Local eats, live music and raffles at inaugural Barbecue Benefit Bash
For nearly eight months, community organizer and Nashua native Lou Duhamel has been gearing up for what he promises will be “one of the best parties of the summer” — a catered barbecue buffet with craft beer options, raffles and live performances from local musicians, including Nashua-area veteran rockers Aces & Eights and Hollis musician Joe Birch.
A fundraiser for the Nashua Children’s Home, the inaugural Barbecue Benefit Bash is happening rain or shine on Saturday, Aug. 21, at Alpine Grove Banquet Facility in nearby Hollis. Tickets are on sale now through Sunday, Aug. 15, with a portion from each benefitting the nonprofit.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. Great food, great music and a great cause,” Duhamel said. “I’ve done lots of fundraising events through the years, and I’ve pretty much perfected it now.”
Duhamel said he began organizing the event in January, working closely with Nashua Children’s Home business manager and Nashua alderwoman Lori Wilshire. He has also recruited multiple businesses in Nashua and surrounding areas through sponsorships and donations.
Doors to the event open at 5 p.m., with a barbecue dinner between 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Alpine Grove’s new outdoor patio. If it rains, the food will be served inside its main ballroom.
“We’ll be cooking entire half chickens over a big bed of charcoal,” Alpine Grove owner Alan Archambault said. “We’re also doing our chef’s delicious tender steak tips with all the fixings.”
Self-serve stations will be set up for each of the foods, which will also include tossed garden and pasta salads, local corn on the cob, chips, cranberry sauce, biscuits and butter, and ice cream. A full bar with multiple craft beer selections is also expected.
Joe Birch will perform during the meal, and Duhamel said attendees are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, tents or blankets.
A wide variety of items will also be raffled off during this time. Raffle tickets are $10 for every dozen and can be entered to win prizes like local restaurant gift certificates, autographed sports memorabilia and all-expenses-paid trips and experiences.
Aces & Eights will likely take the stage around 8:30 or 9 p.m., Duhamel said. The band first began playing together in the late 1960s, according to lead guitarist David West, and has shared the bill with legendary New England acts like Aerosmith and Jonathan Edwards.
Wilshire said proceeds from the event will go toward the Nashua Children’s Home’s transitional living program, enabling their kids who work or go to school to stay until they turn 21.
Barbecue Benefit Bash
Featuring live performances by the Nashua-based band Aces & Eights and musician and Hollis native Joe Birch
When: Saturday, Aug. 21, 5 to 11 p.m. (food will be served from 6 to 7:30 p.m.); deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday, Aug. 15 Where: Alpine Grove Banquet Facility, 19 S. Depot Road, Hollis Cost: $50 admission per person; $20 from every ticket sold benefits the Nashua Children’s Home. Raffle tickets are $10 for every 12, with the chance to win multiple prizes. Tables of eight are also available to reserve. More info: Visit louduhamel.simpletix.com or call event organizer Lou Duhamel at 305-2841 Event is rain or shine. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets or tents.
Featured photo:Aces & Eights to perform. Photo courtesy of David West.
• Fighting fire with (barbecue) fire: Join Georgia’s Northside of Concord for its first annual community day barbecue event at Lithermans Limited Brewery (126B Hall St., Concord) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. A fundraiser for the Concord Fire Department Relief Fund, this rain or shine event will feature craft beer, free selections from Georgia’s Northside and a raffle with the chance to win a grand prize of a $1,000 private chef party with chef and owner Alan Natkiel. The Concord Fire Department Relief Fund is a charity that helps people whose lives have been adversely affected by fire. Visit georgiasnorthside.com or see the event on Facebook @georgiasnorthside.
• For the dogs: Long Blue Cat Brewing Co. (298 Rockingham Road, Londonderry) will host Barking for Brews, a fundraiser for Second Chance Ranch Rescue, on Sunday, Aug. 8. The event will feature live music, local vendors, food, craft beer and more, with $1 from every pint sold being donated to Second Chance Ranch, a shelter for dogs based in New Boston. Visit longbluecat.com. A similar fundraiser will be held the same day at Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road, Londonderry), with $1 from each pint sold between 1 and 5 p.m. to benefit Granite State Dog Recovery. Visit pipedreambrewingnh.com.
• Seaside tea: The Cozy Tea Cart will hold a Tea by the Sea afternoon tea tasting event on Sunday, Aug. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). Attendees will enjoy a menu of summer tea fare in a room decorated with a seaside theme. Food options will include lemon blueberry tea bread, high tea lemon cookies, shrimp and dill tea sandwiches, fruit skewers with ginger dip, chicken salad puffs, coconut dream pound cake, and raspberry and white chocolate cream scones, all alongside a selection of fine quality teas. Admission is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com or call 249-9111.
• Maine-ly delicious: Cookbook author Kate Shaffer and food photographer Derek Bissonnette will hold a joint appearance outside The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Thursday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m., presenting their new book, The Maine Farm Table Cookbook. The event will include a reserved table and signed books, an author discussion moderated by Music Hall executive director Tina Sawtelle, and an audience Q&A. Ticket packages include $60 for a small table with two books, $120 for a medium table with four books or $180 for a large table with six books. Purchase them online at themusichall.org or over the phone by calling 436-2400.
• State Liquor Commission recognized: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission was recently named one of the Top 10 retailers in the country by Beverage Dynamics magazine, according to a press release, all the while continuing to surpass its own sales records. The NHLC generated an all-time high in total gross sales of more than $801 million collectively during fiscal year 2021, an increase of $35 million over the previous year. According to the release, the store at Willow Spring Plaza in Nashua had the most sales of all 69 Liquor & Wine Outlet locations in the state, with nearly $40 million.
Kayla Panagopoulos owns Bella’s Eco-friendly Cleaning Service, based in Litchfield, providing interior cleaning services using only eco-friendly products.
