A new handcrafted chocolate and confection shop in Bedford is offering everything from specialty barks and all kinds of flavors of truffles to peanut butter cups, honey caramels, fudge and a line of sugar-free products sweetened with monk fruit.
Sweet Boutique, housed in the former Triolo’s Bakery space on Kilton Road, also roasts its own nuts, produces its own caramel corn in several flavors, and will have colder options like fruit smoothies, acai bowls and gelato cookie sandwiches throughout the summer. A two-day grand opening celebration is set for Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18.
Sweet Boutique. Courtesy photo.
The shop is run by Michael Pais and his partner, Lynn Mackenna, a chocolatier with more than three decades of experience working at the former Willey’s Candy Shop on Salisbury Beach.
Pais, who oversees the shop’s sugar-free products, said the pair had discussed opening a shop together over a period of a few years, looking at potential locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts before eventually coming across the Kilton Road storefront last fall.
With a retail store downstairs and a production area upstairs, Sweet Boutique can craft just about any kind of chocolatey treat imaginable. Some products will start with original recipes that Mackenna has brought from Willey’s Candy Shop, dating back to its opening in 1913, while others come from her experimenting and tinkering with different flavor ideas.
“I’m always trying to come up with something new. My brain just keeps on going and doesn’t stop.,” she said. “The honey caramel is something that I completely did myself. A lot of the truffles, the barks and the creams are my own creations.”
Some of the chocolates are pre-bagged, but you can also create your own customizable boxes.
Sweet Boutique. Courtesy photo.
Spanish peanuts are roasted in house and used in several items, like the peanut caramel corn, multiple flavors of the chocolate peanut butter cups, and the peanut butter fudge.
The idea to introduce smoothies and bowls, Pais said, came about when he and Mackenna tried to think of ways to supplement what might otherwise be a slower summer season.
“We had always thought we were going to do something,” he said. “We were talking about some type of frozen dessert. Then Lynn said why not go with the acai bowls and smoothies, because they are pretty popular right now, especially with the younger crowd.”
They also make other cold items like chia seed pudding parfaits, gelato cookie sandwiches with flavors like vanilla bean and pistachio, and their own take on a healthier type of banana split.
“It’s a banana split that I’m making out of superfruits … and then maybe with a yogurt topping, some granola, nuts and whipped cream,” Mackenna said.
During holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter, Sweet Boutique plans to offer all kinds of unique seasonal candies and chocolates. Pais said there are also opportunities for local businesses to order customizable chocolate molds for company events or fundraisers.
Sweet Boutique
Where: 21 Kilton Road, Bedford Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (hours may be subject to change) More info: Visit visitsweetboutique.com, follow them on Instagram @sweetboutique_chocolates or call 222-1521
Featured photo: Sweets and candies from Sweet Boutique. Courtesy photo.
• From vine to glass: Get your tickets now for the next session in the Walks in the Vineyard series at LaBelle Winery’s Amherst location (345 Route 101), scheduled for Sunday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to noon. Wine educator Marie King and vineyard manager Josh Boisvert will lead attendees through a fun and educational walk through the vineyards, focused on the life cycles of the vines. You’ll learn how the wine you enjoy in your glass starts as grapes on vines, and also get a chance to taste four LaBelle wines throughout the session. The event is the second of a four-part series — no previous attendance or prior knowledge of wines are necessary. Tickets are $27.25 general admission per person, including taxes, and reservations are suggested. Visit labellewinery.com.
• Taking flight: After about four and a half years in downtown Nashua, The Flight Center Taphouse & Eatery has expanded to a second location in Manchester and added a new speakeasy concept. The new spot, which opened June 23 in the former British Beer Co. at 1071 S. Willow St., features a dining room and bar with brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches, appetizers and dozens of craft beers on tap one one side. The other side, facing away from the main road, is home to a 1920s-inspired speakeasy-style bar called The Lost Luggage that features a craft cocktail menu of its own, according to Flight Center owner and founder Seth Simonian. The starting hours of operation are Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 4 to 11:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., but will likely be adjusted in the near future. Visit flightcenterbc.com or find them on Facebook @flightcentermht.
