The New Hampshire Fisher Cats play their final home games of the season with a series slated to start Tuesday, Sept. 12, against the Somerset Patriots. On Thursday, Sept. 14, game time is 6:35 p.m. and the evening’s theme is 2000s night, with post-game fireworks and a performance by Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act. On Friday, Sept. 15, game time is 6:35 p.m. and the Fisher Cats become the Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire for a night. The game also begins at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, when the first 1,000 fans will get a bobblehead and there will be post-game fireworks. On Sunday, Sept. 17, the game starts at 1:35 p.m. and the theme is Fan Appreciation. See milb.com/new-hampshire for tickets and more information — and to get a peek at 2024. According to the schedule, the first home game of next season will be Tuesday, April 9, when the Fisher Cats will once again play the Patriots.
Special screenings
Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) has two special screenings planned for this Friday at all three theaters. A sensory-friendly presentation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG-13, 2023) will screen at all three theaters on Friday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. The sound will be down and the lights will be up. Also on Friday at 3:30 p.m. all three locations will present a “Little Lunch Date” screening of Horton Hears a Who (G, 2008); admission is free but reserve a seat with a $5 food voucher. And save the date for some upcoming non-movie happenings at Chunky’s. On Friday, Sept. 22, at the Chunky’s in Manchester it’s family-friendly theater candy bingo at 6:15 p.m. Admission costs $10 (plus fees). On Sunday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. at Chunky’s in Nashua it’s family-friendly Taylor Swift trivia night. Farm fun
DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way in Lee; demeritthillfarm.com, 868-2111) will hold a Family Weekend at the Farm on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring face painting, children’s games and photo opportunities with the tractors, according to the website.
For the little guys
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) will hold Toddlerfest, its annual celebration of the littlest museum-goers featuring special activities and events, Tuesday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 30, including a reading of Eric Carle’s A Very Hungry Caterpillar with a visit from the Caterpillar (Sept. 29 and Sept. 30), a celebration of the museum’s 40th birthday on Sept. 23 and a Frozen dance party on Sept. 22. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays with play sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months; $10.50 for 65+.
Save the date
The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold Lead Like a Girl, a community walk and fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at Manchester High School West. The cost to register is $15 per person with a $50 family cap, according to a press release. The first 100 people to register get a free T-shirt; sign up at https://bit.ly/LeadLikeaGirl.
Performers and puppeteers bring to life the time of the dinosaurs in Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) with tickets on sale now for $35.25 and $48.25. For an additional $28.75 you can also attend a VIP meet and greet.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center welcomes scientists, stargazers, explorers and learners of all ages to a celebration of the 120th anniversary of flight at AerospaceFest 2023 on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the Fest is free, as are tickets to a new planetarium show that will play at times throughout the day. Planetarium tickets will be given out at the Welcome Tent on a first-come first-served basis. Parking is also free. Cookout-style food, beverages and ice cream will be available from The Starlite Cafe.
For the first time ever, AerospaceFest will encompass both indoors and out, allowing guests to visit exhibit halls, the observatory and the new Science Playground while enjoying an impressive line-up of guest exhibitors, science-based activities and top-notch entertainment. The event will also feature the premiere of a brand new planetarium show, “3-2-1 Liftoff!,” as well as a couple of highly anticipated rocket launches.
Highlighting the occasion will be a keynote address by astronaut Jay Clark Buckey Jr., an American physician who orbited the Earth 256 times aboard a 1998 NASA Space Shuttle mission.
“We have worked with Dr. Buckey in one way or another since he went to space aboard NASA’s Neurolab Mission in 1998,” said Jeanne Gerulskis, executive director of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. “He is a great partner and friend and a wonderful speaker. Since coming back to Earth after his mission, he has been fully engaged in exploring more about human physiology in space and the psychological effects of long-duration missions. His work is advancing human knowledge as we prepare to live and work on the moon and Mars, and we want to know more about it.”
AerospaceFest 2023 marks the 32nd year the event has been presented. “No pandemics, construction of the museum, festival name change or change from a state agency to an independent nonprofit museum has stopped the festival,” says Gerulskis. “It’s a fun day!”