Explain your job.
I go to houses, condos and apartments … and do whatever the client would like me to do as far as cleaning goes. … I use green products that don’t contain bleach or … chemicals. They’re safer … especially for houses [with] kids and pets. … I’ve also incorporated pet services … because a lot of people were asking if I’d walk their dog or let their dog out while I was there to clean their house.
How long have you had this job?
I got officially licensed in March.
What led you to this career field?
It started because I have pretty bad anxiety, and whenever my anxiety was on the rise, I’d clean. It’s very calming to me because I feel like … if my house is clean, I have my life somewhat under control. I thought, since I enjoy cleaning, that’s something I could see myself doing [as a job].
What kind of education or training did you need?
You have to have some knowledge for cleaning because obviously you don’t want to use the wrong product on the wrong surface and ruin it. I do a lot of research on products, and I use all products on my own house before I use them on any client’s house. … I’ve also been educating myself by doing courses on the OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] website on cleaning and sanitizing, just to keep up with everything and make sure I’m still cleaning the right way.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Yoga or gym clothes or pretty much anything that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty.
What was it like starting this business during the pandemic?
It’s been a learning process to work with clients during the pandemic … because they have a lot of questions, and they want to know exactly what I’m doing in their house and how I’m being safe. … I’ve definitely been taking all of the precautions that I can. … I’m fully vaccinated, which is one of the first questions people ask, because most people won’t hire someone who isn’t vaccinated. … The other thing about the pandemic … is that people have been staying and working [at] home. Everyone has been great — they just kind of do their own thing — but it has definitely been a challenge … to have to [clean] around them.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I wish I had known more about scheduling. For the longest time, I was having a problem with overbooking and overworking myself. I’ve gotten to the point now where … I’ve learned how to say no when I’m completely booked.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
A lot of people seem to think that greener products are much more expensive and don’t work as well, but they’re really not that much more expensive than regular cleaning products, and, honestly, I think they work better than some of the chemical products.
What was the first job you ever had?
As soon as I turned 16, I got a job as a cashier at Market Basket.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
Take things as they come. … Some days are going to be great, and some days are going to suck. … Take those bad days with a grain of salt. … For every bad day, there are going to be a bunch more good days.
Five favorites Favorite book: A Child Called “It” Favorite movie:Any of the Marvel movies. I love Endgame. Favorite music: Top 40 Favorite food: Anything Italian, and pita, which is like a Greek spinach pie. Favorite thing about NH: Hiking, especially the mountains.
• Get kids in the entrepreneurial spirit by seeing other kids sell items they designed and made at the Acton Children’s Business Fair, held at 45 Beacon St. E in Laconia. Up to 36 kid-run businesses will be featured at the fair, which will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, according to childrensbusinessfair.org/laconia.
• New England Vendor Events will hold a Summertime Family Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 8, from noon to 5 p.m. at the White Birch Catering & Banquet Hall (222 Central St. in Hudson). A $5 ticket allows access to games and activities; free tickets that just allow access into the event are also available, according to the Eventbrite page. A portion of the ticket will benefit the Hudson Food Pantry, the page said. The day will feature food, music, vendors, children’s sack races, a bounce house, a cornhole tournament and more, according to the group’s Facebook page. Email newenglandvendorevents@gmail.com.
Live performances
• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) continues its 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series. Finishing up this week’s run, catch Beauty and the Beast on Thursday, Aug. 5. Next week, the production is Rapunzel, Tuesday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 12. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and tickets cost $10 per person.
• Student performers from the Palace’s summer camp program will have a production of their own this weekend: Frozen Jr. will be performed Friday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15.
• Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate will perform a free show of pirate-themed kids music at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. See merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.
Summer movie fun
• The summer kids movie series concludes with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG, 2001) at O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping (24 Calef Highway; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) on Monday, Aug. 9, and Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. Tickets to the screening cost $2 for kids ages 11 and under and $3 for ages 13 and up. A $5 popcorn-and-drink combo is also for sale.
• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will be screening some films to raise money for the SEE Science Center. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. catch Matilda (PG, 1996). On Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m., the theater will screen Back to the Future (PG, 1985). Tickets to either show cost $12.
• The Goonies (PG, 1985) will screen Wednesday, Aug. 11, at area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road in Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave. in Nashua; 150 Bridge St. in Pelham, chunkys.com) at 7 p.m. including a treasure hunt. Doors open one hour before showtime for a hunt for boxes of goodies in the theater. Tickets cost $4.99.
Your box that you seem to be using for jewelry looks like it’s serving a good purpose.
It looks to be from the Victorian era (middle to late 1800s). The blue area is enameling and appears to have some damage. The metal covering the wood looks like tarnished brass.
The tricky part would be where you see the painting-like areas. It’s better for the value if they were painted and not just transfers. Transfers that resemble paintings were very common during that era.
Either way I think the value would be in the $100+ range as is. If they’re really painted, the value would be higher. My recommendation to be sure is to have someone take a look at it in person, as it is hard to tell just from the photo.
Since ancient times, explorers have brought back seeds and plants from exotic lands. Some, like the apple, have been a boon to the citizens of their adoptive home. Others, like the notorious Japanese knotweed (a.k.a. “bamboo”), have been more headache than boon.
New England, with its cold climate, is blessed with a natural defense against some invasives: our winters. But many others have settled in and are taking over — or trying to. It is up to us, the gardeners, to be responsible; we need to learn what the problem plants are, and we need to get rid of any we have growing on our property.
Invasive plants are those that reproduce rapidly and take over wild habitats, out-competing the plants that Mother Nature provided, stealing light, water and nutrients from less aggressive plants. By definition, they are alien species, plants that have come here from other countries.
