Tag: 220804

On The Job – Christine Gagnon

Mushroom forager and educator

Christine Gagnon is a mushroom forager and educator and owner of Uncanoonuc Foraging Company, based in Goffstown.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I have two main jobs. One is to forage for mushrooms or other natural foods. The other bigger job is to teach people about mushrooms and how hugely important they are for the well-being of our planet. They certainly leave noticing fungi a lot more than they did before the class. … Also, I am a moderator and identifier for the international poisons group. It’s a place where people, vets, and poison control to learn about the toxicity of a plant or mushroom that was consumed by a pet or a human. It’s an incredible group of experts from around the world.

How long have you had this job?

Just over a year.

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

I became fascinated with fungi almost exactly four years ago. I found a Bear’s head tooth, a relative of lion’s mane, on a hike and that was it.

What kind of education or training did you need?

After I jumped in with both feet, I joined every mushroom group on Facebook. I hiked every day, documenting my finds and learning how to ID with the help of group members. I read books and papers. I still do all of that because learning is lifelong. It never ends. I also attend myco weekends and conferences to learn from my mentors. Two years ago, I decided to take a wild mushroom certification class through the state of Rhode Island.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Whatever I feel like on any given day: a hat to keep mosquitoes and biting flies off my head, mud boots for all-terrain access, long white pants for specific locations that involve lots of ticks, bug spray, pack basket, knife and walking stick.

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

I started in the spring of 2021. The combination of the pandemic and the very wet summer made for a very full schedule of educational walks. … Mushroom foraging became extremely popular so, really, I couldn’t fail. This year is a little tough. New Hampshire is in a moderate drought, and there are not a lot of mushrooms in this part of the state. There’s a lot to find if you just like to find any mushroom … but if you’re looking to fill your basket for tonight’s dinner, there are no guarantees.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I’m not sure. It’s still early, yet. I have a lot of connections I’d like to make. I want to find more places to teach classes. I’ll get there.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I absolutely love it … but I had to learn a lot to get here. … I spend money and time to learn. I scout trails ahead of time … and there’s a lot of responsibility when teaching people how to identify food. Safety comes first. You have to be able to identify something 100 percent on your own before you decide whether or not you want to eat it.

What was the first job you ever had?

Besides babysitting, it was scooping ice cream at Blake’s Restaurant at the Mall of New Hampshire. That was a long time ago.

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

Set the expectations ahead of time so people aren’t disappointed. Without a lot of mushrooms this year, I worry about my walks. One of my mentors told me, ‘Be an entertainer.’ There’s a lot out there to talk about, even if it isn’t mushrooms.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Entangled Life
Favorite movie: Spirited Away
Favorite music: Anything that’s not country pop
Favorite food: Fantasia Pizza at Ray Street Pizza
Favorite thing about NH: Being within driving distance to mountains, lakes and the ocean. We’ve got it all.

Featured photo: Christine Gagnon. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 22/08/04

Family fun for the weekend

Out in nature

• Creepy and crawly bugs are the big focus at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road, Route 113, in Holderness; 968-7194) with the Insect Alive Guided Tour on Friday, Aug. 5, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Walk through the center’s new giant insect exhibit (featuring five much-larger-than-life animatronic insects) with retired NH Fish and Game Biologist Emily Preston and learn about local insects in New Hampshire, according to the website. This event is appropriate for kids ages 6 and older. The cost of the tour is $11 (purchase of admission to the trails is also required) and advance registration required. The Giant Insect exhibit will be on display throughout the center’s Live Animal Trails through Sept. 30. Admission to the trails costs $22 for adults, $20 for age 65+, $16 for ages 3 to 15 and is free for children 2 and under.

Play ball!

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats kicked off a run of games against the Richmond Flying Squirrels earlier this week but comic book fans might especially want to save the date for the game on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:05 p.m. for Cats-Con. The evening will celebrate superheroes, villains, movies, comics and more with characters from Double Midnight Comics and post-game fireworks. Ticket price ranges from $14 to $17.

• Also on the schedule for this week’s games: post-game fireworks after the game on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7:05 p.m., Pride Night at the game on Friday, Aug. 5, at 7:05 p.m. and a pre-game Princess Brunch before the game on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 1:35 p.m. Click on “baseline” on the tickets page for Sunday’s game to fin the Princess Brunch tickets which cost $25 each and include admission to the game. The brunch starts at 10:30 a.m. and includes a sing-a-long at noon.