Entertainment for the festival will be provided by Nazzy and Mr. Aaron.
“Their pure enthusiasm, dedication and talent makes their presence a real asset for us,” Gerulskis said about the entertainers. “Mr. Aaron plays space-themed music and children follow him around like the Pied Piper! It is a delight to see and hear. Nazzy helps let the public know what is happening at AerospaceFest, and brings his eclectic musical tastes to the event. Music, space, robots, food, fresh air, and fun — what’s not to like?”
Although Gerulski has attended two dozen of them since becoming head of McAuliffe-Shepard in 1998, the annual festival never gets old. What does she enjoy most?
“Seeing the excitement on children’s faces when they look through a telescope for the first time or see themselves in infrared. Seeing the joy and excitement from people of all ages when they meet an astronaut. Talking with the people — scientists, engineers, educators, hobbyists — who have come to spend their Saturday sharing the wonders of Earth and the universe with the festival-goers. People’s happiness, curiosity and enthusiasm — including the festival-goers, our staff, volunteers, partners, our speaker and presenters — is what makes the event special for me. I have never missed one; they are the high point of the year!”
What does Gerulskis hope guests will take away from the event? “Increased curiosity about space, flight, the natural world and the universe in which we live. Increased enthusiasm for learning more about all things STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Memories of a fun day spent together, exploring new ideas. A desire to become members of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center and come back over and over again to keep learning about our universe.”
AerospaceFest 2023 When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine) Where: McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, Concord Admission: free More info: www.starhop.com
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
September arts market: The Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, has its September outing this Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Last market of the fall season is Oct. 21. Visit concordartsmarket.net.
Crafts weekend: The Hampton Falls Craft Festival will run Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Town Common (Route 1 in Hampton Falls). Admission to this outdoor event is free; the event will feature live music, arts and crafts. See castleberryfairs.com.
Kingtson crafts: The East Kingston Craft Fair will be held Sunday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Kingston Public Library (47 Maplevale Road in East Kingston) and feature crafts, baked goods, artisan vendors and seasonal produce, according to the event’s EventBrite page.
Fabricating Modernism Newly opened at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is the exhibit “Fabricating Modernism: Prints from the School of Paris” featuring the prints of a New Hampshire collector, according to a press release. The prints are dated from after World War II and created by artists working in the U.S. and Paris with the exhibit showcasing works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Sonia Delaunay and Georges Rouault, according to the website. The Currier is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays (when admission is free as part of the Art After Work program; this week the rock ‘n’ roll band Regals will perform).
NH in art: Two Villages Art Society presents Colin Callahan’s “New Hampshire Up Close” at the Bates Building (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) through Oct. 7. The exhibit showcases the hidden magic in everyday New Hampshire nature scenes, according to a press release.
Tapestry Tuesday: The Lake Sunapee Region Center for the Arts’ Tapestry Tuesday program on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. will feature John Moody with “Abenaki/Penacook History of the Lake Sunapee/Upper Sugar River Watershed” at St. Andrew’s Church in New London, according to centerfortheartsnh.org. Space is limited; register at [email protected].
Draw: Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) will hold its next free monthly Drawing Night on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. (Future drawing nights are Oct. 19, Nov. 17 and Dec. 21). Bring art supplies to work alongside others and receive “as much or as little feedback as you’d like,” according to a press release. The evenings are hosted by artists Ty Meier and Jo Grubman; no registration is required. Two Villages Art Society also offers a monthly Artist Circle (next up is Thursday, Oct. 5, then Nov. 2 and Dec. 7; all from 6 to 8 p.m.). Bring your work to have it critiqued or just enjoy conversation with fellow artists, the release said.