• Powder Keg Beer Festival to return: Following its cancellation in 2020, the 9th Powder Keg Beer Festival will return this fall, with a scheduled date of Saturday, Oct. 2, at Swasey Parkway in Exeter, according to a press release issued on the event’s website and Facebook pages. “Even though it will be modified, we are excited to offer the Powder Keg after taking a year off,” Exeter Parks & Recreation executive director Greg Bisson said in a statement. While chili will not be served as in past years, the festival will welcome a variety of local food trucks alongside the more than 200 local beers, ciders and hard seltzers that will be available to choose from. VIP admission will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by general admission from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Aug. 1 and will be $35 per person, or $10 for designated drivers. Visit powderkegbeerfest.com.
• Combating hunger: Grow Nashua, an organization focused on creating urban vegetable farms in the Gate City, has become one of 50 nonprofits across the country to launch a mobile app designed to direct home and community gardeners to donate a portion of their freshly grown produce to support hunger relief efforts, according to a press release. The Fresh Food Connect mobile app coordinates donations from the gardeners to local nonprofits working to address food insecurity at the local level. Gardeners who download the app can easily arrange for extra produce to be picked up from their doorstep or delivered to a local organization providing free groceries. According to the release, Grow Nashua is also expanding to three locations with Fresh Food Connect’s help, where growers can give their extra veggies. Visit grownashua.org/share.
Ann Marie Shea is the owner of A&E Errand Services, based in Merrimack.
Explain your job.
I run an errand service for people who need an extra set of hands, either at home or within their business. We do a little bit of everything — grocery shopping, walking dogs for someone when they’re on vacation, going to the post office, Christmas shopping, [product] returns, taking cars for inspections and oil changes — anything that would be on someone’s to-do list that they don’t have time to do themselves.
How long have you had this job?
I’m coming up on almost exactly three years.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
It was more of a personal influence than a professional one that led me to this. … After a lot of years pouring myself into a 40-hour-a-week job — I was a teacher for a while, then worked for a big corporation — I just wasn’t satisfied with that rigid 9-to-5 schedule and with working for someone else. … While raising my daughter, I hated how running around in the car always sucked so much time out of the day. I must have thought to myself a thousand times, ‘I wish there was someone I could hire to do all this for me.’ I decided to give [starting an errand service] a try.
What kind of education or training did you need?
For seven-and-a-half years I worked for a corporation in customer service and in de-escalation … and that was the best preparation for this job. … That’s where I realized how tired people are of poor service. All people want is for you to listen to them, show up when you say you will, do what you promised to do and take the job seriously.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
I do a lot of work where I get dirty or am running around, so usually I just wear some shorts and my A&E T-shirt or sweatshirt. If I’m working for a business and I have to go into an office or see their clients, I’ll step it up and wear business casual.
How has your job changed in the last year?
[Covid] was a unique situation for me. … Suddenly, what I did [for work] felt really opportunistic, and I didn’t feel comfortable advertising. … Everyone was being so neighborly toward each other and helping each other out, so I thought I’d just sit on the sidelines for a while. … I don’t think I made it even a week [without working]. … My [business] just took off. Families didn’t want to leave the house, so I was basically doing everything for them that had to be done outside the house. … That summer … was the busiest I’ve ever been. … [Business] has started going back to normal levels again, but I do have a lot of new clients.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I think that, in the beginning, I undervalued the services we were offering. … I didn’t think there would be a market for what we were doing. … I wish I had trusted my instincts a little more … because I’ve found no other businesses, locally, that do exactly what we do.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
I think a lot of people underestimate how valuable their time is. I wish they knew how beneficial it would be for them to outsource some things and to pay someone to go do [their errands] so that they don’t have to give up that time and step away from their work or family for three hours.
What was the first job you ever had?
I bagged groceries at Shaws.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
I have two: one is to under-promise and over-deliver, and the other one to try to be the best at what you decide to do or be, no matter what it is.