• Delta Dental and New Hampshire Fisher Cats are encouraging kids to brush their teeth with free tickets to home games. Kids ages 12 and under can win two free tickets for completing the seven-day challenge of brushing and flossing twice a day. Fill out the downloadable form and bring it on either Aug. 12 or Sept. 3 to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium; see milb.com/new-hampshire/community/oral-health-challenge.

On stage

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org, 886-7000) are putting on their first ever student-produced play, The Little Mermaid Jr., Friday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 14. Showtimes are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $18 for adults, $12 to $15 for children ages 12 and younger.

• The Interlakes Children’s Theatre (One Laker Lane in Meredith; interlakestheatre.com) will presentThe Aristocats Kids on Saturday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m.. Tickets cost $10 each.

Playtime at the Children’s Museum

• Author AJ Smith will read his bookTea Time for Dinosaurs at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2022) on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The event will include dinosaur activities and a scavenger hunt, according to the website, where you can purchase admission for either the 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. session. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+.

• Splashing good fun, at the ocean or the museum! Members of the Seacoast Science Center (Odoirne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd. in Rye; 436- 8043, seacoastsciencecenter.org) will get to play for free at the Children’s Museum for the entire month of August. Members of the Seacoast Science Center can also purchase a membership at the Children’s Museum with a 10 percent discount. Register for playtime on the museum’s website.

• And coming up at the Children’s Museum: The annual Teddy Bear Clinic and Picnic will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17, with the clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. and snacks from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Bring a stuffie in need of a check-up and the bear (or other stuffed animal) will receive an ID bracelet and be weighed and measured and given a band-aid if needed, all to get kids ready for their own check-ups, according to the website. The teddy bear fun is included in admission.

• And register now for the “Kick-off to Kindergarten” event on Sunday, Aug. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will include a visit by Elephant and Piggie (the characters from the Mo Willems books), crafts and more, according to the website. The event is free but pre-registration is required by Aug. 14, the website said.

— Katelyn Sahagian

Treasure Hunt 22/08/04

Hello, Donna,

Not sure if you recall, but you wrote about my mother’s hutch/china cabinet back in late 2020. Mom had to move to assisted living in May and her condo is now for sale. Can you suggest someone in your network whom I could contact to help me sell and transport such a piece at this time? Your help would be much appreciated.

Respectfully,

Jim

Dear Jim,

Let’s see if I can help!

As I wrote in 2020, Jim, the piece is an amazing piece of furniture. If the quality were replicated today it would be in the thousands for value.

Now that being said, though, finding a home could be a bit difficult. Today’s generation makes it a tough fit into their decor. You’ve got to find an old-school antique appreciator to welcome it into a new or old home.

So I think posting your story might help. Or posting it on a local marketplace. Both avenues would set up a pick up and remove, so you won’t have to do it.

Price range will have to be decided between you and the buyer. I hope this was helpful, Jim. Your cabinet deserves a great home to be loved once more.

Any inquiries I will pass on to you!

Donna

What you should do in the veggie garden

Thin out some crops, grab some garlic

Heat descended on us recently like opening the door to a roaring wood stove. The old adage about colonial India was, “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.” I think that applies here, too. I, for one, have no desire to work in the garden when temperatures get to be in the 80s or more.

My strategy is to go to bed earlier, and get up at 6 a.m., or even earlier if I can. In general I’m not a morning person. I like coffee, the newspaper in my hands, and a leisurely breakfast. But with the heat, I feel a need to see what plants need some water, and what veggies should be picked early in the day.

The most vulnerable plants are those that have just been transplanted or installed. I recently moved some small Swiss chard plants from a somewhat shady place to a raised bed in full sun. Gravity works on water, not just Newton’s apple. Raised beds tend to drain of water and dry out faster than beds in the ground. The soil is warmer, too. So those Swiss chard seem to need water every day now.

I can reduce my need to water that raised bed by mulching it well. I’ve mulched the rest of my vegetable garden with four to six pages of newspaper, covered with straw or hay. That is primarily for keeping the weeds down, but it also reduces the need for watering. But the raised bed was built later, and I haven’t mulched it yet. Gotta get on it!