A New England tale: Daniel Mason will bring his new novel North Woods, a story about a house in the woods of New England told through the lives of those who inhabit it across centuries, to Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Season opening: Symphony New Hampshire will present “East Meets West Vol. II: Beethoven and Wijeratne” on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). At this concert, which will kick off the 2023-2024 season, Grammy-winning tabla player Sandeep Das will join the symphony and Maestro Roger Kaile for the New Hampshire premiere of Dinuk Wijeratne’s “Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra,” according to the press release, which said the concert will close with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major. Tickets cost $10 through $63; see symphonynh.org. In October, Symphony NH will present two Halloween shows on Saturday, Oct. 7. At 11 a.m., catch “Halloween Magic — Family Concert” featuring Camille Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre,” John Williams pieces from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The Witches of Eastwick, Danny Elfman’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas Suite” and more, according to the website. Tickets cost $8 to $20. At 7:30 p.m. it’s “Halloween Pops!” with an expanded show. Tickets to the evening show cost $10 to $63. Both shows take place at the Keefe Center for the Arts in Nashua.
Fabricating Modernism Newly opened at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is the exhibit “Fabricating Modernism: Prints from the School of Paris” featuring the prints of a New Hampshire collector, according to a press release. The prints are dated from after World War II and created by artists working in the U.S. and Paris with the exhibit showcasing works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Sonia Delaunay and Georges Rouault, according to the website. The Currier is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays (when admission is free as part of the Art After Work program; this week the rock ‘n’ roll band Regals will perform).
Tour the (one-time) capital: The American Independence Museum in Exeter will partner with Exeter Parks & Recreation to present a guided walking tour of downtown Exeter, the Revolutionary War-era capital of New Hampshire, according to a press release. The tour will take place Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event is free but pre-registration is required; register at indpendencemuseum.org/guidedwalk.
Family Matinees: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s “Family Matinees” Chamber series returns Saturday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episocopal Church (101 Chapel St. in Portsmouth) with the orchestra’s principal winds performing “Carnival of the Animals.” Admission is a suggested $15 per family donation at the door. Future shows include “Masterpiece Transcriptions for Brass Quintet” on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.; “Bach’s Toccata and More!” on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m., and “Fables in Harmony: A Musical Journey with the Tortoise and the Hare” on Saturday, April 27, at 3 p.m. See portsmouthsymphony.org.
October at Gibson’s: Nathan Hill will be at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) on Friday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss his new novel, Wellness, “a poignant and witty novel about marriage, the often baffling pursuit of health and happiness, and the stories that bind us together,” according to a press release.
Broadway at the Palace: Tony winner Kelli O’Hara will perform on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) in a concert featuring the Palace Youth Theatre, according to a press release. Tickets cost $99 to $129.
Christmas in Vienna in Laconia: The Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna will perform at the Colonial Theatre (609 Main St. in Laconia; coloniallaconia.com) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $49 to $89; go online or call 800-657-8774.
Holiday sax: Kenny G will bring “Miracles Holiday and Hits” to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $59 to $129.
Art of the drum: Catch Drum Tao, a show with costumes and staging centered on Japanese Taiko drums, at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $44 through $76.
We all are likely familiar with a variation of the saying “the truth will set you free.” What they don’t tell you is how hard it can be to set the truth free. For Nashua author Melanie Brooks, it was a process a decade in the making, described in her memoir, A Hard Silence, released on Sept. 12. Brooks will be at the Bookery in Manchester on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. for a book reading and signing and at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord for a reading and conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m.
When Brooks’s father was infected with HIV in 1985 after undergoing open heart surgery and receiving contaminated blood, her family decided to keep it a secret.
“It was right at the height of the AIDS epidemic and there was so much ignorance and stigma surrounding the disease,” Brooks said. “There was a lot of prejudice and homophobia that was surrounding it and so my dad decided to keep it a secret, not expecting that it would be a 10-year secret. He was a doctor and he expected he would be dead in months.”
Originally from Canada, Brooks moved to New Hampshire 26 years ago after completing undergraduate studies. While pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree, she started the process of writing about her experience, which would result in her memoir.
“It was really difficult. It felt like I was breaking rules even though the rules weren’t there anymore,” Brooks said. “The secret of his illness was known before he died, but I kind of carried that silence really closely and I didn’t talk about it to a lot of people. … When I finally decided I was going to open that box and look at what was there, it was pretty difficult because it was really the first time I was acknowledging a lot of trauma and pain that resided in that experience.”