Most invasives produce large numbers of seeds that are distributed by birds, by the wind, or by water. In most cases, invasives are also difficult to remove or eradicate once established and have extensive root systems that preclude simply pulling them up.
Back home, in their country of origin, most invasives have predators — insects or diseases — that keep their numbers in check. They may have come inadvertently or been brought by well-intentioned people who thought they were pretty or had some use for them. Some, like burning bush, barberry and Norway maple, have been introduced and sold because they are essentially indestructible — and pretty.
For starters, you can learn to identify the prohibited species in your state, and eliminate them on your own land. Check with your local University Extension service to obtain a list for your state.
Getting rid of invasives, however, may not be easy for two reasons: you may like the invasive species, and may have planted it before you knew better. Secondly, it may not be easy to eliminate — even with the use of herbicides (which you probably don’t want to use anyhow).
‘Crimson King’ Norway maple looks great, but out-competes our native maples in the forest Courtesy photo.
The Norway maple, for example, is a lovely-looking tree that grows fast and survives well even in urban areas. It will grow in sun or partial shade and is not bothered by road salt. If you have one that is shading your house, I can understand why you might be unwilling to cut it down.
If you are a city dweller, you may assume that since there are no forests nearby, it shouldn’t matter if you keep your Norway maple (or other invasive species). But it’s not just wind or birds that distribute seeds. Runoff can carry seeds to an outlet in a natural environment. Seed from your tree can end up in streams, rivers, ponds. Thus even city dwellers can make a difference, helping to control the propagation of this invasive tree by cutting down theirs.
To see if maple trees growing wild near you are Norway maples, do this simple test: Snap off a leaf at its attachment point, and look at the stem. If it oozes a milky sap, it’s a Norway maple. The leaves also tend to be broader and larger than sugar or red maple leaves.
For organic gardeners, getting rid of invasives is not easy. For herbaceous weeds, think lawnmower. Once you have the stalks (and as much of the root mass as possible) removed, plant grass seed. Mow it every week and the roots will not get recharged. Stems will continue to grow for years, but if you mow it, you can win.
Digging the stump of an invasive shrub like barberry, bush honeysuckle or burning bush is a pain in the neck, but you probably can do it. Digging the stump of a large Norway maple is not practical. But there are folks with backhoes and stump grinders, and the expertise to do it.
If your woods are full of small seedlings of invasive trees or shrubs, you may wish to get a tool for pulling saplings called a weed wrench. This tool has a gripping mouth-like part and a long handle to provide the leverage. A weed wrench of the proper size allows a 150-pound office worker to pull out shrubs and small trees that otherwise would not be possible to yank.
Why bother digging out invasives? You may decide to do it for the sake of your grandchildren, or for the environment. Even in states with good laws prohibiting the sale of invasive plants, no one can force you to cut down or pull out your invasive plants. But being a little selfish is OK, too. Think of all the great plants you can buy and plant if you get rid of those invasives. And think how wonderful it would be if wildflowers and native plants started flourishing in your woods.
Featured photo:Purple loosestrife is beautiful, but can take over a wetland, but will also grow in dry places if given a chance. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• A legacy of supporting the arts: Artist and lifelong supporter of the arts in Nashua Meri Goyette died at her home on July 23, according to an obituary released by Farewell Funeral Service. She was 95 years old. Goyette was a founding board member of the Nashua Arts and Science Center in the 1960s and created a space for artists to show their work in the grand lobby at the Hotel Meridien in Boston in the 1980s. In 2008, she co-founded the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium, an annual event during which three renowned sculptors spend three weeks in Nashua creating outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. Goyette served on the advisory board for City Arts Nashua and founded the organization’s Meri Goyette Champagne Art Awards Luncheon to help raise funds for the arts in Nashua. In 2020, the Wall Street Journal awarded Goyette its Lifetime Achievement Award for being a Patron of the Arts. This past spring, Goyette showed her own art publicly for the first time. The exhibition, “Geometric Abstraction through Cut and Paste,” was on display in the windows and lobby of the Nashua Telegraph offices and featured statement collages and collectible greeting cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. Contributions in Goyette’s honor can be made to the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium or Nashua City Arts, according to the Farewell Funeral Service’s website. Visit farwellfuneralservice.com/meri-r-goyette to read the full obituary.
• First group art show: Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnett presents the first group art exhibition at her gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building at 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) from Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Barnett, who does primarily abstract art, opened the gallery in December 2019 to provide a venue for herself and other local and regional abstract artists to show their work. The exhibition, titled “Summer Haze,” invited regional artists to submit work in a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, collage, encaustic, fiber art, digital art, book and paper art, textiles, mixed media, photography, printmaking and 3D art. Five artists will be featured: Kathy Bouchard of Nashua, Karen Mehos of Boscawen, Jason Michael Rielly of Auburn, New York, Lorna Ritz of Northampton, Mass., and Barnett herself. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 393-1340 or visit jessbarnett.com.
Uncommon Art fair. Courtesy photo.
• Uncommon Art: Goffstown Main Street will host its 13th annual Uncommon Art on the Common arts and crafts fair on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, outside on Goffstown’s Main Street and at Night Owl Quilting Studio, located at 35 Main St. The fair will feature more than 40 area artists and artisans displaying and selling paintings, photography, prints, jewelry, pottery, beads, fiber arts, mixed media pieces, sculpture, glasswork and woodwork. Additionally, visitors can take part in the Uncommon Bling Project, collecting unique beads and handcrafted items from participating artists, which can be strung together on a cord to commemorate the day. Admission is free. Call 497-9933 or visit goffstownmainstreet.org.
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.
• “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.
• “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. Now through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• “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.
• 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.
• 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.
• “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.
Theater
Shows
• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 4, and Thurs., Aug. 5, 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. Now through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Now through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. Visit prescottpark.org.
• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• 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.
Concerts
• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person.
