t heard yet. … If it’s one of my own songs and it goes over that’s something I’ll always come back to, because it’s just the best to be able to, like, make someone bob their head or get up and dance to your own song.

What did you do during quarantine?

That first month or so I think like a lot of people I was just wishing that it was just kind of going to blow over really quick. I was stuck in a place of not really being motivated besides doing online shows. I wasn’t writing a lot and my head was a little foggy. Over the past few months I’ve really come out of that and I’ve started writing more from different points of view. I feel like I’ve become a lot more thoughtful as a songwriter and as an entertainer.

When did you start playing out again?

May, at Trombly Gardens in Milford.

How’s your summer going so far?

I’ve been playing a lot. … There are some places that I’ve never played before that reached out to me just because they need local music in some capacity.

What are some of your favorite venues?

Fresh Chicks Market in Peterborough is really awesome and the farmers always tip well with baked goods and all that stuff. So that’s really cool. And definitely Trombly Gardens in Milford.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

The shows have picked up exponentially so now it’s pretty much back to a normal schedule, just playing outside pretty much instead of all the indoor shows. I’m also three songs into my second album as far as writing and I’ve got a little bit of a concept going. So a lot of writing and a lot of playing. Just trying to stay creative.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

My Facebook page, Paul Driscoll Music.

Typical set list

“Hold On” – Tom Waits

“Thirteen Silver Dollars” – Colter Wall

“Lenny’s Song” (original)

“Old Paint” (traditional)

“Dancing in the Dark” – Bruce Springsteen

“Whitehouse Road” – Tyler Childers

“Million Pound Man” (original)

“These Days” – Black Keys

“Poor Man’s Son” – Noah Gunderson

“Ain’t Nobody’s Problem” – Sawmill Joe

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 8 – Moonlight Meadery, Londonderry

Aug. 10 – Fresh Chicks Local Outdoor Market, Peterborough

Aug. 22 – Concord Arts Market

Sept. 6 – Trombly Gardens, Milford

April Cushman

Originally from Brookline and now living in Swanzey, April Cushman has been playing guitar since she was 5. As an adult, she’s been performing for five or six years and is now a full-time musician.

What should people know about your music?

As a songwriter I feel like I’m really trying to stay on my own path and … to know that my music is telling stories that are true to me, telling stories that other people can relate to…. I grew up with a lot of country, folk and rock, and I’m trying to stay on the Southern rock side of things versus the country pop scene that’s really popular right now.

What did you do during quarantine?

I lost almost four months’ worth of shows, so I tried to try to keep as much contact with my fans as I possibly could. Thank goodness for social media. I was able to do a bunch of online shows, going live across the country. … My husband, my daughter and I do a lot of fishing and four-wheeling, so we tried to stay outside and enjoy life as much as we could and just kind of hang tight until things started to open again. It was a difficult time.

When did you start playing out again?

My first was an acoustic show at a venue I never played before in Hampton called WHYM Brewery. It was nice to sit there and play for three hours and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, people are real!’

How’s your summer going so far?

Great. I had recorded and released my first single about a month ago … got that all out of the way and came back home. I started gigging again, and it has been rolling.

What are some of your favorite venues?

I’ve been hitting up the craft brewery scene really hard, because all these places have really great patios and little stages away from everyone [like] Backyard Brewery in Manchester [and] Smuttynose in Hampton.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

I’m really looking forward to playing Fletcher Murphy Park in Concord on Aug. 8 with my band. It will be the first time we’ve been on stage together since the beginning of February.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

The best way is through my website — aprilcushman.com. A lot of people follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Typical set list

“Walking In Memphis” – Mark Cohn

“In A Small Town” – Original

“Soundtrack to My City” – Original

“Dust On The Bottle” – David Lee Murphy

“Fire And Rain” – James Taylor

“Once Upon A Time” – Original

“Come To My Window” – Melissa Etheridge

“Ain’t No Stopping You” – Original

“Skin And Bones” – Liz Longley

“Humble and Kind” – Lori McKenna

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 6 – Village Trestle, Goffstown

Aug. 7 – Murphy’s Taproom, Bedford

Aug. 8 – Fletcher-Murphy Park, Concord

Sept. 4 – Murphy’s Taproom

Ryan Williamson

Ryan Williamson, who grew up in Concord and still lives there, has been performing for almost three years.