I also regularly water a bed of zinnias that were only planted by seed in June. Anytime you plant seeds, you should water daily until they germinate to avoid drying out the seeds at a critical time. And when the plants are small, they need regular watering, too.

We have thinned all our root crops by now, which is important. If you haven’t, you should. Carrots, beets, parsnips, radishes and rutabagas need room to grow — an inch, at least, from their nearest neighbors. You can eat the small vegetables you pull. The leaves of beets are a tasty treat when steamed lightly and served with butter.

I’m harvesting garlic now, too. Not the entire crop as yet. I just pull one or two for cooking as needed. I’ll pull them all in August when the leaves start to brown up. When I pull the main harvest I leave the tops on and hang them in the cellar upside down to cure. I’ve read that the bulbs will absorb additional nutrients from the leaves and stem while they cure.

Fresh garlic is nearly impossible to peel. I just use a sharp paring knife to make two slices into a bulb — one on each side of a clove. When it pops out, I can peel off the outer layers and insert the clove into a press, or smash it with the wide blade of a French kitchen knife and then chop it finely.

I’m often asked if cutting off scapes, those curly tops of garlic, helps to grow bigger, better bulbs of garlic. I’ve been experimenting with that for years, and don’t see a significant difference. So I cut off scapes to use in stir-fries, salads or stews, but don’t bother to remove them all.

I picked a few ‘Early Girl’ tomatoes in mid-July this year, which is early, even for them. Although I started almost all my tomatoes by seed in April, I did buy a few bigger plants to get those early tomatoes. Next up will be my ‘Blue Beauty’ tomatoes, which I did start by seed indoors. They are a gorgeous deep purple, with green at the bottom. When the green turns red and they soften up, they will be ready to pick.

For once I have planted lettuce regularly all summer, so I have had enough to eat and to share. And I have lots of small plants to transplant and separate. I recommend that you plant some lettuce seeds directly in the ground now for early fall eating, and in a month, do it again. Mark your calendar! After all, some spaces will be opening up in the garden as you harvest radishes, peas, beets and more. Look for heat-resistant or hot-weather lettuce varieties like Adriana, Monte Carlo or Red Cross — all available from Johnny’s Seeds. Cool-weather lettuce quickly bolts in August heat.

I am picking heads of broccoli now. But the best is yet to come. I once made a little garden in the lawn for an elderly friend, and planted two broccoli plants there. Unfortunately, my friend pulled out the broccoli once they had yielded their first big heads. Little did she know that broccoli will send out side shoots, smaller spears of broccoli, for the rest of the summer and fall! Just keep on picking. And if the side shoots start to open with yellow blossoms, pick and eat them anyway. They will still be tasty.

I seem to be having a great year for potatoes (I have not seen a single potato bug), and should have plenty to eat and share. I planted 100 chunks of potato, and each plant should give me one to two pounds of spuds. I will start harvesting a few after they have blossomed. I like to slip my hand under a plant and “steal” a potato or two for dinner before I start the harvest. If you grow potatoes, be sure to let your children or grandkids help you when you harvest them. All kids are excited by the buried treasure!

So beat the heat: Get up early and go out to your garden. There is always something to do.

Featured photo: Raised beds need more water than plant in the ground. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Art, crafts and goodies galore

Homemade gifts and goods available at 89th annual Craftsmen’s Fair

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

There will be everything from pottery and woodworking to rug hooking and handmade Shrinky Dink jewelry up for purchase at the Craftsmen’s Fair.

The fair, put on by the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, is the longest continuously running outdoor event of its kind. This year it is back in action for the 89th year. For nine days, visitors can shop at different booths and the League’s co-op shop, speak to the artisans, take in live demonstrations, and learn about all the different artforms in the Granite State.

Sarah Nyhan, the communications and administrations director for the League, said that they have been working “straight out but we’ll be ready and [the fair will] be fantastic.”

The fair will feature approximately 200 different artisan booths for people to shop at, not including the League’s shop, where members who did not sign up for booth space can still sell their wares.

Members of the League include craftsmen who make jewelry with precious stones, fiber artists who make felted toys and knitted goods, and potters making outlandishly large lawn ornaments.

Nyhan said that members have to be juried in, meaning that experts in their artform look at each applicant’s work and determine if it’s well-crafted and unique enough to earn them a place in the League.