League of New Hampshire Craftsmen celebrates return of its annual fair
After a year without an in-person fair, artisans from the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen overwhelmingly agree about one thing: They can’t wait to see the crowds and their fellow artisans at this year’s annual fair at Mount Sunapee Resort.
“The craftspeople are as excited to be back at the mountain as you can possibly imagine,” said Laury Nichols, a woodcarver from Chichester.
Lisa DeMio of Hampstead, who makes fiber wearables, echoed that sentiment.
“The artists are super excited to be back there,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home. … This particular show has so many amazing artists. I’m looking forward to being able to see and touch and feel everything and connect with friends.”
The 88th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is happening Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and is one of the few arts events of its scope and size this year, according to Miriam Carter, executive director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
“We’re in New Hampshire and we’ve gotten through Covid in a way that a lot of states haven’t,” Carter said. “I’m expecting a great response from the public.”
The fair will look a little different, with booths spaced farther apart and fewer artisans, and visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets online to get through the gate quickly. But beyond that, the fair should be everything it has been in past years — and then some.
“[The artisans have] had a year off to create work, so I’m really excited to see what they’ve done in that time,” Carter said.
She said she’s already seen some of the work that will be in the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition — a gallery that’s set up in the middle of the fair — and it’s some of the best she’s seen.
“I think they took advantage of their time off the road to … be creative and innovative,” Carter said.
There will be demonstrations this year, Carter said, following Covid precautions. Instead of the more intimate clay turning booth, for example, they will have precreated clay tiles, which people can use to create a textured piece that they can bring home and paint. Many of the demonstrations and hands-on activities are free, Carter said.
There’s also the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition and the Sculpture Garden, plus new food offerings, and, for the first time, alcohol will be available for purchase on the fairgrounds. The Adventure Park at Mount Sunapee Resort will be open, and the lift will be running for people who might want to ride up and hike down. But that’s all gravy.
“The best part of the fair is you get to meet the artists and you get to see what they’ve been up to,” Carter said.
Meet five of those artists, who talked about their work, what’s new this year and why they can’t wait for the fair.
Clay
Pottery by Michael Gibbons.
Michael Gibbons of Derry
What he makes: Functional stoneware for everyday use, like coffee mugs, bowls and teapots. “I’ve been making pottery since about 1980 and I love doing it,” Gibbons said. “I love the fact that it starts off as almost nothing and transforms into something nice and functional.” Gibbons’ work focuses on nature, with mountains adorning many pieces and a line of products made with white clay that look like birch bark.
What’s new this year: With a year off from fairs, Gibbons said he focused on producing, and he developed some new glazes. “My color palette is much broader than it was two years ago,” he said. “I have a red raspberry glaze, and I have a green glaze that I introduced. … I came up with a different glaze for my birch [products] too — less shine and more matte.”
Why he can’t wait for the fair: “It’s the highlight of my year just being around so many talented, great people,” he said. “I’m also excited to see how well-received the new colors are.”
Fiber wearables
Lisa DeMio of Hampstead
Bag by Lisa DeMoi.
What she makes: Accessories, predominantly for women, like handbags, totes and cosmetic bags. They feature hand-printed linen, leather, cotton and waxed canvas. DeMio started sewing years ago, and as her four children got older, she became interested in fabrics and textiles. She found a handbag pattern and made one for herself, then was promptly asked by one friend after another to make bags for them. “It’s one of those things that everybody needs,” she said. “Everybody needs to [carry stuff], and you might as well look good doing it.”
What’s new this year: “I have some new hand-printed fabrics that I’m really excited about,” DeMio said. She said one of the artists that she admires has started to make hand-printed fabrics again, so she’s been able to create some of her products using those. “I have a very limited number of those bags,” she said.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Just seeing people again — this is the first live event I’ll have done since February of 2020,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home — with my products in my booth and [on the fairgrounds].”
Fine jewelry
Kristin Kennedy of Concord
What she makes: One-of-a-kind jewelry pieces made with precious metals and gemstones. Her inspiration is based on nature and her outdoor experiences, like hiking the mountains and swimming in the ocean.
What’s new this year: Kennedy has a few new collections, including the Everlasting collection that features pieces with rose-cut emeralds and London Blue topaz, and a Nuevo Deco collection that features pieces with rose-cut aquamarines, step-cut chocolate diamonds and champagne diamonds.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces, being able to celebrate being together, enjoying art together,” she said. “Most of my customers I’ve had for 20 years, so it’s fun to see them.” Kennedy said she typically checks out the fair herself on the last day. “It’s fun to get to know the artists and handpick some of their special designs,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to support local artists and appreciate some of the finer things.” This is Kennedy’s 20th year at the Craftsmen’s Fair, and she said it’s the only one she participates in. “I think it’s one of the most highly acclaimed art shows in the country.”
Wood carvings
Laury Nichols from Chichester
Badger by Laury Nichols.
What she makes: Whimsical woodland animal characters and custom woodcarving projects. The carvings are mainly characters she designs herself, and she has a few characters from children’s books like The Wind in the Willows and Beatrix Potter’s tales. With the carvings just inches tall, Nichols said she’ll be bringing about 500 of them to the fair.
What’s new this year: Nichols said she always has new carvings, and this year her booth itself is brand new. She took an online wooden puppet making class during the pandemic, so she’ll have a few puppets and will be taking orders for them. She has also created cards with pictures of her woodcarvings, but since she’s juried as a woodcarver, she’s not allowed to sell anything but woodcarvings. So instead, she’s giving away a free pack of “Celebrate” cards to anyone who asks.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m so excited to see everyone again, and I know the public is excited to be back to the fair,” Nichols said. “I [especially] love it when children come into my booth. They are so great. … I make free stuff for kids — I was an art kind of kid, and talking to real artists was very inspirational and influential.”