While working on her thesis, she had an additional project she needed to complete for her MFA for which she decided to interview other memoirists, like Andre Dubus III, Abigail Thomas and Kyoko Mori, who had written about their own difficult experiences. This resulted in Brooks’s first book, Writing Hard Stories, published in 2017.
“That book [was] actually kind of the book I needed to write to finish writing the current book,” Brooks said.
While the context of her memoir is her father’s illness, the book tells the story of her own experiences.
“The memoir’s really about what happens when we’re forced to stay silent, the things that are impacting our lives and the consequences of secrecy,” she said. “It chronicles my journey to come to that place of being able to tell this story and my experience.”
Brooks says it took a while to find a publisher willing to take a chance on her story, as many people feel that HIV/AIDS is less relevant today.
Just as the memoirists she interviewed for Writing Hard Stories helped her tell her own story, she hopes her memoir can do the same for her readers.
“I started to recognize that this is a story that’s about more than the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” Brooks said. “Whatever the secret and silence is [that] people are carrying, I think they need to recognize that it doesn’t have to be an experience that they hold in isolation. …. I hope [readers] will see that even in the most difficult circumstances, speaking those circumstances brings a level of relief.”
Melanie Brooks
Book launch and conversation When: Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. Where: Nashua Country Club (25 Fairway St. in Nashua) RSVP: Via balinbooks.com/events
Book signing and reading When: Thursday, Sept. 14, 5 p.m. Where: Bookery, 844 Elm St., Manchester, bookerymht.com
Reading and conversation about writing stories of health/illness When: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m. Where: Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St., Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com
Granite State Comicon returns for a weekend in Manchester
From video and tabletop games to comics and pop culture, there is something for enthusiasts of many fandoms to enjoy at Granite State Comicon from Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17. The event, hosted by Double Midnight Comics, will return to the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester.
“We try to cover something for everybody, so if you’re a wrestling fan, we have that, if you’re a comic art fan, we have that, if you love video games, we have people who create [them],” Scott Proulx said.
Scott Proulx, along with his brother, Chris Proulx, and their friend, Brett Parker, opened Double Midnight Comics in 2002 and started Granite State Comicon the following year.
“It was a time when there weren’t many comic conventions anymore,” Scott said. “We saw that there was a void and we wanted to fill that.”
The event, which first occupied one room of the hotel and featured local comic creators, now features celebrities from all over the world, this year including actor Jessie Usher, wrestler Billy Gunn, voice actor Christina Costello, and Don Most and Anson Williams from the 1970s sitcom Happy Days.
“It’s definitely grown for more pop culture and entertainment,” Scott said. Continuously throughout the weekend there will be vendors selling things like key issue comics, clothing and collectibles and food drink vendors like Wild Bill’s Soda Truck. There will also be a gaming lounge where you can learn and play various tabletop games.
“We work with a content creator, Doug Shute from Victory Condition Gaming, and he has all these connections throughout the tabletop community,” Scott said. “He was able to bring in a lot of creators from some role-playing games.” Gaming guests of honor include Meredith Placko, the CEO of Steve Jackson Games; Greg De Stefano, the co-founder of Turbo Dork, and J.D. Kennedy, game designer at Smug Pug Games.
“They’ll be running games throughout the whole weekend,” Scott said. “People can just pop in and try something new.”
Scott says some of the most popular events include the adult costume contest on Saturday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the kids’ costume contest on Sunday from 3 to 3:45 p.m.
“We are big into the community so we work with other businesses in the area,” Scott said. “We’re trying to blow this up and make it a big downtown Manchester event, so not just limited to the hotel but the entire Elm Street strip.”
Such businesses include Southern New Hampshire University, one of the event sponsors, and Great North Aleworks, who will create a beer unique to the convention for which some of the Comicon guests will create labels. There will also be an after party on Saturday at Shaskeen Pub.
“[We hope] people come in and have a blast,” Scott said. “There’s something for everybody. … We want everybody to have fun.”
