Tag: 220707

Takes the cake

Eatxactly Sweet Cafe opens in Concord

Concord native Laura Fucella found success in 2017 with Eatxactly Cakes, a homestead business specializing in custom designed cakes, cupcakes and cake pops for weddings, birthday parties and all kinds of other occasions. But she could only pull so much out of her home kitchen each week — so when her business grew to the point when she was regularly having to turn cake orders away during peak season, that was when she began looking for opportunities to expand.

cinnamon raisin bun on plate beside plastic takeout drink cup
Photos courtesy of Eatxactly Sweet Cafe in Concord.

Eatxactly Sweet Cafe, which opened June 18 in the former Eagle Square Deli space downtown, is more than just a larger production space for Fucella’s custom cakes. It’s also a full-service bakery and cafe, featuring a lineup of grab-and-go pastries, coffees, teas, toasts and more.

“I always wanted to have a little cake bakery, just something small … and when I saw that this was available, it felt right,” said Fucella, who took over the vacant storefront last October. “Then it was like, well this is a lot of space for just cakes, so I said, ‘What else can we do in here?’ That’s kind of how it got to be what it is, more just because of the space available.”

Fucella is no stranger to smaller baked goodies, either — she completed a nine-month intensive program in pastry arts at Le Cordon Bleu College in Cambridge, Mass., in 2011, and also held various baking and restaurant management positions, including at D Squared Java in Exeter just prior to the start of the pandemic.

The new cafe’s offerings include a regularly stocked display of scratch-baked items like croissants, scones and sticky buns, in addition to a refrigerated case of fruit tarts, chocolate cream puffs, banana breads, and cakes and cupcakes, all in a variety of rotating flavors.

Photos courtesy of Eatxactly Sweet Cafe in Concord.

There are also “cafe bites,” or loaded toasts using rustic sourdough bread from the Derry-based Nomad Bakery — those options include a tomato crostini with goat cheese and microgreens; a caprese-style toast with basil pesto, mozzarella and spinach; and the “Queen Bee,” which features peanut butter, banana, bacon, house-made granola and a bourbon honey glaze. Oatmeals, quiches, yogurt parfaits and focaccia served by the slice on Fridays round out the food menu.

For her coffees, Fucella is partnering with Tandem Coffee Roasters of Portland, Maine. Drip coffee and cold brew are available, in addition to a full line of espresso drinks, along with a variety of house-made syrups with flavors like mocha, vanilla, caramel and maple. Fucella also offers herbal, black and oolong loose-leaf teas from Aera Tea Co., with a few milk options.

But even with all the new menu additions, you’ll still be able to order any of the signature cakes Fucella has become known for. Most require at least a seven-day advance notice, although it’s longer for weddings and for larger orders. Fucella has even worked to streamline the ordering process with new forms recently uploaded to the website that you can fill out yourself.

Eatxactly Sweet Cafe
Where: 5 Eagle Square, Concord
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (hours may be subject to change)
More info: Visit eatxactlysweetcafe.com, or find them on Facebook and Instagram @eatxactlysweetcafe or call 715-1145

Featured photo: Photos courtesy of Eatxactly Sweet Cafe in Concord.

The Weekly Dish 22/07/07

News from the local food scene

• Granite brews: Depending on when you’re reading this, there may still be time to get your ticket to this year’s Keep NH Brewing Festival, happening at the Kiwanis Riverfront Park behind the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) on Saturday, July 9, with general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. and VIP admittance beginning at noon. The festival is known for featuring the largest collection of craft breweries in the state for one event, and it’s the first time since 2019 that it’s being held in person. Beer styles will run the gamut from IPAs and lagers to sours, ales and stouts, with an overall collection of more than 130 available options to sample. Admission grants you access to 4-ounce pours of each beer, as well as a souvenir tasting glass — other participants of the festival will include several food trucks, a local hop grower, outdoor vendors and more. General admission is $50 in advance and $55 on the day of the festival, while designated drivers get in for $20 (event is 21+ only). Visit nhbrewers.org.

• Abenaki flavors: Join the Hopkinton Historical Society and New Hampshire Humanities for a virtual cooking program on traditional Abenaki squash soup, scheduled for Monday, July 11, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Liz Charlebois, Abenaki educator, artist and seed expert, will lead this demonstration — participants can watch or cook alongside her at their own home. A list of ingredients will be made available in advance. The program is one of several taking place during the Hopkinton Historical Society’s ongoing exhibit, “Gather ’Round: Telling Our History Through Food,” which opened on June 25. Other upcoming programs include a virtual cooking demonstration on Native American frybread in August, and an Abenaki harvest food tasting event at the Slusser Senior Center in Contoocook in October. Visit hopkintonhistory.org for a full list of events and to register.

• South of France: The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) continues its regional summer dinner series with a South of France four-course al fresco dinner scheduled for Thursday, July 14, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will feature passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a four-course plated dinner out on the Grand Terrace. Each of the food options and wine pairings is inspired by southern French cuisine — they’ll include tomato tarte with black olive, pickled chili, fennel aioli and herbs; black sea bass with summer vegetables, shell beans and saffron; Vernon Family Farm coq au vin (red wine-braised chicken) with heirloom carrots and chervil; and peach financiers with candied almond, chantilly, brown butter and roquefort for dessert. Tickets are $125 per person (dinner is 21+ only) and reservations are required, as space is limited. The Bedford Village Inn will then continue its series with a South Carolina dinner on Aug. 4. Visit bedfordvillageinn.com.