Wood sculptures
Donna Zils Banfield of Derry
What she makes: Sculptural art made out of wood. “Most of my work will appeal to about 10 percent of the people who will be at the fair,” Zils Banfield said. “It’s sculptural art — it’s not utilitarian, it’s not functional.” One example is her Wood Ffolkkes, a community of sculptural wood people that come in various shapes and sizes, with different moods, personalities, wardrobes, loves and hates, but all created from the same core. “At our basic core, we’re all the same,” she said. Zils Banfield started participating in the Craftsmen’s Fair in 2012 as a bowl turner. “I’ve slowly moved into the more nonfunctional artwork,” she said. “I knew early on that I had to be more than a bowl turner.” Zils Banfield said this kind of work is much more intricate, taking days, weeks or months to complete one piece, so she usually has several pieces going at a time. “Nothing is done quickly, which is unusual for the wood turning world,” she said.
What’s new this year: “I have a new sculptural piece that is going to be titled ‘Cityscapes,’” she said. It features 3D images carved into the wood with small particles of 24k gold leaves and silver leaves for the skyscrapers and the stars.
Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Seeing the people that I miss, both my fellow peers and the people who come to the fair to see me and to see my work,” Zils Banfield said. She said she loves showing her new pieces to past customers. “Every year I have at least one new idea that appears in my booth.”
More than a craft fair Woodcarver Laury Nichols shared her recommendation for how to approach the fair. “If you go to the fair only to buy stuff … you miss a huge amount. If you look for only acquisition you will miss the staggering artwork and craftwork. If you go with the mindset to just marvel … it is just amazing. … If you buy something and you’ve talked to the person who made it … there’s something about knowing that it’s handmade and knowing the face of the person who made it and having the conversation with that person.”
The 88th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair
Where: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury When: Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine Cost: General admission for one day is $16 for adults, or $24 for two days. Seniors are $14, and children under 12 get in free. Online ticket sales prior to the event are encouraged at nhcrafts.org.
Featured photo: Wood Ffolkkes by Donna Zils Banfield. Courtesy photo.
When Patrick Malfait founded the Contoocook River Canoe Co. in 1997, kayaking was still up and coming as a mainstream recreational sport in New Hampshire. Now he’s in his 25th season, offering a wide variety of canoes and kayaks for sale or for rent so people can enjoy paddling along the Contoocook River in Concord. A second operation was later launched under the name Merrimack River Canoe & Kayak, where you can do the same on Hooksett’s Merrimack River.
“We started with just renting canoes,” Malfait said. “Then a couple of years later the kayak just became very popular and the canoe kind of took a backseat for a while. … The popularity of canoeing has come back, but kayaking is still far ahead of canoeing [in] sales and rentals.”
Both canoeing and kayaking have their own unique advantages and features that can be best suited to particular uses. In general, a kayak may be smaller, faster and easier to maneuver, whereas a canoe is often larger, more stable and easier to enter and exit.
“When you’re in a single kayak, you’re one with the water. It’s just you and your boat … so it’s exciting for people to get out there and be able to control their boat by themselves,” Malfait said.
As the years have gone on, kayak manufacturers have introduced newer models tailored to specific purposes. There are multiple types of kayaks, from single recreational kayaks to touring or sea kayaks, and even kayaks with their own built-in accessories designed for fishing.
But canoes can be great to take out on the water too — especially, Malfait said, if you’re part of a larger group or are preparing for a bit of a longer trip.
“A canoe is a really great family vessel to go out and spend the day on the river or on the lake,” he said. “You can put everything and the kitchen sink in there, which you can’t do in a single kayak. It’s just a whole different experience, and for some people it’s more like being at home.”
Other than families with children, Malfait said, canoe rentals are also popular among older active adults, as well as traditionalists who enjoy an activity he pointed out has been around for hundreds of years. Rentals for both canoes and kayaks are an attractive option for those who don’t have the means to store or transport them or are getting into the sport for the first time.
Rental rates at the Contoocook River Canoe Co. are by the day, while for the Merrimack River operation there are additional options to have your boat out on the water per two-hour or four-hour block. If you’re going out on the Contoocook River, Malfait said, there is also a shuttle option to bring you and your boat about 9 miles upriver to paddle back to the beach.
All boats must be off the water by 5 p.m. each day, but that doesn’t mean canoeing or kayaking has to be a full-day commitment either. In fact, during the height of the pandemic last year, Malfait said he noticed many more short-term paddlers out on the water.
“We saw a large increase of late afternoon business, and it was all city people,” he said. “They’d only be out there for an hour or two but they loved it. For them, it was a getaway.”
In Nashua, Bill James first became interested in trying kayaking more than a decade ago when, on a bike ride in Mine Falls Park, he passed by a family of paddlers. Now he owns Nashua Kayak Rental, a by-appointment business offering single or double kayak rentals on Saturdays and Sundays. Renters can arrange meetings at one of the Nashua River’s public boat launches.
“Typically, I like to bring people to the Millyard Technology Park where there’s a public boat ramp, and I also use the Mine Falls Park boat ramp,” James said. “As long as I don’t have multiple appointments in one location that tie me to a given spot, we can wander around a bit. … For the most part, though, I just let people enjoy it however they want to.”
Reservations can be made through Nashua Kayak Rental’s website or Facebook page, and James will provide everything from your kayak and paddle to your life jacket.
“[Kayaking] is a really nice way to get out and explore … and the best part of renting is that you can go out and do it whenever you want and not have to deal with storage or transport,” he said.
Unless you’re on private property or a body of water that is only open to town residents, you can go pretty much anywhere with a canoe or kayak. Each is considered a non-motorized vehicle under New Hampshire law, meaning they are not required to register in the state. You are required, however, to always wear a life jacket while out on the water, Malfait said.