What should people know about your music?

I tell everyone from the beginning that all the sounds I’m going to play are going to be played live. I use a lot of looping stuff but I don’t use any pre-recorded sounds; I make all of it myself. I play all kinds of genres … anything from Lee Brice country to Taylor Swift and Usher. Stuff that you wouldn’t expect to hear out of a solo guitarist.

What did you do during quarantine?

For the first couple weeks I just enjoyed not playing gigs all the time and kind of decompressed — I actually really liked that for a while. I started messing around with GarageBand, recording my original stuff, working on a range of different things trying to stay creative. I did a couple of online shows, which was really weird, because I’ve played at places where there are no people in the crowd, but this time there were definitely no people … but I got some good feedback on it. It was fun to try new stuff. That went on until the gigs came back.

When did you start playing out again?

End of May, at Backyard Brewery in Manchester.

How’s your summer going so far?

The last couple of weeks I have been really busy, and the next couple of months are really busy too, so I don’t feel like I’ve lost a whole lot. A lot of places have done a really good job creating outdoor seating areas for their patrons, and on the off chance that it’s raining, some places are still doing inside seating if people are comfortable with that.

What are some of your favorite venues?

I love Backyard Brewery and little places like Firefly in Manchester. Fratello’s in Nashua — the city has done a really good job opening up the Main Street area to have outdoor seating. You’re like hybrid busking out there. I’m on the street corner playing to patrons of a restaurant and to anyone who’s walking down the streets. That’s a new experience for me.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

I’m going to be just playing gigs; I can’t go anywhere. Normally my family and I would go to our house in Canada, but we’re not allowed to go there, so I’m just going to be here playing gigs at various places around New Hampshire.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

I’m pretty bad at Facebook, but I try to keep my website up to date — ryanwilliamson.com.

Typical set list

“Moondance” – Van Morrison

“Hard to Love” – Lee Brice mashup with “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty

“I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran

“Rhiannon” – Fleetwood Mac

“Slow Burn” – Kacey Musgraves

“Dancing in the Dark” – Bruce Springsteen

“Delicate” – Taylor Swift

“Faithfully” – Journey

“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett mashup with “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by John Mayer

“Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 7 – Cactus Jack’s, Manchester

Aug. 8 – Backyard Brewery, Manchester

Aug. 11 – Murphy’s Taproom, Bedford

Aug. 14 – WHYM Brewery, Hampton

Aug. 15 – Cactus Jack’s, Manchester

Aug. 16 – KC’s Rib Shack, Manchester

Aug. 17 – Homestead, Merrimack

Aug. 18 – Fratello’s, Nashua

Aug. 20 – Firefly, Manchester

Maddi Ryan

Maddi Ryan of Methuen, Mass., who has been performing since she was 16, just finished her senior year of college at Boston University and moved back to her home town.

What should people know about your music?

I always want to be genuine and honest with listeners and I want to do something people resonate with, like, yeah, I’ve gone through that. I want to connect with people and be that friend through my music. I usually lean toward more of the pop country realm, because I love the attitude behind it. Singers like Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood — I feel the emotions.

What did you do during quarantine?

I was finishing up my senior year of college, which was interesting, but I was also writing, writing, writing all the time. I annoyed my parents with the loud sounds coming out of my room. Me and the drummer I play with, Charles Greenwood, we were playing some livestreams and writing, reflecting and thinking of the next steps of where I want to be when this is all over.

When did you start playing out again?

June 27 was my first gig, at Liberty & Union Ale House in Taunton.

How’s your summer going so far?

It’s going pretty well. Most of these gigs are outside so it’s very dependent on the weather, which luckily has been holding up.

What are some of your favorite places to play?

Bonfire in Manchester is always such a fun time. All the places I play are awesome; it’s hard to pick a favorite.

What’s the rest of your summer look like?

Playing shows of course, and it looks like a lot of recording — I’ve put all my energy into [working in] my basement, trying to get some writing done and make demos. Looking forward to putting out some music in the near future.

How can people keep up with your shows and projects?

My Maddi Ryan Music Facebook page and my website too.