Granite State Comicon
When: Friday, Sept. 15, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept.16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester Cost: Single-day tickets range from $10 to $35 depending on the day and whether they are purchased online or at the door. Multiple-day tickets are also available. More info: granitecon.com
Friday, Sept. 15
Arts & crafts with Kids Con New England 4 to 7:30 p.m., The Armory
Tabletop gaming 4 to 7:30 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Telestrations 5 to 6 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Rivers of London RPG Demo 6 to 7 p.m., Webster Room
Queen City Improv 7 to 8 p.m., Webster Room
Granitemania!: Official Granitecon kick-off party 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Panel Room A
Saturday, Sept. 16
Character meet & greets with Party Palace 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., The Armory
Face painting with Squirrelcat Designs 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., The Armory
Arts & crafts with Kids Con New England 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., The Armory
Open gaming, demos and learn to plays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Munchkin and munchkins with Meredith 10 to 11 a.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Learn to draw video game characters 11 to 11:35 a.m., The Armory
ARN and Brock Anderson Q&A 11 to 11:45 a.m., Panel Room A
Well, this bites: creating a Last of Us cordyceps bite 11 to 11:45 a.m., Panel Room B
State of the Game panel noon to 12:45 p.m., Webster Room
Karan Ashley Q&A noon to 12:45 p.m., Panel Room A
DND: a classic game for the modern classroom noon to 12:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Beginner electronics for costumes and props 1 to 1:45 p.m., Webster Room
Kids coloring contest 1 to 1:35 p.m., The Armory
Batman day: the Murphyverse 1 to 1:45 p.m., Panel Room A
Kyle Pacek Q&A 1 to 1:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Call of Cthulthu RPG “The Devil Inside” 1 to 4 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Getting fit for cosplay 2 to 2:45 p.m., Webster Room
Learn to draw Disney characters 2 to 2:35 p.m., The Armory
Todd Haberkorn Q&A 2 to 2:45 p.m., Panel Room A
How to start an action figure business 2 to 2:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Uniting the fandom: our love of a galaxy far far away 2 to 2:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Learn to draw Pokemon 3 to 3:35 p.m., The Armory
Turtle Power Panel 3 to 3:45 p.m., Panel Room A
Working with unusual material for cosplay 3 to 3:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Press your luck: Granite State Comic Con edition 4 to 5:30 p.m., Webster Room
Anson Williams and Don Most Q&A 4 to 4:45 p.m., Panel Room A
40-minute design an RPG 4 to 5:30 p.m., Panel Room B
Annual costume contest 5 to 6:30 p.m., Panel Room A
Upside down: official Granitecon after party! 8 to 11 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St.
Sunday, Sept. 17
Open gaming, demos and learn to plays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Meet superhero characters Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., The Armory
Arts & crafts with Kids Con New England 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., The Armory
Face painting with Squirrelcat Designs 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., The Armory
Munchkin and munchkins with Meredith 10 to 11 a.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Learn to draw comic characters 11 to 11:35 a.m., The Armory
Scott Steiner Q&A 11 to 11:45 a.m., Panel Room A
Superhero storytime 11 to 11:45 a.m., Panel Room B
Geek Gossip live 11 to 11:45 a.m., Webster Room
Jessie T. Usher Q&A noon to 12:45 p.m., Panel Room A
Patterning for cosplay: 101 noon to 12:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Padawan training 1 to 1:45 p.m., Webster Room
Superhero trivia game 1 to 1:35 p.m., The Armory
Ultimate sketch off 1 to 1:45 p.m., Panel Room A
Christina Costello Q&A 1 to 1:45 p.m., Panel Room B
First annual Granitecon strike dice game championship 1 to 2 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Call of Cthulthu RPG “The Terror on the Seas” 1 to 4 p.m., Granitecon Gaming Lounge
Costuming and community in a galaxy far far away 2 to 2:45 p.m., Webster Room
Create a superhero comic 2 to 2:35 p.m., The Armory
Billy Gunn Q&A 2 to 2:45 p.m., Panel Room A
Cosplay and photographer’s shootout 2 to 2:45 p.m., Panel Room B
Match game: Granite State Comic Con edition 3 to 3:45 p.m., Webster Room
Kids’ sketch challenge 3 to 3:35 p.m., The Armory
Kids’ costume contest 3 to 3:35 p.m., Panel Room A
44 facts about one of Manchester’s favorite food festivals and the community that keeps it going
In honor of the 44th Glendi, the celebration of Greek food and culture and the Greek community at St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, here are 44 facts about the annual party known as Glendi.