“There’s tons of information out there,” he said. “The AMC [Appalachian Mountain Club] has guides that they’ve produced that tell you where you can put boats in and take boats out, and there are meetup groups where people are paddling a different body of water each week.”
NH AMC Paddlers
The New Hampshire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club maintains a regular schedule of upcoming outdoor group activities across the state, including for canoeing and kayaking. Visit amcnh.org/committees/paddling, or follow them on Facebook “NH AMC Paddlers.”
Contoocook River Canoe Co.
9 Horse Hill Road, Concord, 753-9804, contoocookcanoe.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Canoes and kayaks are both available to rent for use on the Contoocook River. Rates vary depending on the type and size capacity of the boat — $35 for a canoe or two-person kayak, $28 for a one-person 12-foot kayak and $33 for a one-person 14- to 16-foot kayak. Rates are for single-day use, with all boats off the water by 5 p.m. each day. Shuttle services about 9 miles upriver are also available.
Cost: Canoes and kayaks are both available to rent for use on the Merrimack River. Rates vary depending on the type and size capacity of the boat, with block pricing for two hours, four hours or a single day. A one-person kayak, for example, is $20 for two hours, $35 for four hours or $45 for the day.
Nashua Kayak Rental
nashuakayakrental.com, and on Facebook @nashuakayak
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, by appointment
Cost: One-person or two-person kayaks are available for rent for use on the Nashua River. Rates are $30 for two hours for a single kayak, or $50 for two hours for a two-person kayak. Weekend meetings with owner-operator Bill James are available by appointment at the public boat ramps at Mine Falls Park (Stadium Drive, near Stellos Stadium) or at the Millyard Technology Park (Technology Way).
More Places to Paddle
Here’s a list of more spots in southern New Hampshire, including some lakes and state parks, that offer canoe or kayak rentals or have public boat launches people can use to go canoeing or kayaking.
• Baboosic Lake (25 Broadway, Amherst, amherstnh.myrec.com) • Bear Brook State Park (61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, nhstateparks.com) • Beaver Lake (Pond Road, Derry, beaver-lake.org) • Clough State Park (455 Clough Park Road, Weare, nhstateparks.com) • Crystal Lake (186 Crystal Lake Road, Gilmanton, gilmantonnh.org) • Glen Lake (300 Elm St., Goffstown, goffstown.com) • Island Pond (Stickney Road, Atkinson, town-atkinsonnh.com) • Lake Massabesic (Londonderry Turnpike, Auburn, manchesternh.gov) • Lake Sunapee (Mount Sunapee State Park, 86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, nhstateparks.org) • Lake Winnipesaukee (Multiple towns in Belknap and Carroll counties, lakewinnipesaukee.net) • Lake Winnisquam (Water Street, Laconia, winnisquamwatershed.org/public-access) • Naticook Lake (Veterans Park Drive, Merrimack, merrimacknh.gov) • Pawtuckaway State Park (7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, nhstateparks.org) • Pillsbury State Park (100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, nhstateparks.org) • Silver Lake State Park (138 Silver Lake Road, Hollis, nhstateparks.org)
Cruising along
Scenic views from the comfort of a boat
by Meghan Seigler
From harbor seals in the Atlantic to great blue herons on Squam Lake, there’s a good chance you’ll see wildlife in the water and along the shores when you take a scenic cruise — and the views along the way are pretty photo-worthy too.
“Normally we go straight out to White Island to see the lighthouse,” said Pete Reynolds of Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises in Rye, which offers tours of the Isles of Shoals on Uncle Oscar, a 62-foot-long single-deck boat. “All the islands are scenic in their own right.”
Lake Education Cruise 2019. Photo courtesy of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.
During the 5½-mile trip from Rye Harbor to the Isles, they often see marine porpoises and the occasional whale sighting, though Reynolds said those are fairly rare.
“Pretty frequently around the island we’ll see both harbor seals and grey seals,” Reynolds said.
“We see cormorants … and a tern colony … that’s always a favorite of bird watchers.”
The ocean tours are narrated, with the captain sharing the history of the islands, and unlike many scenic cruises, Uncle Oscar docks mid-tour to let passengers off to explore Star Island.
“[It’s] a great walking island,” Reynolds said. “It’s only 46 acres so you can explore pretty much the entire island when you’re on it.”
He said there’s an old stone chapel from the 1800s, replica stone buildings that recreate the fishing village that used to be on the island, short hiking trails and plenty of scenic views of the Atlantic.
Of course, New Hampshire has plenty of lakes too, which offer a different kind of cruise experience — and those differ from lake to lake, says Amanda Gillen, marketing manager for Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.
“I think the biggest thing for people to know is that Squam Lake is not Lake Winnipesaukee,” she said, referring to cruises aboard the M/S Mount Washington on New Hampshire’s biggest lake. “It has a very different, quieter, slower, more natural feel.”
The Science Center’s cruise is 90 minutes long and is a narrated tour of the whole lake, with cruise captains talking about the history of the area, the wildlife and sights like Church Island and other conservation land. The boats are covered pontoon boats and currently only hold 18 passengers.
“It’s a nice intimate experience,” Gillen said.
Gillen said passengers can expect to see wildlife like common loons, cormorants, great blue herons, muskrats, mink, swimming squirrels and bald eagles.
“We typically have a nesting pair of bald eagles on Squam Lake,” Gillen said. “The pair is around this year but did not successfully rear any chicks so the adults don’t stay by the nest for the easy view. … On one cruise a couple of years ago … an eagle flew down to catch a fish and the fish was so large that the eagle was using its wings to almost swim in order to get the fish to the closest shore. Everyone was pretty excited to see that.”
Gillen said the Squam Lake cruises are typically geared more toward adults and families with older kids.
“Marine patrol requires all children ages 12 and under to wear a lifejacket and we find that sometimes very little kids … don’t enjoy that for the full tour,” she said.