“We look for excellence and something that has the spirit of the maker,” Nyhan said about the jury process, adding that they look for what makes each artisan unique and how that translates into their craft. “It’s something that we’re really proud of; [members] are masters in artistry and personal expression and not just technical experts.”

Nyhan said that the newest part of the fair is an outreach program. She said that the League is determined to make an impact on younger generations of makers, and reach out to ones that might not know that art is a potential career.

“I had a craftsman say to me, ‘No one ever told me that this was an option when I was a kid,’” Nyhan said. “We want them to know it is an option. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it is possible to pursue your passion.”

Right now, Nyhan said, the program is primarily composed of children and grandchildren of artisans, but she said the League hopes that will change.

This year there will be a tent for children to make different crafts for free, with local artisans teaching them. There will also be a scavenger hunt for younger kids, encouraging them to go out and ask questions of the vendors and demonstrators. There will even be students who took the artist-in-residence program through the League who will be on hand selling their own creations.

“We’re saying we’ll take anyone who’s committed to their craft,” Nyhan said. “We’re very excited. The kids are great and the craftsmen want to encourage them.”

League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair
When: Saturday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 14, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Cost: A day pass is $16; veteran, active military, and senior tickets cost $14; two-day passes are $24 and are valid for any two days of the event; kids 12 and younger are free.
Visit: nhcrafts.org

Featured photo: Fairgoers interact with craftsman Julia Brandis. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/08/04

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

• LGBT history exhibit: The Seacoast LGBT History Project holds its sixth annual show, titled “Standing Together,” at RiverStones Custom Framing and The Franklin Gallery (33 N. Main St., Rochester) now through Wednesday, Aug. 31. The Gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be an opening reception for this exhibit on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., with light refreshments to be served. Visit the Seacoast NH LGBT Facebook page, email [email protected] or call RiverStones at 812-1488.

• Opening night — Peterborough: The show 2 Pianos 4 Hands, about two performers as they grow from children to adults and featuring a variety of music styles, according to the website, opens Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Peterborough Players indoor stage (55 Hadley Road in Peterborough; peterboroughplayers.org, 924-7575). Tickets cost $47. Shows continues Friday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 7, at 4 p.m. (with an after show talkback), Tuesday, Aug. 9, through Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m.

NUNSENSE THE MUSICAL
The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) presents Nunsense The Musical, from Aug. 12 to Aug. 21. The show follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken after they discover that their cook has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they need to raise money for the burials. They decide to put on a variety show, and hilarity ensues. Nunsense will run Friday, Aug. 12, Saturday, Aug. 13, Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, and $15 for seniors ages 65 and over and for kids and teens ages 17 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door, by calling the box office at 669-7649, or online at majestictheatre.net.

• Opening night — Concord: Bubble Boy, the musical based on the 2001 Jake Gyllenhaal-fronted movie of the same name, opens on Friday, Aug. 5, at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students. The show continues Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 7, at 2 p.m. and next Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Hannah Turtle talked to the director of production about the show in the July 28 issue of the Hippo in a story on page 10 (find the e-edition at hippopress.com).

• Welcome to Sherwood Forest: The Winnipesaukee Playhouse Professional Company (33 Footlight Circle in Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) presents Robin Hood through Saturday, Aug. 13. The show, which was slated to have its opening night Aug. 3, continues with shows on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $39 and $29.

• Singing nuns: Sister Act is on the stage at the Interlakes Theatre (1 Laker Lane in Meredith; interlakestheatre.com, 707-6035). Slated to open Aug. 3, the show continues through Aug. 14 with shows at 2 p.m. on Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and Wednesday, Aug. 10, and 5 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $25 to $36.

• Shakespeare: Project Shakespeare’s PS Too! Youth Company will present The Taming of the Shrew on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Community Center Lawn (25 Elm St. in Peterborough). Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. See projectshakespeare.org; the show will also be presented Friday in New Ipswich and Saturday in Keene.

• More Shakespeare: Ballet Misha will perform an original ballet adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St.), and on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. at the John Hay Estate at The Fells (456 Route 103A, Newbury). The ballet tells the classic Shakespeare tale of lovers interfered with by mystical forces. At The Fells, the performance will take place outside under the pavilion, allowing guests to enjoy a picnic dinner while watching. Tickets are $25 to $35 and are available for both performances as balletmisha.com.