Typical set list

“Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty

“Stuck Like Glue” – Sugarland

“Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash

“Lonely” – Maddi Ryan

“Come Together” – The Beatles

“Hotel California” – Eagles

“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band

“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton

“Zombie” – The Cranberries

“My Church” – Maren Morris

Upcoming appearances

Aug. 7 – Bonfire, Manchester

Aug. 28 – Old School Bar & Grill, Windham

Featured Image: MB Padfield. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 20/08/06

Millyard Museum on a mission
The Manchester Historic Association has announced that it plans to restore and display the “Sweaters” portion of the illuminated Pandora Sweater Factory sign, which read “Home of Pandora Sweaters” and was on top of the Pandora Mill building at 88 Commerical St. for about half a century, according to a press release. Although the Pandora piece of the sign is beyond repair, Manchester Historic Association Executive Director John Clayton said in the release that restoring even a portion of the sign “is a tribute to both Pandora Industries and Manchester’s historic textile industry.” When the sign was removed from the building in the early 2000s, some of the letters disappeared, but one of those missing letters was recently returned, allowing the Historic Association to move forward with the restoration. But the “E” and the “S” are still needed to complete the sign, and the Association is asking for the public’s help in locating them.
Score: 0 (+1 for the Historic Association’s efforts, -1 for the missing letters)
Comment: The Millyard Museum hopes to have the sign on display by the end of the year, according to the release, and is asking that if anyone has any questions or information about the missing letters, they call the museum at 622-7531.

Learn about our lakes
Help keep New Hampshire’s 1,000 lakes safe with NH Lakes’s latest free webinar series, which starts with “Managing Recreational Safety on New Hampshire’s Lakes” on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. New Hampshire Marine Patrol will explain basic boating laws and safety and tell you what to do if you see something unsafe out on the lake, according to a press release from NH Lakes. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., the webinar “The Ecology of New Hampshire’s Lakes” will cover how our lakes formed and how they change throughout the seasons, plus stories of some of the strange things people have reported seeing in the state’s lakes. And on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m., “The Ecology & Management of Plants in New Hampshire’s Lakes” will cover how to recognize what’s growing and blooming and how to recognize invasive plants.
Score: +1
Comment: Registration is free but required at nhlakes.org.

Big losses in employer-provided health insurance
New Hampshire ranks fifth in the country for the number of people who lost health insurance from February through May, according to data compiled by Zippia, a resource site for job seekers. The numbers for this time period were compared to the 2018 uninsured rate, which is the most recent data available, according to Zippia, and the results do not include dependents who lost insurance. According to the data, New Hampshire saw a 43-percent increase in uninsured adults.
Score: -1
Comment: The state with the highest number of people who lost health insurance is Massachusetts, followed by Hawaii, Rhode Island and Michigan.

SWAM strong
Individuals, groups and swim teams around the state held small events throughout July as part of the Virtual SWAM20 event to benefit Swim With A Mission, a veterans support organization in New Hampshire. According to a press release, groups like The Granite State Penguins Masters Swim Club, The Seacoast Sharks Youth Girls Swim Team, The Manchester Police K-9 Unit and members of the Navy SEALS, have held their own events in lieu of the usual annual event at Newfound Lake. The Granite State Penguins Masters Swim Team, for example, met at Big Island Pond in Hampstead for a 10K team relay race. The Manchester Police K-9 Unit competed in a 5K relay race at Baboosic Lake in Merrimack.
Score: +1
Comment: The event honors the 89 New Hampshire service members who died during the war on terrorism, according to the press release.

QOL score: 50
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 51
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

NBA bubble thoughts

Let’s take a look at the first week of action as the NBA got restarted a week ago.

Even though he did hit the game winner, I got it sorta right last week saying the Paul George-Kawhi Leonard defensive duo would give LeBron issues when the Lakers and Clippers play. But while he had just 16 points, I neglected to mention how they’d stop Anthony Davis, who killed them with 34.

I’m with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the feud with James Harden. And not just because the loathsome Harden doesn’t even try on defense, flops on every shot and whines when he doesn’t get the call. It’s his sour grapes for the Freak deservedly winning the MVP award over him a year ago.