Take a scenic cruise Enjoy nature and wildlife on a lake or on the ocean.
Lake cruises
Experience Squam 859 U.S. 3, Holderness, 968-3990, experiencesquam.com Experience Squam is a private boating excursion aboard a 23-foot Sea Ray Bow-Rider that caters to your boating preferences, with all kinds of options available, like sunset cruises, star gazing, tours of historic Church Island and On Golden Pond movie sites and opportunities to anchor and swim. The boat fits up to 12 people and prices and schedules vary depending on number of people, length of ride and activities.
Mount Washington Cruises 211 Lakeside Ave., Weirs Beach, Laconia, 366-5531, cruisenh.com The M/S Mount Washington offers 2½-hour narrated scenic tours as well as Sunday brunch cruises, dinner and cocktail cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee (prices range from $40 to $65 per person). A smaller boat, the M/V Doris E., offers one-hour scenic tours of the islands of western Lake Winnipesaukee ($25 per person). The U.S. Mailboat offers two-hour cruises while providing postal service to island residents ($40 per person). See website for cruise schedules.
Sunapee Cruises 1 Lake Ave., Sunapee, 938-6465, sunapeecruises.com Tour Lake Sunapee on an afternoon narrated cruise aboard the MV MT Sunapee II or an evening dinner cruise aboard the MV Kearsarge Restaurant Ship. The afternoon cruise is 1½ hours long and leaves at 2 p.m. daily now through Labor Day, then Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day. The cost is $22 for adults, $20 for military, seniors and AAA members, $12 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids under 6. The dinner cruise is two hours long and leaves daily at 6:30 p.m. now through Labor Day, and at 5:30 p.m. after Labor Day. The cost is $45.99 for the cruise, dinner buffet and dessert. Children 12 and under are $32.99 (no children’s pricing on Fridays and Saturdays).
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center 23 Science Center Road, Holderness, 968-7194, nhnature.org Cruises are 90 minutes long and on canopied pontoon boats. There are several options available, including a Bald Eagle Adventure and a Loon Cruise. The cost is $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and $23 for children through age 15. See website for schedule.
Ocean cruises
Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises 1870 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 964-5545, granitestatewhalewatch.com The boat leaves twice a day, at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and ocean tours are about three hours long, including the boat ride and a stop at Star Island for an optional walking tour and time to explore. Tours are offered until about mid-September. The cost is $35 for adults, $32 for ages 60+, $26 for ages 4 to 16, and free for kids under 4.
There are also several ocean cruises available based out of Portsmouth, including the Gundalow Co. (433-9505, gundalow.org), the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. (islesofshoals.com, 800-441-4620) and Portsmouth Harbor Cruises (portsmouthharbor.com, 800-776-0915).
Stand up and go
Paddleboarding is a simple way to get on the water
by Angie Sykeny
Paddleboarding is a popular water sport in New Hampshire, and for good reason, said local paddleboard guide Shaun Quinn.
Photo courtesy of SUP-NH Paddleboard.
“We have 14 miles of seacoast, plus all of the lakes and rivers, and you can paddleboard on almost all of them,” Quinn said. “It’s the perfect way to take advantage of the state’s natural resources.”
A paddleboard is like a surfboard, but wider. Traditionally, the paddleboarder stands on the board and uses a paddle to move across the water or ride the waves, but there are a variety of other ways to use a paddleboard, too.
“They’re pretty versatile,” Quinn said. “You can move your position around, sit down, lie down, kneel, surf on them, get a tan on them, do yoga on them — so many different things with this one single, small watercraft.”
You don’t have to be a “surfer kind of person,” to paddleboard, Quinn said; paddleboards are more forgiving and easier to maneuver than surfboards. Almost anyone can do it, regardless of their age, body type or athletic ability, he said, and most people pick it up quickly.
Local paddleboard instructor Chris Shields agreed and said that even people with physical challenges can usually find a paddleboarding position that’s feasible for them.
“If you can stand on the ground, you can paddleboard,” he said, “and if you’re someone who has trouble walking or standing, then you can just sit. It’s that easy.”
Paddleboarding appeals to people for a number of different reasons, Quinn and Shields said. For one, it’s a way to enjoy the outdoors and explore the water that’s “more accessible” than taking out a kayak or a canoe, Shields said.
“It’s easy to just pop in the water and go,” he said, “and, if you’re standing and looking down at the water, you actually get a [larger] perspective and can see more of what’s around you than you can in a kayak or canoe, which is really cool.”
Paddleboarding can also be good for your health, Quinn said. If you paddle properly, it’s a full-body workout that works “every muscle from your ankles to your core to your shoulders,” he said. Mentally, paddleboarding may be a way to relax and unwind.
“It’s a fantastic activity for the mind,” he said. “For me, it’s all about the simplicity of it; it’s just me, the board and the paddle, and that goes a long way to help me calm and focus my mind.”
Through his paddleboarding guide business The Wandering Paddler, Quinn offers private tours and lessons for people who are looking to paddleboard in New Hampshire. He also picks up and drops off the board and paddle rentals for his customers.
“I’ll go wherever people want to paddle, and if they don’t know where to go to paddle, I’m their guy,” he said.
Shields also offers paddleboard equipment rentals and lessons through his business SUPNH and said the demand is “bigger than ever.”
“If you’re someone who likes being out on the water, just give it a try for a day,” he said. “It will be worth it.”
Go Paddleboarding
Contoocook River Canoe Co. Offers paddleboard sales, rentals, instruction and guided tours. Retail shop is at 9 Horse Hill Road, Concord. Rentals are $25 for a half day (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and $35 for a full day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Lessons with 30 minutes of instruction and one hour of coaching on the water cost $35 per person, with the paddleboard rental included. Call 753-9804 or visit contoocookcanoe.com.