• Ribs!: Save the date for the Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival, returning for the first time in three years to Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) from Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17. A fundraiser for the Merrimack Rotary Club, Ribfest features all kinds of barbecue options from more than 30 vendors, in addition to live music and craft beer. Tickets are available at the door and will be $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $6 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for kids ages 5 and under. Visit greatamericanribfest.com.

On The Job – Elise Noga

Eco-friendly product maker

Elise Noga of Bedford is the owner of The Beaded Sheep (thebeadedsheep.com), a blog, podcast and online shop selling handmade eco-friendly home and beauty products.

Explain your job and what it entails.

Mostly, I’m making my products, which currently consist of cloth napkins, dish towels, paperless towels, cotton rounds, no-drip cuffs, tote bags and drawstring bags. … There’s a lot of creativity [involved] in picking out patterns, designing new products and putting the products out into the world via my online shop and a few retail locations. I also host a podcast … The most important part of my job is that I get to do it with my daughters. That’s truly my favorite part.

How long have you had this job?

I started The Beaded Sheep officially in the spring of 2019, and it became an online shop in the fall of 2020, where I sold only cloth napkins through Etsy.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

In 2019, I left my full-time job in tech support to be home full-time with my first daughter, since she had just turned 1. I started The Beaded Sheep originally to do blogging, then dabbled for a small time period in family photography, and finally landed on selling cloth napkins.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I didn’t need a lot of training for this job, but my mom taught me how to sew. … In college I studied Communication Arts with concentrations in Creative Writing and Global Missions, and that education has helped me with marketing, writing, communicating what my business is about, hosting my podcast — also called The Beaded Sheep — and having my business strive to help others be more eco-friendly.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Since I work from home … my work attire is whatever is comfortable and kid-friendly.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

I started this job during the pandemic, and it was difficult at first since I wasn’t comfortable doing business in person and had to rely heavily on online orders. Now that more things are open, I’ve been able to do more fairs, which has been more helpful for my business.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish other people knew how much work goes into having a business like this. Not only do I make things, but I’m the accountant, the marketer, the salesperson, the writer, the creative director — everything.

What was the first job you ever had?

My first job was being a babysitter for some of my neighbors.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

My husband recently gave me the sweetest advice, and that was to follow my heart with this business and not let anyone else dictate what I should be doing. I also think it’s so important to be willing to pivot and change what direction you’re going in since making a change can bring so much good.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Harry Potter series.
Favorite movie: I don’t have a favorite movie, but my favorite show is Schitt’s Creek.
Favorite music: My favorite genres are indie, folk, alternative and hardcore.
Favorite food: Pretty much anything chocolate.
Favorite thing about NH: There’s so much to do, and most of my immediate family lives here.

Featured photo: Elise Noga. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 22/07/07

Family fun for the weekend

Farm fun

• Get some family fun, farm-style, at J & F Farms (124 Chester Road in Derry; jandffarmsnh.com) on Friday, July 8, at their Friday Family Fun event from 4 to 7 p.m., with a petting farm, food truck, live music and $5 per person hayrides, according to the farm’s Facebook post. A Sunday Funday event will feature many of the same attractions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a post said, and of course at both events you can load up on farm goodies from the farm stand.

Brand-new play center

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane in Exeter; independencemuseum.org) has a new interactive space, the Foy Family Children’s Library. The library has a reading nookfilled with books about American history, a dress-up area where kids can wear 18th-century-style clothing, a play kitchen area and historic games. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum costs $8 for adults; $6 for seniors, students, educators and first responders; $4 for children 6 to 18 years old; and free for children under 6.

Movie time

• O’neil Cinemas’ Summer Kids Series continues on Monday, July 11 with a 10 a.m. showing of Hotel Transylvania: Transformia(PG, 2022). The movie will also screen on Wednesday, July 13, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $2 for attendees age 11 and lower, $3 for ages 12 and older, and the cinema is offering a $6 popcorn-and-drink combo pack. See oneilcinemas.com/epping-nh/events.

And for the older crowd that might need a more relaxed movie-going environment, the theater’s weekly Sensory Friendly Flix film on Saturday, July 9, is Thor: Love and Thunder(PG-13, 2022) at 10 a.m., when house lights will be higher and noises will be a little less loud, the website said.

• After a fun-filled day in the sun, relax with Movie Night Mondays on Hampton Beach (next to the playground) on Monday, July 11, starting at dusk. The movie lineup will run through Aug. 29. Bring a chair or a blanket to set up for the free show. The first in the family-friendly movie series is Paw Patrol (G, 2021). For more information and for a full lineup of all the summer shows and approximate dusk times, visit hamptonbeach.org. Rain dates are Tuesdays.

• And while you’re not watching a movie you do get to enjoy some movie theater candy at Theater Candy Bingo, which will be held at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road) on Wednesday, July 13, at 6:30 p.. and in Nashua (151 Coliseium Ave.) on Thursday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. The event, described as family friendly and offering chances to win movie theater candy and other prizes, costs $10 per person to reserve a seat ($5 for a food voucher plus the candy). See chunkys.com.

Story time!

• Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury) is bringing Peter Rabbit to life with an in-garden reading of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Monday, July 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Children will get to participate in activities like seed starting and gardening, play in the award-winning outdoor classroom, and pose for a character photo. The event requires registration and tickets are $12 for adult and one child, $6 for each additional child, and infants are free. Reservations can be made at petalsinthepines.com/kids-workshops.

• New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro) is hosting an outdoor story hour for kids ages 2 to 6 on Friday, July 8, at 10 a.m. The Wolfeboro Public Library children’s librarian, Jeanne Snowdon, will read stories and lead kids in a craft. This event is free for one child with an accompanying adult. For more information, visit nhbm.org.

Play ball!

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats run of games against the Hartford Yard Goats continues with games daily through Sunday, July 10 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Downtown Manchester. Games Thursday, July 7; Friday, July 8, and Saturday, July 9, start at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday games feature post-game fireworks. Friday is North Woods Law night with a jersey giveway, according to the website. Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. See nhfishercats.com.

• The Nashua Silver Knights have home games Thursday, July 7, and Friday, July 8, at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). Both games start at 6 p.m. and are against the Vermont Lake Monsters. Friday’s game features post game fireworks. See nashuasilverknights.com.

— Katelyn Sahagian

Treasure Hunt 22/07/07

Dear Donna,

Recently got this bracelet in a box of assorted jewelry. It stood out to me because it’s marked sterling and Dane Craft. Any help would be appreciated.

Sandra in Salem

Dear Sandra,

Good catch in the jewelry box.

Your Dane Craft sterling daffodil bracelet was produced in the 1940s. The company was located in Rhode Island. It has a very interesting story if you want additional information. I have had many pieces over the years from sterling to gold-filled. But I have to say I learned information by doing research for you through Google. I always say learning something new makes for a great day!

The values I found were in the $100 range on average. Some were higher and a couple lower. So for me I would feel safe in the middle.

Sandra, you found a treasure! Hope this was helpful and glad you shared!

Donna

There is a free lunch!

Veggies for the lackadaisical gardener

My father, may he rest in peace, always told me that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Wrong, Dad. I grow at least three tasty vegetables that require no work to speak of: I just plant, mulch and harvest. If you are a lackadaisical gardener and like garlic, rhubarb and horseradish, you are in luck.

Let’s start with horseradish: It’s in the broccoli family, and once planted, it will never ask anything of you. Yes, it does slowly expand the patch of ground it claims as its own, so you may want to dig some up each year and make horseradish sauce. But if you plant it bordering a lawn on one side and a barn, house or path on the other, it won’t travel far.

The roots of a mature horseradish plant will grow deep, probably all the way to China. So when you dig it, some will always be left in the ground to come back. I have extracted roots longer than 18 inches. The plant is tall, easily 3 or 4 feet, and the leaves are wide and a bit coarse-looking. Not a particularly pretty plant. And although it produces little white flowers, it doesn’t produce viable seed. You can start it from a scrap of root you get from a friend at harvest time.

The sauce can be very powerful or more mild, depending on how you make it. Wash the roots with a scrub brush, then peel with a potato peeler. Chop into chunks under an inch in size, and put in a food processor or blender. A cup of chunks will make all I need for a year. I blend the chunks with half a cup of water or so. It takes a few minutes of blending to get it to the right consistency as this stuff is fibrous and tough to break down. Don’t overheat your blender, so stop and start.

horseradish plant in garden on sunny day
Horseradish is a big plant. The roots can be used to make a spicy condiment for sandwiches. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

If you want mild horseradish add a third of a cup of vinegar pretty much right away. If you want it hot (which I do), wait a few minutes after blending, then add it. The mix should be spreadable with a butter knife and juicy. Store it in a glass jar, preferably with a plastic lid. Metal lids rust and dissolve from the fumes in less than a year.

The fumes when blending are powerful, so don’t get your eyes and nose by looking into the blender. You may even want to do the job outside on the deck.

Rhubarb is a wonderful vegetable, even if old-fashioned. Like horseradish, it is a forever plant that once planted should provide you with treats for the rest of your life. You can buy a plant or get a friend to divide and share some roots. Some rhubarb has red stems, others green stems. They taste the same, but I like the red color. The leaves contain oxalic acid and are not edible.

Since rhubarb is going to live forever, I recommend adding lots of compost and some slow-release organic fertilizer at planting time. If dividing rhubarb, early spring is the best time to do it, but anytime is all right. It grows best in full sun, but as a leafy green it will thrive in part sun, too.

I like making rhubarb punch as an early-summer refreshing drink. Pick a few stems, and cut into one-inch chunks. Add an equal amount of water, and boil until the rhubarb is falling apart. Sieve through a colander or sieve. The add water — a cup of fruit will easily make a quart of punch, or even two, depending how you like it. Add sugar to taste and serve cold.

rhubarb plant in garden
Rhubarb does best in rich, moist soil but will grow most anywhere. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Garlic should be planted in October, and it is ready to harvest in July. This year mine started to blossom in late June, sending up curly stalks called scapes that are edible and decorative. I will resist picking any bulbs of garlic until mid-July or later so it can reach maximum size. But don’t wait too long; if you do, the outer layers of leafy material that cover each bulb will start to break down, and it will not store as well.

OK, I looked at mine today and did see a few weeds I should pull. But it really is essentially a work-free crop. I plant cloves 3 inches apart and 3 inches deep in rich, compost-containing soil. Full sun is best. Once planted, I mulch it heavily — up to a foot of fluffy mulch hay or straw. Over the winter it will pack down to just 3 or 4 inches. In the spring the leaves will grow right through the straw, but weeds do not.