The prize for the dumbest thing said on TV all weekend goes to ABC announcers Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy praising Mike D’Antoni for not “overreacting” after Harden picked up his third foul six minutes into the first half. With Jackson you expect it, but Van Gundy? Brad Stevens leaves guys in with three first-half fouls all the time and it makes me crazy because it almost always leads to one of two things, both bad: losing aggressiveness on offense and especially defense to avoid getting No. 4, or they quickly get their fourth. Like Jaylen Brown did in the season opener vs. Philly and was useless for the rest of the game. Predictably Harden got his on a break breakaway at 3:36. That forced the coach to waste his challenge trying to overturn a blatant push-off, because, as Jackson incredibly said, you can’t let stars get four fouls in the first half. Right, Mark.

The single worst example of that kind of coaching malpractice came in the 1983 NCAA Final when towel-chewing Houston coach Guy Lewis left Clyde Drexler in after picking up his third midway through the first half. I’m sitting there yelling take him out when after the glide goes airborne two plays later Terry Gannon cleverly grabs the back of his thighs to make the contact more forceful. Boom — number four! Houston never got back into rhythm after that, leading to the Jimmy Valvano “I need someone to hug” moment after Lorenzo Charles dunked Dereck Whittenburg’s never-came-close 35-footer to give NC State the 54-52 upset win.

Don’t agree with Marcus Smart that Antetokounmpo didn’t get called for the charge/block on Friday because he’d have fouled out. But what I do object to is overturning the charge part when they went to see if his foot was out of the circle on replay. They shouldn’t be able to do that because if they’re going to use replay on every bang-bang charge it’ll turn things into an endless baseball game. Plus that semi-circle thing under the basket is just dumb. The only thing it does is make it impossible to make that call, because you can’t focus on whether the upper body is moving and whether the feet are out of the circle. So for once I don’t blame the refs, because it’s optically impossible to do both.

However, two possessions earlier Antetokounmpo jabbed Daniel Theis hard enough in the stomach to make him double over, and no call. It was inadvertent, but so what? How they could not call blatant contact like that is beyond belief, especially since they looked at it on replay to see if there was intent. And, oh, by the way, if they make the right call, the Freak’s not in the game for the Smart block/charge that led to the decisive six-point swing that gave Milwaukee the game.

Interesting that Robert Williams got DNP’s in the C’s first two games. Should we read anything into that?

Also interesting was hearing that Kevin Garnett is a lead investor in a group trying to buy the Timberwolves. Though, given KG’s recent public animosity toward outgoing owner Glen Taylor and that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf leads a competing group it seems like, ah, a long shot.

If you missed it, Doc Rivers moved past Red Auerbach into 11th place all-time in NBA wins. It surprised me the once all-time leader is now that far back in the pack.

Nice night by Indiana’s T. J. Warren going for 53 vs. Philly, but it’s also basketball inflation. Those of us who saw Pete Maravich play know that without threes it’s the meager 44 Pistol got back in the day despite throwing all the bombs he regularly buried.

The final Nets/Kyrie tally is in. The overachieving 42-40 bunch of last year were 8-12 in the games Kyrie Irving played for them and were 24-22 when he didn’t. Talk stats and “skills” all you want, but winning is what defines how great someone really is.

But give him his props for putting his money where his mouth by pledging $1.5 million to replace the salary lost by any WNBA player who opts out of their season over coronavirus.

If anyone still wants to know why they take so many threes in the NBA, look no further than Boston shooting a once unimaginable 60 percent on three-point shots Sunday vs. Portland. That produced 48 points on 30 shots and to do that with two-point shots you’ve got to shoot 80 percent. Not even Villanova did that as they upset mighty Georgetown in the 1985 Final during the greatest shooting game in NCAA history.

He didn’t get into that game, but it was nice seeing local lad Wenyen Gabriel in uniform for the Blazers.

The NBA gets points for negating the sterile surroundings of the bubble by creating a TV set with fake crowds and buzzing fan noise. It actually works, especially with pictures of folks like Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum’s little guy Deuce blended into the virtual crowd like The Beatles did on the Sgt. Pepper’s album

I know, dating myself. But the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Bandalbum had, after, all the greatest album cover ever, didn’t it?

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