Five favorites Favorite book: The Great Gatsby Favorite movie:Fight Club Favorite music: Classic rock Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan Favorite thing about NH: The ‘Live Free or Die’ mentality
If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that I kill plants (just like you probably do). Houseplants. Annuals. Flowers in the ground. And yes, even trees. Although some oaks live 400 years, most plants naturally have a much shorter life span. And although some die due to my negligence, most do not. But I do push the limits of zone hardiness, trying plants that rather would winter in Pennsylvania — and occasionally killing them.
I have a native dogwood tree that shows up all over my property. It is called the pagoda dogwood and is one of my favorites. This small tree never gets much taller than 10 feet, has just finished blooming with understated white blossoms and has blue berries loved by birds in July or August.
But it has a short lifespan for a tree; 25 years is a good run for this one, even in the wilds. Fortunately it seeds in, so I always have plenty. When one dies, I can cut it down, thank it, and get rid of it. No mourning.
For the last 20 years or more, I have had a hazelnut tree called Harry Lauder’s walking flower stick (“Purple Majesty”) in one of my flower beds. This tree is a naturally occurring freak: Its stems twist and turn in unusual ways. Great in winter for its silhouette, mine also had purple leaves and was a great tree. I pruned it to keep it just 6 feet tall. But last summer it showed signs of distress, and this spring it did not leaf out. It is dead.
But because it is striking in profile, I decided not to cut it down. Not yet, anyway. I planted annual vines around its base and I am training them to climb up into the tree. If all goes as planned, in a month or so I will have purple hyacinth beans blooming in the tree.
In the meantime my wife Cindy and I decorated it with colorful strips of cloth. Each is just a couple of inches wide and perhaps a foot long. She attached threads to the top of each so we could tie them on like Christmas ornaments. Even the slightest breeze has them fluttering and twisting. It’s lovely.
Although nowadays I buy almost exclusively native plants, last summer I was tempted by a lovely Japanese clethra and brought her home. This spring it did not leaf out, a major disappointment. My test for a dead branch is to rub my fingernail on the bark, scraping off the outer layer. If it is alive, it will show some green. But this clethra showed brown everywhere, and I decided it was dead.
As I was lopping off the branches prior to digging it out, I noticed a few leaves growing at the very base of the tree. Life! So I am letting it stay. Unfortunately, I do not know if the tree was grafted onto a different rootstock, which is common in the landscape trade.
New growth from the roots may bring this Japanese clethra back to life. Courtesy photo.
So, for example, a branch or branches of a Japanese clethra might have been grafted to a summersweet clethra. This avoids having to start a new plant from seed and ensures that the new plant has the desirable characteristics of the plant grafted to rootstock. If the rootstock grows, one gets a plant different from the purchased plant.
All apples are grafted onto rootstock because the seeds are hybrids and will not breed true. The rootstock used for apples determines the size of the tree. Some will produce miniatures, others full-sized trees. So if your apple was killed by rodents last winter and the roots sent up new shoots, what you get will probably not be interesting to eat. Yes, Johnny Appleseed traveled around America with a sack of apple seeds, but those apples were for making hard cider, America’s beverage of choice, not for eating apples.
If your rose died last winter, you might be able to bring it back to life. Most roses are sold on roots that are different than the flowering portion. You should be able to see a scar, the graft union, on your rose. If the union was planted below the soil line, the rose may sprout from the fancy rose you bought, not the rootstock. So wait and see what happens. By now, this late in the season, a “dead” rose should have sent up shoots if it is going to.
Most plants we grow are vigorous and seem to have an innate “desire” to keep their genetic lines viable. That is why they produce seeds, and many (especially weeds) send out roots that can send up new plants. So if a perennial plant dies, you may be in luck. A baby plant may replace the mother plant. It’s what they do.
A few words of warning, however. Any plant that starts from seeds dropped by a hybrid plant will probably not breed true, although it can. A hybrid is a cross between two genetic lines, and seed producers develop them in carefully isolated circumstances to protect their lineage.