Garlic stores well in a cool, dry place. By now, some of last year’s garlic is starting to sprout in the kitchen. I have made garlic powder by drying it in a food dehydrator, then grinding in a coffee or spice grinder, but normally I just store it. I have read that one can freeze it, too, but haven’t done so yet. Don’t store it at room temperature in oil — as a root crop there is always the possibility of getting botulism.

Whatever you plant in the garden will reward you well beyond the work it involves to grow. To get good results do these things: prepare the soil well, and add compost. Provide plenty of sunshine, even if it means planting in the front lawn. Water regularly in hot times, especially early in the season. Pick your veggies when they are small and tender — that’s when they will taste best. And lastly, don’t let the weeds get ahead of you. Never let weeds blossom and distribute their seeds. Mulch is an easy way to keep weeds at bay, particularly if you put down a few sheets of newspaper under the straw or hay.

Featured photo: Garlic scapes can be sauteed and eaten, or put in a vase like flowers. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Hillsboro Summer Festival returns

Fun times to support firefighters

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Hillsboro Summer Festival is back for its 32nd year, celebrating the firefighters and community that started it all those years ago.

“The event has evolved a lot in the past 32 years,” said Katherine Charette, the co-chair of the Hillsboro festival committee. “It started out as something put on by the fire department and had different events to raise money for the community and their organization.”

Back when it started, Charette said that there would be Fireman Musters, or competitions between fire departments. Back in the day, firefighters would work to see who was fastest at unraveling hoses and winding them up again, do obstacle courses, and compete in other tests of their skill. Charette said that firefighters from across the country would come to compete.

Now, the event is filled with local artisans selling their wares, live music performances, carnival rides and games, and an impressive fireworks show. Even with the changes, the festival still honors firefighters.

“This is our second year back since having that time off from the pandemic,” Charette said. “We have the most events we’ve ever had for every single age.”

Hillsboro Fire Chief Kenny Stafford said that while the event is time-consuming for him and his volunteer firefighters, who set up and take down everything for the event, he is glad that it brings the community together.

“It brings people to town, and this weekend shows you exactly who we are,” Stafford said. “[The festival] shows what our town is all about.”

Charette said that she wanted to try to make the festival as low-cost as possible so that families could plan to have fun throughout the day without breaking the bank. Besides the $25 wristbands that gain access to all the rides, the only other part of the festival that costs money is donating to the fire department for parking.

From pie and cupcake eating contests to a warrior obstacle course, Charette said, “it’s all free and a really great event for the whole community.”

For Stafford, seeing the community recognize the sacrifice and dedication of his firefighters is what makes the event special.

“It’s awful nice to have someone come up and say, ‘Thanks for all you do,’” Stafford said. “We couldn’t do what we do if we didn’t have that support.”

Hillsboro Summer Festival

Where: 29 Preston St., Hillsboro
When: Thursday, July 7, from 6 to 10 p.m.; Friday, July 8, from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, July 9, from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday, July 10, from noon to 5 p.m.
Price: $10 per car, $25 for rides wristband.
Events include:
• Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. — Cub Scouts host the mobile basecamp (with gaga, archery, bb range and more)
• Friday, 6:30 p.m. — 5K Road Race (register in advance or onsite at 5:30 p.m.)
• Friday, 7 to 9 p.m. Superbug performs
• Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Warrior Obstacle Course
• Saturday, 1 p.m. Women’s Skillet Toss
• Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m., Interactive Juggling
• Saturday, 10 p.m., fireworks
• Sunday, noon, Hometown Parade
• Sunday, noon to 2:30 p.m., Car and Truck Show
• Sunday, 1 p.m. 10-and-under cupcake eating contest
• Sunday, 2 p.m. Pie Eating Contest
• Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Mary Poppins Balloon Artist
More: hillsborosummerfest.com, 464-0377

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Katherine Charette of the Hillsboro Festival.

The Art Roundup 22/07/07

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

• “I wish I were big”: The Majestic Theatre presents Big – The Musicalon Fridays, July 8 and July 15, at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, July 9 and July 16, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway, Derry). Adapted from the 1987 film of the same name, Big follows Josh, an awkward kid who wishes to a Zoltar machine to become an adult and soon realizes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and up and $15 for youth 17 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 669-7469 or visiting www.majestictheatre.net, or at the door.

• Owls in focus: The photography exhibit “All Things Owl in New England Habitats” featuring the work of Howard S. Muscott opened on July 1 at the New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; nhaudubon.org, 224-9909) and will be on display through Wednesday, Aug. 1. The exhibit is available during the center’s hours, Tuesdays through Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursday, July 7, the center will host an opening from 4 to 6 p.m. Find more about Muscott and his nature photography at chasingthegoldenlight.com.

Through the fire
For one night and one night only, the Village Players present Through the Fire, Victor Almanzar’s newest work. On Friday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m., Almanzar will give a preview performance of the production at the Player’s theater (51 Glendon St. in Wolfboro). Almanzar, seen in Homeland, Empire and Pulitzer prize-winning Between Riverside and Crazy, shares his own life’s story through this hip-hop-filled production developed by Wolfeboro local Estelle Parsons, an Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated actress. The show, which follows Almanzar as he immigrates from the Dominican Republic to New York and spends time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Kosovo and Iraq, will be headed to New York City in the coming weeks, and this preview performance at the Village Players Theater will benefit the theater. Tickets are $25 each, available online at village-players.com and at the door.