Hampton Beach Parasail & Paddle Board Offers paddleboard rentals out of its shop at 1 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, starting at $25 for one hour. Call 929-4386 or visit hamptonparasail.com.
Merrimack River Canoe & Kayak Offers paddleboard rentals out of its shop at 35 Edgewater Drive, Hooksett. Rates are $20 for two hours, $35 for four hours and $45 for a full day. Call 406-1462 or visit paddlemerrimack.com.
Portsmouth Paddle Co. Offers paddleboard sales, rentals, lessons, tours and yoga sessions. Retail shop is at 70 Heritage Ave., Portsmouth. Rentals start at $40 for two hours. Lessons range from $95 for one person to $60 per person in a group of four and include on-land instruction followed by 45 minutes of on-water coaching. Various tour options are available, starting at $60. Various yoga classes and workshops are held every day of the week, starting at $60. Call 777-7428 or visit portsmouthpaddleco.com.
Seacoast Paddleboard Club A paddleboarding social club based in Portsmouth, with community paddles held every Tuesday night from May through September. Open ocean paddles for intermediate to advanced paddlers are held every Sunday from June through mid-September on the ocean and typically range from 8 to 12 miles. All paddles are free with a yearly membership fee of $50. Visit seacoastpaddleboardclub.com or call 498-8198.
Seven Rivers Paddling Offers paddleboard tours, lessons and rentals out of its shop at 185 Wentworth Road, Portsmouth. Rentals cost $45 for three hours and $75 for a full day (9 a.m. to 4 pm.). Tours cost $65 and run for two-and-a-half hours. Visit sevenriverspaddling.com or call 969-5120.
Summer Sessions Offers paddleboard lessons and rentals out of its two shops, at 15 Vaughn Mall, Portsmouth, and 2281 Ocean Blvd., Rye. One-hour lessons cost $65 for one person and $55 per person for groups of two or more. Rentals cost $35 for a half day and $45 for a full day. Visit newhampshiresurf.com or call the Rye shop at 319-8207 or the Portsmouth shop at 373-8147.
SUP-NH Paddleboard Offers paddleboard rentals, lessons, repairs and sales. Retail shop is at 10 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay. Rental options range from two hours for $30 to seven days for $280. A one-hour lesson is $45 per person or $40 per person in groups of three or more. Call 833-1211 or visit supnh.com.
The Wandering Paddler Mobile service offering paddleboard tours, lessons and rentals throughout New Hampshire. Lessons and private tours cost $45 for two hours and $25 for each additional hour. Specialty tours, like a full moon paddle, are also available for $60. Rentals range from $35 for two hours to $250 for a week and include board delivery and pickup. Call 380-5077 or visit wanderingpaddler.com.
Wild Meadow Paddlesports Rentals & Sales Offers paddleboard rentals and sales out of its shop at 6 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough. Rentals cost $50 per day (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or $275 for a week. Call 253-7536 or visit wildmeadowpaddlesports.com.
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Contoocook River Canoe Company, LLC.
The Sunflower Festival at the Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road in Lee; 659-3572) continues today and through the weekend, wrapping up on Sunday, Aug. 8. The field is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission for weekdays costs $8 per person ($6 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). On the weekends, admission costs $12 per person ($10 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). Tickets are available at nhsunflower.com and at the farm stand. The festival also features an artisan craft fair on Saturday and Sunday, food vendors (including Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, Coppa Magica, El Camino and Fabian’s European Pastries on Saturday) and souvenir photo shoots for sale, according to the website.
On the weekend, find live music including, on Saturday, Artty Francoeur (10 a.m.), Green Heron (at noon), Borscht (2 p.m.) and Chris Reagan (4 p.m.), and on Sunday, Long Journey (10 a.m.), Decatur Creek (noon), Grim Brothers (2 p.m.) and Cedar Mountain (4 p.m.).
Other special events planned for the rest of the festival run. Today is Fairytale Day with visits from special characters and fairy house building starting at 2:30 p.m., according to the website. Friday, Aug. 6, from 3 to 5 p.m. is Old Truck Day when you can see old trucks and talk to restorers. Children’s story times will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8.
Thursday, Aug. 5
New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) with games against the Hartford Yard Goats through Sunday, Aug. 8. Games Thursday through Saturday start at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Before Sunday’s game, the Fisher Cats will host a Princesses at the Park brunch (tickets cost $24) featuring a pancake breakfast and appearances by princesses. Sunday will also feature a Gatos Feroces hat giveaway and kids run the bases, according to the promotions schedule. Post-game fireworks are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday.
Thursday, Aug. 5
The Nashua Silver Knights have three games on the schedule for the next seven days at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). Tonight at 6 p.m. they play the Westfield Starfires. On Friday, Aug. 6, they play the Vermont Lake Monsters, also at 6 p.m., with post-game fireworks. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, a doubleheader against the New Britain Bees starts at 3 p.m. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Friday, Aug. 6
Catch comedian Frank Santorelli tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $25.
Saturday, Aug. 7
The Belknap County 4-H Fair runs today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tomorrow, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Events include 4-H agricultural events (a horse show at 9 a.m. on Saturday, a poultry hall at 1 p.m.) and live entertainment such as magic (Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon) and music (including Cedar Mountain Bluegrass Band at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the Blue Monsters at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday). Admission costs $8 ($7 for seniors and free for kids under 10 and for military with ID). See bcfairnh.org.
Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 28
Order today to get the gyro plate, rice pudding, loukoumades, kourambiedes, feta or spinach peta, pastichio and of course baklava during the Greekfest Express at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; 623-2045, assumptionnh.org). As with other foodie events at Assumption over the last year, this event is pre-order and drive-thru pick-up only. Go to foodfest.assumptionnh.org to order your Greekfest favorites by Sunday, Aug. 22, and select a time on Saturday, Aug. 28, for pick-up.