I like to think that if I never kill any plants, I am not trying hard enough. I try to grow new and different plants, often things that would rather grow a few hundred miles south. When those rare (for here) plants do survive and bloom, I feel like a million bucks. Hopefully they did not cost that much, as I will probably lose them at some point.
Featured photo:Pagoda Dogwood berries are loved by birds. Courtesy photo.
Get kids picking summer fruits as a way to spend some time outdoors and get a haul of strawberries for your Fourth of July weekend shortcakes. A few weeks ago, cherries joined strawberries as a crop ready for visitors to pick at Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad St. in Hollis is the farm stand and pick-your-own fields are across the street; see brookdalefruitfarm.com). Both fruits are available to pick daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apple Hill Farm (580 Mountain Road in Concord, applehillfarmnh.com) also has strawberry picking available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon (and keep an eye on their website and social media for the start of blueberry season). Sunnycrest Farm (59 High Range Road in Londonderry; sunnycrestfarmnh.com) has pick your own cherries, raspberries and blueberries daily from 7 a.m. to noon. Call or check websites before heading out to make sure fields are open.
More days to learn and play
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) is now open daily except for Mondays (and, this weekend, it is also closed Sunday, July 4) for visits from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Reserve a spot and buy tickets online in advance (as is required). Open this year is the Play Patio for outdoor “messy creative fun,” weather permitting, according to the website. Admission costs $11 for everyone over 1 year old and $9 for over 65.
Birds!
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3 in Holderness; nhnature.org) celebrates a new raptor exhibit with “All About Birds Day” on Thursday, July 1, when you can see live raptors at Pop Up Animal Encounters and talk to naturalists about the exhibit. The trails are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m. Advanced trail ticket purchase online is required; admission costs $28 for adults and $13 for kids ages 3 to 15 (children age 2 and under get in for free).
See the sea
The Seacoast Science Center (Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd. in Rye; 436-8043, seacoastsciencecenter.org) offers family tide pool explorations in small group programs that last about 75 to 90 minutes, according to the website. This week’s tide pool adventures are happening at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 2, and at noon on Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 to 12. Register online for this program or to ensure tickets to visit the Center, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
Fun in the park
Get in the Independence Day spirit with a “Patriotic Concert in the Park” on Friday, July 2, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Abbie Griffin Park in Merrimack (behind the town hall at 6 Baboosic Lake Road). The Merrimack Concert Association will perform at this free event.
Head out with your teenage superhero fans to see Wonder Woman 1984 (PG-13, 2020), screening Friday, July 2, at Greeley Park Bandshell, 100 Concord St. in Nashua. The screening is part of the city’s SummerFun programming.
Strawberry shortcake and celebration
The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy. in Milton; nhfarmmuseum.org) will celebrate Fourth on the Farm on Sunday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. The day will feature musicians playing traditional patriotic music, tractor rides, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream. Admission costs $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over age 64, $5 for kids ages 4 and up and free for kids under age 4 and for members and active military.
Puppets!
Cactus Head Puppets will present the puppet show Magnificent Monster Circus at the park at the Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. East in Laconia) on Monday, July 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. The event is free and open to the public; see belknapmill.org.
Off to theater we go
The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org,668-5588) kicks off Tuesday, July 6, with a presentation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Shows continue Wednesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 8. A different kid-audience-friendly show featuring professional actors runs each week through Aug. 19, Tuesdays through Thursdays, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
NHAA artists in Manchester: The New Hampshire Art Association recently partnered with Creative Framing Solutions, located across from the Palace Theatre at 89 Hanover St. in Manchester, to provide an additional venue for members to exhibit and sell their work. During July, the space will feature works by textile artist Cheryl Miller and painter Marianne Stillwagon. Miller creates fabric collages using hand-dyed cottons, batiks and vintage fabrics stitched by machine. Her exhibit, “Nature Up Close,” focuses on colors and symbolism in nature and a combination of abstract and realistic elements, incorporating birds, insects and flowers that symbolize hope and resilience. Stillwagon’s exhibit displays her paintings of the landscapes, wildlife and changing seasons of New England, and of South Carolina, where she has a second studio. An opening reception will be held on Friday, July 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.