• Students on stage: The kids of the Palace Youth Theatre summer camp will present High School Musical 2 Jr. on Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for kids. The young performers range in age from second grade to high school, according to the website.

• Toys and art: Author and illustrator Sandy Steen Bartholomew drew some of her favorite toys for her “My Year of Toys” project. Some of these drawings are now on display at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) in their Gallery 6 space. The show, perfect for kids who love toys and comics, is on display through Oct. 16 and Gallery 6 can be viewed for free during museum hours without purchasing museum admission. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to the museum costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months (65+ is $10.50) and advance online registration is required, the website said.

• Summer theater: The Peterborough Players’ 2022 summer season continues with Circle Mirror Transformation, opening on Thursday, July 7, and running until Sunday, July 17, at the Players’ stage at 55 Hadley Road in Peterborough. The dramedy by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker follows a group of acting students in Vermont as they learn more about each other and themselves through a series of seemingly outrageous exercises. Tickets are $47 each, available online or at the door. The Friday, July 8, show will allow for ‘pay what you can’ ticketing, for patrons to pay what they are able. See peterboroughplayers.org or call the box office at 924-7575

Just like the Doobies
Concerts on the Common features “What a Fool Believes – A Doobie Brothers Experience” on Wednesday, July 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Londonderry Town Common (265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry). The performance features vocalist Sean Byrne as well as a host of performers to perform Doobie Brothers top hits. In case of bad weather, the concert will relocate to the Londonderry High School cafeteria. For a complete schedule and more details visit concertsonthecommon.org

• Art as a response: Ukrainian sculptor Natasha Dikareva opens an exhibition called “From Whispering to Screaming” at the Seacoast Artist Association gallery at 130 Water St. in downtown Exeter, as a “response to war on her country with art.” Dikareva, an internationally acclaimed sculptor who now lives in Newmarket, describes the collection as a reaction to both the pandemic and the war in her homeland. The works are on display at the gallery during regular business hours for the month of July, and a reception will be held for the public on Friday, July 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit seacoastartist.org.

• Strings in the garden: Saint-Gaudens National Park in Cornish kicks off its summer concert series with The Fischers and The Jennings, a program of classical works for violin, cello and piano, on Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. The summer concert series will run every Sunday through August. The concerts will take place in Little Studio on the grounds at 139 Saint Gaudens Road, which include a large lawn space for listeners to sit and enjoy. Tickets are $10 per person, which includes a seven-day pass to the grounds. Visit saint-gaudens.org.

• Be a part of Shrek: The Epping Community Theater (38c Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) will present Shrek the Musical Oct. 21 through Oct. 30 at the Epping Playhouse and is holding auditions on Sunday, July 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, July 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. See the website for the audition form, the signup form and the play’s production schedule. The show is a “family fun musical with casting opportunities for ages 8 to 108,” according to a press release.

– Hannah Turtle

ART

Exhibits

• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. 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 age 12 and under 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 for more information.

• “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 display now 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 age 12 and under 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 for more information.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• ROBIN CORNWELL The New Hampshire Boat Museum will feature local artist Robin Cornwell in the museum’s gallery (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) in July. Cornwell produces art quilts as well as bark paper paintings and woven placemats and rugs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Cornwell, visit robincornwellembellishments.com.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition 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 for more information.

• SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW Two Villages Art Society presents a mixed media art show at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from July 1 through July 30.Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Fairs and markets

• CRAFT FAIR AT THE BAY More than 75 juried artisans from all over New England will feature their work. Sat., July 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community House and Waterfront (24 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay). Visit castleberryfairs.com.

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 for more information.

Workshops and classes

• 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 or email arthousejb@gmail.comfor more information.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

•​ THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) through July 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39.

•​ ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) presents the musical through July 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52.

• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org , 436-2848) presents this outdoor musical through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150.

• INTO THE WOODS RGC Theatre presents this musical at Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) July 8 through July 17, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members.

•THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes 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.

• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

•​ LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.

• CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ’90s MUSICAL presented by the Actorsingers at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• TITANIC THE MUSICAL Presented by the Manchester Community Theatre Players. Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester; manchestercommunitytheatre.com, 327-6777). Showtimes on Fri., Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Sat., Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Portsmouth-based storytelling showcase. Monthly, last Tuesday (no shows in July and August), from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Shows will be held in person (Portsmouth Public Media TV Studio, 280 Marcy St., Portsmouth) starting in April, and returning to the Zoom format for the winter, starting in November. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Pre-registration for attendees is required for Zoom shows but not required for in-person shows. Visit truetaleslivenh.org and email info@truetaleslive.org if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

CLASSICAL

Events

• LISTEN AND LUNCH presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival, David William Ross (guitar) performs at Depot Park in Peterborough, 12 Depot St, Thursday, July 7, from noon to 1 p.m., concert is free and open to the public. Visit monadnockmusic.org.

