Tag: 220127

Kiddie Pool 22/01/27

Family fun for the weekend

Plane fun

• It’s the final weekend to see “Festival of Planes,” an exhibit of more than 1,500 model planes and toy aircraft at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820). Museum admission costs $10 per person; $5 for children under 13, seniors and veterans and active military, and is free for children age 5 and under. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. According to a press release, the exhibit “features aviation-themed toys, models, puzzles, and promotional items from the past 100 years. Themes range from the Wright Brothers to sci-fi favorites as Star Trek, Star Wars, and more.” There is also a “find Santa” challenge with prizes for kids who spot him.

Snowshoe season

• If this week’s Winter Festival in Concord (see the story above) has you looking for more snow-themed fun, check out last week’s story in the Hippo about snowshoeing. On page 16 of the Jan. 20 issue, Meghan Siegler looks at where you can rent snowshoes, including locations such as the New Hampshire Audubon centers in Manchester and Concord, American Stonehenge in Salem, Beaver Brook in Hollis and Pats Peak in Henniker. She also discusses a few of the more snowshoe-friendly trails in the area.

On stage

• Head to the magical land of Oz at the Majestic Theatre’s young performers presentation of The Wizard of Oz at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry). The show, a young performers edition of the tale, according to majestictheatre.net, will run Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or go to majestictheatre.net.

• At the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), the Palace Youth Theatre group (featuring student actors in second through twelfth grade) will present Matilda Jr., the younger-performer version of the musical based on the Roald Dahl book. The show will run Tuesday, Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.

Crowns and a pony

• This week’s storytime at the Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature the books The Princess and the Pony and Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of the Girl Who Floated, read by Miss Manchester and Miss Manchester Outstanding Teen, according to the website. The storytime will start at 11:30 a.m. and after the stories the Misses will be available for photos. Also slated to make an appearance is Eddy, the Manchester Police Department’s new comfort pony, the website said. The event is free; go online to register.

Chill fun

Winter Fest returns to downtown Concord

Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.

“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.

Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.

The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.

“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.

Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.

Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.

“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”

The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)

A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.

Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.

“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.

Concord NH Winter Festival

Where: Main Street, Concord
When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee.
More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.

The Art Roundup 22/01/27

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

• Witches and wizards: The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts presents the Young Performers’ Edition of The Wizard of Oz at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry), with showtimes on Friday, Jan. 28, and Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film adaptation, the musical features classic songs like “If I Only Had a Brain,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard” and “Over the Rainbow.” Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and up and $10 for students age 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.

The Epping Community Theater Youth Theater presents a junior production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at the Epping Playhouse (28 Ladds Lane, Epping), with showtimes on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 29, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10, cash only, at the door. Visit eppingtheater.org or call 608-9487.

• Hannah’s story: Glass Dove Productions presents Irene Kelleher’s Mary & Me at the Hatbox Theater(Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Jan. 28 through Feb. 13, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The one-woman play, performed by Emily Karel and directed by Peter Josephson, follows a pregnant 15-year-old girl named Hannah and her search for understanding while growing up in 1986 Ireland. “Mary & Me is a very personal story, and, as a performer, it’s a very deeply personal experience to perform this play,” Karel told the Hippo earlier this month. “I’m excited to share Hannah’s story with the audience and have them get to know Hannah and, hopefully, get to love Hannah.” Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com or call 715-2315.

• Natural elements: The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “Impressions: Nature,” featuring the work of Allenstown artist Daniela Edstrom, on view now through Feb. 17 at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St., Concord). Edstrom’s art explores the abstract qualities of light, form and color found in the New England landscape. “Sunlight and its play of light and shadow is perceived as halos of vibrating strokes and bold minimalist shapes,” the artist said in a press release. “Elements such as leaves, trees — the organic aspects of the woodland environment — are seen in emphatic primary colors and highlighted by gestural marks of rich complementary hues.” Gallery hours at the Chamber are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All works are for sale. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Poetry and music: Local writer and poet Rob Azevedowill be at the Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. to read from and discuss his new book of poems, Don’t Order the Calamari. Musicians Becca Myari and Todd Hearon will accompany Azevedo with live music. The event is free to attend. See “Author Event & Music with Rob Azevedo, Becca Myari, and Todd Hearon” on Eventbrite.