1 According to George Skaperdas, the president of St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, “glendi” means “celebration.” “It’s a party,” he said. “It celebrates our heritage, our culture, wanting everyone around us to enjoy what we do. It celebrates friendship.”
2 For the past 44 years, the church has been hosting Glendi to do just that, while simultaneously raising money for the church. See stgeorgenh.org/activities/glendi for more on the festival and the church.
The church’s Community Center. Courtesy photo.
3 Originally a harvest bazaar among the members of the church, Glendi has become a three-day cultural event for the whole city of Manchester.
4 This year the festival will be on Friday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
5 Skaperdas says tens of thousands of people attend each year, fluctuating depending on the weather, with a clearer forecast attracting more people. You can frequently run into candidates for office (city, state and sometimes presidential hopefuls) as well as your gyro-loving neighbors.
6 There will be parking at McDonough Elementary School in Derryfield Park, 550 Lowell St., in Manchester, and shuttles running from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
7 Festivities include music, raffles, face painting, an Aegean Market and, of course, food.
8 Some 50 to 100 raffle items are up for the winning, such as puzzles, bikes, games, a TV and gift cards.
9 There will also be multiple church tours staggered throughout Friday and Saturday afternoon.
10 The roots of the church can be traced back nearly 120 years, to when the Hellenic community of St. George was established by Greek immigrants in 1905.
11 Before the construction of the cathedral at 650 Hanover St., which began in the mid 1960s, the church was on Pine Street, at a location it eventually outgrew.
12 Like most things, Glendi looked a little different in 2020. Having to cancel due to the pandemic, the church got creative and decided to host “Taste of Glendi,” a drive-thru-style event to serve Greek cuisine.
13 Upon returning in 2021, they came prepared with hand sanitizing stations and thousands of masks and asked people to practice safety precautions. “[We were] holding onto [our] seats for the next two or three weeks to make sure that people didn’t get sick,” Skaperdas said. “There was no spike so we were fortunate. We provided a lot of fun for the people who attended.”
14 Food will be available from the moment the festival opens at 11 a.m. each morning. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
15 Food in the dinner line will be served cafeteria-style. You can choose what you would like in an à la carte manner as you go down the line, or choose from dinners on the menu board.
Spanakopita assembly. Courtesy photo.
16 Dinner menu options include seasoned and marinated lamb barbecued over charcoal, baked lamb shanks roasted in Pappou’s secret tomato sauce (pappou means grandfather in Greek), Greek meatballs covered in Yiayia’s secret tomato sauce (yiayia means grandmother), stuffed peppers filled with rice and meat topped with tomato sauce, dolmathes, a chicken dinner marinated and baked with Grecian herbs, and pastichio. All are served with rice pilaf, a roll and Greek salad.
17 While the full recipe is secret, Skaperdas says Pappou’s secret tomato sauce includes spices, drippings from the lamb as it baked, onions and garlic.
18 According to George Copadis, a long-time organizer of Glendi, 3,500 dolmathes, which are grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice, will be made for the event. Each leaf must be hand washed, cut and rolled before being baked and covered in lemon sauce, Skaperdas said.
19 In addition to the dolmathes, Copadis says a total of 2,000 pounds of lamb kabobs, 2,500 pounds of lamb shanks, 4,000 meatballs, 2,000 pounds of chicken and 6,000 salads will be made for the festival.
20 Of all the meals served, Skaperdas says the lamb shanks are the most popular, with lamb kebabs also being up there. “The stuffed peppers are always wonderful,” he said. “This year they tell me they’re even better than before, so I can’t wait to try them.”
21 “The most popular dessert by far are the loukoumades,” Skaperdas said. These are fried dough balls soaked in honey or syrup coated with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
22 Second to the loukoumades is baklava, which are layers of filo dough filled with honey and walnuts.
23 Other sweet treats for sale include kataifi, shredded filo with syrup and walnuts, baklava nut rolls and pecan blossoms, spanakopita, which is layers of filo dough with a spinach and cheese filling, as well as a variety of cookies. These items are usually found at a separate table inside the church’s hall — in case you want to grab some desserts before dinner.