• DEERING VILLAGE VOCAL RECITAL Monadnock Music Summer Festival hosts vocalists Carley DeFranco and Aaron Engebreth for a recital including works by Debussy and Ravel on July 9 at 7pm at the Deering Community Church, 763 Deering Center Road, in Deering. Event is free and open to the public. Visit monadnockmusic.org. • SERGEI NOVIKOV PIANO RECITAL The NH Philharmonic’s Summer Concert Series will host accomplished pianist Sergei Novikov for two concerts this month, first on Friday July 15 at 7pm at the Kingswood Art Center, 21 McManus Rd, in Wolfeboro, then on Friday July 22 at 7pm at the Seifert Performing Art Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, in Salem. Part of ticket sales will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help assist Ukraine. Tickets are available online at speakingmusic.com or by calling (800) 595-4849.

• TOWN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival features a program of Weber and Schubert at Peterborough Town House, 1 Grove St, on Sunday, July 17, 3 p.m. Tickets: $35, Seniors- $25 Students and Under 18- $10. See monadnockmusic.org.

• PROGRESSIVE GARDEN PARTY Monadnock Music’s summer festival presents a botanical tour of Jaffrey set to classical music, performed live by soloists in 3 separate gardens, and featuring unique food and drink at each location, Saturday, July 23, noon to 5 p.m., location TBA. Tickets cost $100. Visit monadnockmusic.org.

• FAMILY CONCERTS Monadnock Music Summer Festival hosts three family concerts on July 27, titled “Moonstrike: Tellings of American Indian Legends.” The program features a string quartet with a narrator. The first is at noon at George Holmes Bixby Memorial Library, Francestown Old Meeting House, the second at 2 p.m. at Peterborough Library, 1833 Room, Peterborough, and the third at 4 p.m. at Olivia Rodham Memorial Library, Nelson Town Hall. Performances are free and open to the public. For more info, visit monadnockmusic.org.

Open calls

• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email info@rnhchorus.org for more information.

Playing to the littles

Children’s theater groups present kid- and adult-friendly entertainment

By Hannah Turtle

hturtle@hippopress.com

Touring children’s theater group IMPACT has a simple goal: to expose kids to the joy of live theater. Their upcoming summer series, called The Magic of Fairy Tales, comprising six unique shows, is meant to do just that.

The group performs each show at eight locations across southern New Hampshire each week, partnering with local arts venues to give access to as many families as possible. This year, the group has weekly performances in Concord, Laconia, Plymouth, Lincoln, Lancaster, Claremont, Gorham and Haverhill, all beginning this week.

IMPACT is part of a broader trend of live theater for children in the area. The Palace Theatre in Manchester is also running a children’s series this summer, including adaptations of Cinderella and Frozen, with tickets for only $10, and RB Productions is running a host of youth programming at the Capitol Center, including Legally Blonde Jr., and Winnie the Pooh Kids.

Started back in 1986, the touring group IMPACT, housed at North Country Center For the Arts at Jean’s Playhouse, has recently shifted to writing all of its own shows and programming. It’s a unique challenge, writing children’s programming that is still entertaining for the whole family. “We try to write in a way that’s not only fun for kids, but equally fun for adults, in a different way,” said Joel Mercier, Artistic Director at Jean’s Playhouse.

Telling stories in the right way was a major consideration for the group, whose upcoming series includes retellings of the stories of Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood and a host of other classic fairy tales.

“As I’m writing the script, I’m trying to make it entertaining to myself, as an adult, because in my experience, sometimes children’s theater can come off a bit patronizing, sometimes it’s playing down to the kids, rather than bringing the kids up to the same level,” said Mercier. “We find that yes, there are differences in children’s theater, we talk a lot to the actors about making really bold decisions and really going big, but we tell them to never play cartoons, and to never play down to the audience.”

It’s this care that has made the programming a success over the years. “We do end up seeing a lot of kids who return week to week, and a lot of families make this a weekly tradition, which is not only great for us but it’s great for the venues too,” said Mercier. “We will sometimes get emails from families telling us who their favorite performers were this season, and just how much they enjoyed the shows.”

In addition to writing for the whole family, the group aims to modernize the messaging behind some of these older tales. “Some of these fairy tales are pretty dated and the morals are not the best, so we try to stay away from ‘damsels in distress,’” said Mercier. “We want to show characters with independence who solve problems themselves, learn how to compromise, cooperate with each other, and stand up against bullying. Those are the kinds of themes we want to highlight when writing.”

This year the program has a second mission, one taken on by the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. One of the stops for the group, the Capitol Center has made all IMPACT performances free for the audience, with the support of local sponsors.

”Our venue is for everyone, and the arts are too,” said Salvatore Prezio, Executive Director at the Capitol Center. “We have to get creative with the ways we get people involved, so it’s not just for kids from a certain neighborhood or income group. This is mission critical to us, to open our arms to the greater community.”

It’s a move Prezio hopes will broaden the — for lack of a better term — impact the programming will have on the community. “All of us remember our first experience with live theater,” said Prezio.

Affordable ticket pricing is a consideration for all eight venues this year, with all locations offering tickets for $8 or less. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, IMPACT wants to make sure that finances are not a barrier to experiencing the arts.

“We’ve gotten out of the habit of going out. This is an easy way to get out and support the arts, for a very inexpensive ticket price,” said Mercier.