Natural squares

See the work of Hollis artist Ellen Fisher in “Translating Nature Into Fabric,” at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua) now through Feb. 26. It includes 15 art quilts featuring nature-based designs, such as trees and streams, inspired by Fisher’s career as a landscape designer and conservationist. “I am not as interested in making other people’s designs but very interested in figuring out my own, and I do this with great respect for the traditional quilting world,” Fisher told the Hippo earlier this month. “I have a real root system in traditional quilting that I have just interpreted in my own way.” Most quilts are for sale. Viewing hours are Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit nashualibrary.org or call 589-4600.

ART

Exhibits

• “ARTFUL ESCAPES” Exhibition features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester). On view now through Jan. 31. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now through Feb. 13. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “TRANSLATING NATURE INTO FABRIC” Exhibition features nature-inspired artistic quilts by Ellen Fisher. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. On view now through Feb. 26, during library hours. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “VEHICULAR NARRATIVES” Exhibit features New Hampshire Art Association artist William Turner, whose narrative realism oil paintings have depicted distressed vehicles and machinery, vintage toys and stories from Greek and Roman mythology and folklore told through imagery of automobiles. All works are for sale. The Art Center (Washington Mill, 1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover). On view now through Feb. 28. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with private appointments available by request. The exhibition can also be accessed via an online gallery. Call 978-6702 or visit nhartassociation.org or theartcenterdover.com.

• “SETTING THE STANDARD” Exhibit features new work from League jurors in all media areas. League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters, 49 S. Main St., #100, Concord. Now through March 31. Regular exhibition hours are Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Visit nhcrafts.org.

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

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view April 14 through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

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

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

Workshops and classes

• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Feb. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

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

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

THEATER

Shows

• THE FULL MONTY presented by the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Jan. 28 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• THE LION KING JR. The Riverbend Youth Company presents. Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford). Fri., Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 5, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., Feb. 6, at 2:30 p.m. Visit amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company.

• I LOVE YOU BECAUSE presented by Jonesing for Theatre, in collaboration with Dive in Productions. The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Feb. 4 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $25 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• THE 39 STEPS presented by the Windham Actors Guild. Searles School and Chapel (3 Chapel Road, Windham). Fri, Feb. 18, and Sat., Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and military. Call 247-8634 or visit windhamactorsguild.com.

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

• DEADLY Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents an original movement-based theater piece by Crystal Rose Welch. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., March 4, through Sun., March 6. Visit cztheatre.com.

Classical

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

This Week 22/01/27

Big Events January 27, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Jan. 27

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will present a screening of the documentary Simba: King of the Beasts (1928) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton; wiltontownhalltheatre.com). Admission costs $10 per person and supports the museum, according to a press release. The silent film will be accompanied by live music by Jeff Rapsis. The film is part of a presentation — “Martin and Osa Johnson: Adventure’s First Couple,” which will also include a lecture, the release said.

Friday, Jan. 28

Also opening tonight: Mary & Me, a one-woman show about a girl in 1980s Ireland, at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). Tonight’s show is at 7:30 p.m. The show will run Fridays (7:30 p.m.), Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.) through Sunday, Feb. 13. Tickets cost $22 for adults. Angie also spoke with Emily Karelitz, the show’s star, in last week’s issue; find that conversation on page 11.

Friday, Jan. 28

Heat up winter with The Full Monty, the musical based on the 1997 film, which begins a four-week run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) tonight with a show at 7:30 p.m. The show runs Fridays through Sundays, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and noon on Sundays, as well as Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 and $46 (plus fees, for adults). Angie Sykeny talked to Carl Rajotte, the director of the show, in last week’s (Jan. 20) issue of the Hippo; find that conversation on page 10.

Saturday, Jan. 29

Catch the Metropolitan Opera’s HD Live broadcast of Rigolettotoday at 12:55 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $26 for adults (plus fees) and doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 29

Attend a virtual event with Isabel Allende to promote her new book Violeta via Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com). The Zoom event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $28 plus a $3.33 for a bundle that includes a copy of the book (for pickup at Gibson’s; for an additional cost, you can have the book shipped to you).