KEEPING TRACK OF TIME
The Gallery at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth presents “Keeping Track of Time,”which features work by Philip Brou. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., when Brou will give a brief talk about the work. Brou, whose work consists of ink wash drawings and watercolor paintings, created this exhibition during the pandemic. He used his passion for running to examine how we dealt with time during isolation, both running and slowing down. There are a total of 197 drawings documenting each time he went running during the pandemic. The exhibit remains open until Oct. 2 during regular business hours, and is free and open to the public. Visit 3sarts.org.

• Here we go again:Mamma Mia! concludes a run at the New London Barn Playhouse (84 Main St. in New London; nlbarn.org, 526-6710) this weekend with shows Thursday, Aug. 4, through Saturday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $22 through $47.

• Book talk With Kennedy biographer: Acclaimed biographer Kate Clifford Larson, author of Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter and Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero, visits the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org) on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. to discuss her New York Times bestselling book about Rosemary Kennedy. The event is free and no registration is required. Books are available for purchase and signing.

• The Demon Barber of Keefe Auditorium: Actorsingers (actorsingers.org) will hold auditions for its November production of Sweeney Toddon Sunday, Aug. 14, and Monday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Actorsingers Hall (219 Lake St. in Nashua). Callbacks will be Aug. 16. Go online to register for a Zoom info night on Friday, Aug. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. to meet the production team, and to find the registration forms for the audition itself and the show page.

• Save the date to be part of that world: Tickets are on sale now for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the season-opening musical at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), which will run Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 2. The shows run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., with a show also on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $46.

NATURALLY NEW ENGLAND EXHIBIT
The Livery (58 Main St., Sunapee Harbor) is hosting “Naturally New England,” an exhibit featuring works by local artists, now through Sunday, Aug. 7, to help raise money for the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust and the Center for the Arts NH. The collection of work celebrates the natural beauty of New England’s landscape and features more than 60 artists showcasing a wide diversity of works. The exhibition is free and open to the public on weekdays from noon to 4 p.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit centerfortheartsnh.org.

– Hannah Turtle

ART

Exhibits

• JESSICA KELLY The New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 569-4554, nhbm.org) will host a member reception on Friday, Aug. 5, for local artist Jessica Kelly, whose work will be featured in the museum’s gallery in August. Working in photography, the art depicts coastal scenes and other natural beauties. Kelly’s work is available for viewing with paid admission to the museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and free for children under 13, members, and active military personnel.

• “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.

• “MANAGING MISCELLANEA” The Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy (11 Tan Lane, Exeter) hosts “Managing Miscellanea,” an art exhibition that draws from the gallery’s “undefined” collection. It centers around questions of defining and maintaining collections, and showcases unseen works from the storage vault, including works by Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. The exhibition runs through Sept. 24, available for viewing during the gallery’s normal hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, visit www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.

• “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.

• 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 [email protected].

• “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.

Fairs and markets

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR The annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Sat., Aug. 6, through Sun., Aug. 14. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org for more information.

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html for more information.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

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

• WOOL FEATHER TREE The League of NH Craftsmen’s Meredith Fine Craft Gallery (279 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith; meredith.nhcrafts.org/classes, 279-7920) will host a Wool Feather Tree Class with instructor Jean Reed on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use wire stems and felted wool to make 18-inch trees and decorate with decorative berries, lighting and ornaments, according to a press release. The class costs $130 per student; call for advance registration (which is required).

• 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 [email protected] 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

• 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.

• CINDERELLA presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) through Thursday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• JACK AND THE BEANSTALKpresented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

• THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, presented by the Peterborough Players at their new outdoor space, the Elsewhere Stage, on the grounds of the Players (55 Hadley St., Peterborough; peterboroughplayers.org), will run on Saturday, Aug. 6; Wednesday, Aug. 10; Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, all shows starting at 10:30 a.m. The show is performed by the Players Second Company, which features young professionals and is geared toward a younger audience. Tickets are $15 each for adults, $10 each for children, available online or at the door.

• BEAUTY & THE BEAST 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. 9, through Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• JACK AND THE BEANSTALK presented by North Country Center for the Art’s IMPACT Program, a Touring Children’s Theatre Troupe, Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets are free but must be reserved online.

• SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS 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. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL JR.presented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

• 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 Janice B. Streeter Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 28, 2 p.m. TIckets cost $20 for adults, $18 for 62+ (plus fees).

• 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 [email protected] if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

CLASSICAL

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 [email protected] for more information.

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