Shows for the kids

Palace Theatre Summer Children’s Shows

Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org

Wizard of Oz Tuesday, July 12, through Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m.
Rapunzel Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 22, at 10 a.m.
Peter PanTuesday, July 26, through Thursday, July 28, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 29, at 10 a.m.
Cinderella Tuesday, Aug. 2, through Thursday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m.
Beauty and the Beast Tuesday, Aug. 9, through Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Tuesday, Aug. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m.
Frozen KidsTuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m.
Tickets: $10 at palacetheatre.org

RB Productions Summer Children’s Shows

Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

RENT School EditionFriday, July 8, and Saturday, July 9, at 7 p.m., tickets $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, plus fees
Beauty and the Beast Jr. Friday, July 15, and Saturday, July 16, at 7 p.m., $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, plus fees
Winnie the Pooh Kids Saturday, July 16, at noon (doors open 11 a.m.), tickets $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, plus fees
Matilda Jr. Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, at 7 p.m., tickets $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, plus fees
Legally Blonde Jr. Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, at 7 p.m., $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, plus fees

IMPACT Summer Series

When and Where: Monday, July 4, through Saturday, Aug. 13
Mondays at 10 a.m. at Belknap Mill/Powerhouse (25 Beacon St. East in Laconia)
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord;225-1111, ccanh.com)
(as well as locations in Plymouth, Lincoln, Lancaster, Gorham, Claremont and Haverill)

Show schedule:
Week of July 4 — Sleeping Beauty
Week of July 11 — Lost in Wonderland
Week of July 18 — Neverland
Week of July 25 — Little Red Riding Hood
Week of Aug. 1 — Return to Oz
Week of Aug. 8 — Jack and the Beanstalk

Tickets: Prices vary by location
More info: jeansplayhouse.com/youth-and-education/impact-childrens-theatre

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

A better way to zoom

Add a little action to your day with go-karts, bumper boats and laser tag.

Summer is all about breaking out of your daily routine. Put a little excitement in your weekend (or your afterwork or your staycation) by checking out some local, low-time-commitment but big-fun-payoff activities such as go-karts, bumper boats and laser tag.

Speedy fun with go-karts

Find fast(-ish) paced excitement and friendly competition at area tracks

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Parents against kids, siblings against each other — the go-kart racetrack has a way of turning even the most devoted of couples into competitors, said Michael Accomando, the owner of Mel’s Funway Park.

“Everybody that hits the track and they get so excited. You’ve got to look at it from the point of view of a kid who wants to beat their mother or father, or their older siblings, through the eyes of people who can’t drive regular cars,” said Accomando. “You look at one big official race that’s started, but there’s always more within those little groups.”

Accomando said that his entire fleet has been tuned up and is ready for racers. His track has tight turns and a bridge for karters to go over and under. He said that his favorite part is seeing how excited the kids get while racing.

“If you’re a young young kid, you feel like you’re really zipping around a track,” Accomado said, adding that the karts don’t go faster than 20 miles per hour.

Go-karts were first created in the 1950s, and some tracks in New Hampshire have been around for 40 years, like Weirs Beach Go-Kart Track in Laconia.

Owner Tom Hickey said that he was 14 years old when his parents bought the track. Now, he comes up every summer to open up the course.

Hickey said he loves seeing the generations that have come through, from kids racing around the track to parents sharing the experience with their children.

Go-kart fun facts
Go-karts were invented in 1956 in Glendale, California, by Art Ingels, who was a fabricator at Kurtis Kraft, a dominant manufacturer of the Indianapolis 500 race cars. He put a discarded two-cycle lawn mower motor into a tube-frame “kart” and created the world-famous miniature race car.
Source: Petrolicious.

“They know me by name and they say they used to come as a kid and it’s a generation thing,” Hickey said. “You see families come back year after year.”

While these karts are much slower, and safer, than the ones professional racers use, there are still safety parameters that all locations follow.

Drivers at most locations have to be taller than 58 inches, and all have slightly different requirements for passengers. At Chuckster’s, passengers can be as young as 3 with a licensed driver. Weirs Beach only allows passengers ages 4 to 9.

Karts are equipped with kill switches, and operators can lower the speeds of all the karts for safety purposes, like if a driver spins out or isn’t driving safely.

Throughout the years, Hickey said, he’s noticed that people will always come back to do more and more laps.

“I always say to my workers that people don’t get sick of pizza or coffee, so people won’t get sick of go-karts,” Hickey said.

Where to go karting

Chuckster’s
9 Bailey Road, Chichester
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Price: $8 for one ride, $33 for five. Passengers ride free.
Visit: chuckstersnh.com.

Daytona Fun Park
104 Endicott St. East, Laconia
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: $8.75 for single ride, $24.50 for three, $75 for 10. Passengers are $2 additional for each ride and passengers must be under 54 inches tall.
Visit: daytonafunparknh.com

Mel’s Funway Park
454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Price: $9.50 for one ride, $42.50 for five rides
Visit: melsfunwaypark.com

Weirs Beach Go-Kart Track
582 Endicott St. North, Laconia
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Price: one race is $9, six for $48
Visit: wbgokarts.com

Bump and splash

Everybody becomes a kid in a bumper boat

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Bumper cars are one of the oldest amusement rides, dating back to the early 1920s. While bumper boats aren’t as old, they add a little bit of pizazz to the process of crashing vehicles into one another.

Like their land counterparts, bumper boats have drivers smashing into each other, but water makes everything a little more chaotic, especially when the boats are equipped with water cannons.

Sophie Genest, 7, takes aim for her grandfather, John Leblanc. photo by Katelyn Sahagin

“If you squirt the old guy on the dock he’ll take out a hose, he’ll take out a hose and take ’em down,” John Crawford, who is the owner of Daytona Fun Park and is also the old guy on the dock, joked. “There have been a few guys that I’ve squirted too much, but we all have fun.”