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Inject a little art into your midday. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) has restarted its Wednesday “Art Conversations from Home” sessions at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Each week a different work is discussed during the 30-minute program (which is geared toward adults). Admission is free but register online in advance. This week the focus will be Franz Lenk’s “The Old Weir (Altes Wehr).”

Save the date! Friday, Feb. 11

Is the music of Bruce Springsteen your love language? Check out “Bruce in the USA,” a tribute to the music of the Boss, on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; 641-7000, anselm.edu/dana-events).

Featured photo. The Full Monty. Photo courtesy of the Palace Theatre.

Quality of Life 22/01/27

Record-breaking tourism

Summer 2021 in New Hampshire saw 4.4 million visitors, who spent more than $2.1 billion, which broke the previous record in Summer 2019 with a 21-percent increase in visitors and a 5-percent increase in spending for the season. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, fiscal year 2021 as a whole had a record number of visitors at 12.8 million, with spending over $5.5 billion, equaling $322.6 million in state tax revenue. “Our tourism team here at BEA kept a marketing presence in key states throughout the pandemic, so while other states retreated, we were poised to come out of the gate fast … and that worked,” Taylor Caswell, commissioner of New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said in the release.

Score: +1

Comment: The total fiscal year 2021 returns on investment generated $197 in visitor spending for each $1 invested in marketing efforts, and $12.08 in tax revenue for each $1 invested, according to the release.

Souped-up recycling

Manchester has made another step in its commitment to invest in environment-friendly practices, recently becoming the second city in the nation to use ocean-bound recycled plastic in their recycling carts. According to a press release, the OceanCore carts are 100-percent recyclable and will replace broken or new carts for residents across the city. Ten percent of their post-consumer recycled materials are made up of recycled plastics found in and near waterbodies.

Score: +1

Comment: Other environmentally-friendly steps that the city has taken include the recent sale of $46.5 million in green bonds to help finance its program to remove combined sewer overflows into the Merrimack River for cleaner water; the construction of a solar array on the former landfill; and the addition of energy-efficient buses to the Manchester Transit Authority fleet, according to the release.

More personal finance classes, please

A recent study of personal finance curriculum and graduation requirements of all 79 public high schools in New Hampshire showed that many schools still do not require students to pass a class in personal finance to graduate. According to a press release, the study done by NH Jump$tart Coalition — an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that helps prepare youth for successful financial decision-making — was completed in late 2021 and found that 68 percent of New Hampshire public high schools clearly offer a personal finance course as an elective, in addition to meeting the state requirement for economics; 13 percent clearly require a standalone course in personal finance for graduation; and 6 percent require economics only.

Score: -1

Comment: There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but we’re getting there: According to the release, in 2013, only three public high schools met the state minimum requirement in economics and required students to pass a half-credit class in personal finance to graduate, while in 2021, 10 schools met those criteria (locally, those schools are Bedford, Belmont, Bow and Pelham high schools).

Lighting up the community

Granite VNA and Central NH VNA & Hospice raised more than $65,000 during its annual Lights, Life and Memories campaign to support hospice care. According to a press release, the community added to the more than 1,800 names in the online Honor Roll, and more than 600 names were inscribed on porcelain doves to remember loved ones who have died. And in December, 150 businesses throughout the Concord area were illuminated by Lights, Life and Memories purple candles to honor the lives of those who have passed.

Score: +1

Comment: The Community Memorial Service, with music, readings, reflection and remembrance, can be seen at granitevna.org/lights.

QOL score: 54

Net change: +2

QOL this week: 56

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

Celtics solutions

As the frustration throughout the local basketball community mounts, what ever are we to make of your Boston Celtics?

Many feel with two so called “All-Stars” they’re an under-achieving lot. But I’m not so sure they are. I’m more in the Bill Parcells camp that says you are what your record says you are. Which is a 24-24 team that plays with no passion and will be in a dogfight for the Eastern Conference play-in games for a second straight year.