• Open doors to history: The New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St., Concord) has reopened its exhibition galleries to the public, according to a press release. Exhibits currently on view include “Discovering New Hampshire,” “White Mountains in the Parlor: The Art of Bringing Nature Indoors,” “No Longer Denied: New Hampshire Women Win the Vote” and others about New Hampshire history. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults and is free for members, kids age 18 and under, full-time students and active military personnel and their families. Masks are required in the building. Visit nhhistory.org or call 228-6688.
The New Hampshire Historical Society. Courtesy photo.
• Art downtown: Peterborough has its fifth annual Art Walk on Saturday, July 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date is Sunday, July 4). More than 50 local and regional artists will be set up throughout downtown and Depot Park/Depot Square, showing and selling their work, including handmade jewelry, pottery, watercolor, fabric, wood carving, oil painting and more. There will also be live music in Depot and Putnam parks. “The fun of being outdoors in such a natural setting, meeting talented artists, meandering through unique shops and enjoying lots of food choices … will be a wonderful way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday,” event organizer Pelagia Vincent said in an email. Visit facebook.com/depotsquare for a map and list of activities.
• Seeking directors: Manchester-based theater company Cue Zero Theatre Co. announced in a press release that it is looking for “directors with passion projects” to produce four mainstage productions and a number of side projects in 2022. The mainstage productions are scheduled for March, April, June and October of next year. Selected directors will work with the company to staff, fundraise, promote and produce the shows; and will have full access to all of the company’s resources for the show, including, but not limited to, sets, costumes, props, lighting, sound equipment, social media, artist database and base-funding. Directors can hold rehearsals at the Granite State Arts Academy in Salem or their own rehearsal space. Cue Zero will also consider playwrights looking to produce an original work and will pair the playwright with a director if needed. If interested, email your resume and a short letter of introduction that includes a statement about the piece you’d like to pitch to cztheatre@gmail.com. Interviews are being conducted now and will remain open until all four directors have been selected.
Featured photo: “This Day”, a textile work by Cheryl Miller. Courtesy photo.
Art
Exhibits
• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.
• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.
• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.
• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. July 24 through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.
Fairs and markets
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.
• ARTS ON THE GREEN Arts and crafts fair will feature painters, potters, artisan jewelers, stained glass makers, bead workers, photographers and metal crafters. Presented by The Center for the Arts Lake Sunapee Region. Sunapee Harbor. Sat., July 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit centerfortheartsnh.org.
• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR Nine-day craft fair featuring work by hundreds of juried League of NH Craftsmen members. Sat., Aug. 7, through Sun., Aug. 15. Mount Sunapee Resort (1398 Route 103, Newbury). Visit nhcrafts.org.
• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Sat., Aug. 21, and Sun., Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 100 Concord St., Nashua. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.
Workshops and classes
• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.
• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.
Theater
Auditions
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Auditions held Tues., July 27. Granite State Arts Academy, 19 Keewaydin Drive, Salem. Performers must be age 18+. Signups for a time slot in advance are required. Visit cztheatre.com.
Shows
• BETRAYAL The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through July 3, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $27 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• PIPPIN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through July 18. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• SLEUTH The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. June 30 through July 17, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 6, through Thurs., July 8, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. More information is TBA. Visit prescottpark.org.
• PETER PAN The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 13, through Thurs., July 15, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• DANI GIRL The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. July 14 through July 31, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• ‘TIL BETH DO US PART The Majestic Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.
• WIZARD OF OZ The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 20, through Thurs., July 22, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. July 22 through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• THE LITTLE MERMAID The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 27, through Thurs., July 29, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. July 28 through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 3, through Thurs., Aug. 5, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 10, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.
• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.
• GLORIOUS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.
• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.