While Daytona has had bumper boats for years, the attraction is new to Chuckster’s Family Fun Park this year.

“We just opened them up a month ago,” said Mark Blasko, the owner of Chuckster’s. “It’s a super fun way to cool off. We’ve learned that even when it’s not hot it’s still heavily used.”

Bumper boats float on a pool called a pond and are propelled with a small motor. The circular boats are designed to be nearly impossible to capsize, said Blasko, and all of the parks had height restrictions of 44 inches.

The boats at all the locations have water cannons that shoot water approximately 30 feet in an arc, making aming and driving a bigger challenge.

Bumper boats fun fact
The first iteration of bumper boats, called Dodgem Boats, was featured at the 1933 Chicago’s World Fair. The small motorboats sat two adults and were made entirely out of wood.
Source: “A Short History of Bumper Cars Going Bump In The Night,” By Seth Gussow for Automobile Magazine.

The Chuckster’s bumper boat pool has an island in the center featuring the park’s woodchuck mascot spraying a waterfall over the boaters. Despite its being only open for a month, Blasko said that there’s been a line for the boats almost every day.

In Crawford’s eyes, bumper boats are so popular because anyone can have fun on them.

“I like to say we have kids of all ages come here,” Crawford said. “It’s great to see the 70- and 80-year-old ‘kids’ get in the boats with their kids and grandkids and have a good time.”

Where to find bumper boats

Chuckster’s
9 Bailey Road, Chichester
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Price: $7 per ride, passengers are free
Visit: chuckstersnh.com

Daytona Fun Park
104 Endicott St. East, Laconia
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: $9.50 for single ride, $2 additional per passenger
Visit: daytonafunparknh.com

Mel’s Funway Park
454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Price: $9 for one ride, $40 for five rides.
Visit: melsfunwaypark.com

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Tag, you’re it, with lasers

By Hannah Turtle

hturtle@admin

Jack Walsh contributed to this story.

When asked about the draw of laser tag, Mel’s Funway Park owner Mike Accomando sums it up in one sentence: “It takes a grown-up, and it makes them a kid all over again.”

A popular activity for kids and adults alike, laser tag is exactly what it sounds like, a game in which participants use infrared-emitting light guns to “tag” targets. Or, as Accomando puts it, “people run around in the dark shooting each other, but nobody gets hurt.”

Laser tag is by no means a new activity in the area, but the many venues in which it can be played have multiplied over the years. Now, there’s outdoor laser tag at AG Paintball in Weare, and even mobile laser tag services that come to you.

One such service, offered by Next Level Tag, includes various scenarios such as “zombie apocalypse” and a hostage situation. There’s even a “bomb scenario,” in which players must defuse a laser bomb before the device “explodes.” At AG, you can play a “gold rush” game or have a similar zombie-like experience with “infection survival” (Covid not included).

Venues like Mel’s Funway Park still offer the traditional laser tag experience, perfect for groups or even lone players, and for adults and kids alike, including a robust “laser maze.” One piece of advice, though: Don’t tamper with the emergency exits.

“Once a kid thought the emergency door was an emergency room where you could hide,” Accomando said. “So, in the middle of the game, he ran through the emergency door and set off the fire alarm in the building. It was a lot of work for us, but I thought it was pretty funny.”

The thrill of the chase without the possibility of actual bodily harm is something that connects all the laser tag options in the area, but winning a game requires a sharp mind and a good battle strategy.

XTremeCraze, which opened in Londonderry in early 2019, hosts a large arena of around 10,000 square feet. Games take place hourly, sometimes every other hour, with 44 open player slots. There are a variety of different game modes, and each holds different objectives that lead to victory.

“Our game modes are super interactive,” XTremeCraze general manager Leo Batista said. “They allow you to essentially play a team style game like you would in a video game, but [you can] play it in a real-life form with your friends.”

Batista’s personal favorite game mode is “Headquarters,” a mode where players take over sectors to accumulate points, all while tagging out opponents.

For those looking to have a leg up in laser tag strategy, Accomando recommends finding cover and staying low.

“People are normally looking and aiming higher. When you find a spot and stay low, you kind of disappear in the dark,” he said. “Then, you’ll have an opportunity to shoot other people’s lasers without them even knowing what hit them.”

Where to play tag (with lasers)

AG Paintball
158 Deering Center Road, Weare
Hours: Monday to Friday, appointment only; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets: $20 per person
Visit: agpaintball.com

Block Party Social
51 Zapora Drive, Hooksett
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets: $22 per person
Visit: blockpartysocial.com

Fun City
553 Mast Road, Goffstown
Hours: Monday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets: $8 per game
Visit: funcitygoffstown.com

Mel’s Funway Park
454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets: $8 for each 10-minute game
Visit: melsfunwaypark.com

Next Level Tag
Booking: packages vary, basic package $350 for 12 players
Visit: nextleveltag.com

XtremeCraze
4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; (Thursday Junior Jumps from 10 a.m. to noon); Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed for private events on Mondays, except for school holidays. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Visit: xtremecraze.us/londonderry

Featured photo: Kristen Powers takes the lead in her go-kart race against Bruce Jache at Mel’s Funway Park. Photo by Katelyn Sahagian.

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