While talk radio is definitely on their case, other media types are not. ABC broadcaster Doris Burke fawns over their “young stars” like she’s their den mother and likable play-by-play partner Mike Breen does the same. Earth to you two, Jaylen Brown is in Year 6 and for Jayson Tatum it’s 5, so they have no excuse to not have figured it out by now. Then there’s Boston Globe basketball writer Gary Washburn, who goes from writing “they don’t know how to win” columns one day, to, after a close win (that usually involved blowing or erasing a double-digit lead/deficit), an endless series of “they’ve turned the corner” pieces. The most ridiculous was calling a win over the 17-30 Pacers 10 days ago “the most important of the season.” That’s right; he said a horribly played (by both teams) lucky win over 13th-place Indiana was the most important win of the year! Which was followed by losses at home to Charlotte and a horrendous one-point loss to 19-26 Portland Friday night, who was playing the fifth of a six-game East Coast swing with their best player Damian Lillard a DNP, as the C’s somehow went the final 7 minutes and 15 seconds without scoring a field goal.

Meanwhile the Mr. Rogers of the NBA, GM Brad Stevens, fiddles while Rome burns by saving a few bucks to get under the luxury tax line by trading for two injured guys who are done for the season.

So the bottom line is the Celtics are a complete mess. And while I don’t take joy in saying this, it’s happening because they are being led by a first-year coach who’s over his head, a GM who was the franchise’s worst hire since Rick Pitino 20 years ago and owners who seem clueless now that they don’t have Danny Ainge around to give them their media talking points.

Then over in the cheap seats, everyone from Tony Maz to Charles Barkley is looking for remedies: dump Marcus Smart, get something for Dennis Schroder, move Al Horford and the big one, break up Tatum and Brown, etc. And with the trade deadline dead ahead the shouting has intensified with people making ridiculous knee-jerk suggestions that won’t do anything productive in the long run.

That’s because you can’t solve a problem until you identify what it is, and few have.

Here are my thoughts on the chatter.

Most Urgent Need: Bob Cousy just said it, Robert Parish just said it, Paul Pierce too and I’ve been saying it since they kept blowing big leads to Miami in the bubble during the 2020 playoffs.

They need a real point guard. There aren’t a lot of Rondo-like pg’s out there, but they need to find one. because they desperately need order in the half court that gets everyone involved.

Get Another All-Star: As I constantly hear this one I ask, how? After squandering a 10-deep bench and seven first-round picks over three years they don’t have the capital to swing a trade for a really good third guy. All made more infuriating by Ainge giving that final first-rounder, Desmond Bane, to Memphis for nothing, where he’s now averaging 18 points per as a starter for the surprising 32-16 Grizzlies.

Break Up Brown and Tatum: It’s hard to consider this when both have had 50-point nights this year. But building a basketball team is like making a cake, where all the ingredients need to be blended together in the bowl before it becomes a delicious cake. And the reality is Brown plays with blinders on like he’s in the gym by himself and doesn’t have a true basketball instinct in his body, while Tatum is not and never will be the leader they badly need.

So my gut says yes, break them up, but not before getting that point guard. Because we really won’t know if they do fit as the foundation for winning until they have a setup that gives each the ball where they can do something with it, over their usual freelancing that inhibits flow and rarely gets others involved or encourages movement without the ball.

How Do They Get Better? Assuming it’s a break-up, they should do what Bruins GM Harry Sinden did almost 50 years ago when he traded his best and most popular player, Phil Esposito, in a five-player swap with the Rangers that got the B’s the next three best players. Which really came down to trading one A+ level star to fill two big holes with A- level players.

For the C’s that would be a pg and a second scorer. A perfect one would have been Tatum to Cleveland for second overall pick, 7-footer Evan Mobley and pg Darius Garland to give them a reset with bigger, and faster emerging players while improving their depth. However, that ship has sailed with the Cavs now a rising team. But they need something like that.

At the end of the day a shake-up is needed. Which should include the coach (I vote Kevin Garnett). If they can find the right point guard now, do it. But the worst thing they can do is make a move to satisfy the yackers.

In the meantime, compete for the play-in round. But do it by giving PT to Grant Williams, Romeo Langford and Payton Pritchard to improve their trade value for the larger renovation this summer. Or, to see if they can become consistent contributors going forward.

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