24 Added to this year’s dessert menu are vegan cookie options, like orange ring cookies, almond and lemon round cookies and cinnamon koulourakia.
25 Running the kitchen is Seth Theokas, who has been volunteering in the kitchen for about 15 years. His involvement with the church began in 2008 when he and his wife wanted to baptize their first son. It was then suggested that he volunteer for Glendi.
26 While it is fast-paced with a sense of urgency, he says the atmosphere in the kitchen is full of camaraderie. “It’s such a great group of people, it’s for a good cause and everybody has fun,” Theokas said.
27 Theokas’s personal favorite on the menu is pastichio, which he says is like a Greek lasagna with seasoned meat, noodles and bechamel. He also loves the stuffed peppers.
28 According to Skaperdas, about 60 to 70 volunteers are usually involved in the kitchen.
29 It truly takes a community to run the festival. While many of the volunteers are members of the church, Theokas says a great deal of them aren’t. “It takes so many people including members and their families and friends,” he said. “I’ve had friends in the kitchen who have never been to the church but they were willing to give their time to help in the kitchen and now they’re kind of part of that family.”
Gov. Chris Sununu helping out at a previous Glendi. Courtesy photo.
30 Copadis says that 7,000 pieces of baklava, 6,000 koulourakia butter cookies, and 1,500 kataifi will be made for the festival.
31 To make all these desserts requires hundreds of dozens of eggs and pounds of sugar, honey and syrup, according to Skaperdas.
32 Glendi offers a full Greek experience beyond food alone. At the Aegean Market you can find jewelry, ceramics, handcrafted items, clothing and other products imported directly from Greece.
33 The market was previously run by parishioners of the church who would buy products from businesses across the country as well as items made by Greek artists. They eventually started buying products from Taste and Art of Greece a few years ago after Elaine Setas, a parishioner of the church, started the business with her friend, Strati Vougiouka. This year, Taste and Art of Greece will solely run the market.
34 Setas and Vougiouka created Taste and Art of Greece five years ago to help friends in Greece sell their products in America. “Originally it was just a hobby for me … but it [was] so well-received that this is all I do full-time now,” Setas said.
35 Vougioukas lives in Greece and works with the artists and helps ship out the products, while Setas is on the front lines and handles sales and marketing.
36 With Setas being in charge of the market this year, there will be a heavier focus on Grecian goods. “There will be a little bit of a different setup and a lot more things by artists in Greece,” she said. “There will still be some of the same things that they’ve come to expect but with a little bit extra because we’re solely focused on importing things that are made in Greece.”
37 Included in Setas’ booth will be Tina Alexopoulos, a representative of the clothing brand LuLaRoe. She will be selling LuLaRoe clothing, like leggings, T-shirts and other comfortable wear, according to Setas.
38 Setas says what separates Taste and Art of Greece from other shops is that they take the time to tell the story behind the product and include a card that explains the meaning of the product and tells about the artist who made it.
39 A ceramic pomegranate from the Aegean Market will make the perfect housewarming gift, as pomegranates symbolize luck and prosperity in the home. Setas says they are also popular Christmas gifts in Greece, as it’s tradition to smash a pomegranate at midnight on New Year’s in front of your door. The more seeds that scatter, the more luck you will have.
40 Ceramic boats will likely be found at the market too and also make great Christmas gifts and represent “charting a new path for the new year and sailing into a new life,” Setas said.
41 Musician Chuck Koustas will be returning to Glendi this year, this time with Opa Entertainment.
42 Koustas was part of one of the first groups to perform at Glendi 42 years ago.
43 They will be performing both Friday and Saturday night from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday night will feature the traditional instrument the bouzouki, and Saturday night’s performance will include the clarinet.
44 Koustas will be playing both traditional and modern Greek music, like music of traditional Greek dances such as syrtos and nisiotika, as well as themes from Greek movies such as the 1960 film Never on Sunday.
