Tag: 231214

The Weekly Dish 23/12/14

News from the local food scene

• New Thai eatery in Plaistow: After construction-related delays in the summer, the family-owned SaNouk’s Local Thai Eatery has opened at 5 Plaistow Road in Plaistow, offering various curries and stir-fries; “appethaizers” such as spring rolls, summer rolls, fried dumplings and crab rangoons; and other dishes. SaNouk’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit sanouks.com.

• Free wine tasting: Ambra from Crush Distributors will be at Wine on Main (9 N Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. with different wines from all around the world. Stop by for free samples and to purchase.

• Sip and plant: Create your own miniature ecosystem with The Knotted Finds at Spyglass Brewing Co. (36 Innovative Way, Nashua) on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 6 p.m. All materials and supplies will be provided as you are guided through the process of creating your own terrarium with three plants, rocks, moss, sand and soil. Each participant will receive a drink ticket for a glass of beer to enjoy during the process. It is $35 to attend and you must be 21 years or older. Get your tickets at theknottedfinds.com/events.

• Blankets and beer: Make a blanket and enjoy a beer with Jill from The Cozy Co. at Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road) on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $115 and include materials, the class and a pint of beer. Visit pipedreambrewingnh.com.

• New Year’s Eve party: Ring in the new year at LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111) from 6 to 10:30 p.m. with a three-course dinner, music by the Freese Brothers Big Band, dancing and a stroll through LaBelle Lights. The first course is crab rangoon, followed by sake-braised short rib and black sesame profiterole. The vegetarian dinner option includes vegetable rangoon and soba noodle bowl. Tickets are $120 and can be purchased at labellewinery.com.

• Candles and wine: Enjoy wine and make 19 custom tealight candles in the scents and colors of your choice with Ross, owner of Candle Tree Soy Candles at Wine on Main (9 N. Main St., Concord) on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person. Sign up at wineonmainnh.com.

On The Job – Georgia Brust

Landscape designer

Georgia Brust is a landscape designer with her own company, The Floral Hound, based in Salem.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I am the owner and designer of The Floral Hound, a landscape design and fine gardening company. I meet with clients, walk the property and get a feel for the space and what they’re envisioning. From there, I create beautiful yet sustainable outdoor spaces.

How long have you had this job?

The Floral Hound celebrated its official one-year anniversary in June 2023.

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

Growing up, my father had beautiful gardens all around our yard where he would always be working, so naturally I was always doing something in the yard. In 2016 I started working at Canobie Lake Park on the grounds crew and absolutely fell in love with gardening, maintenance and the design aspect of things.

What kind of education or training did you need?

In 2019 I started studying at NHTI. In 2021 I graduated with my degree in Landscape and Environmental Design. In fall of 2020, I took part in the UNH Extension Natural Resource Stewardship program. I learned a lot of neat little tips and tricks, but the best training is getting out and just doing the job.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

My beloved Timberland hiking boots that I’ve had for years, a long-sleeve shirt, and you can almost always find me in a pair of black leggings (Lululemon to be exact — I’ve tried a lot of leggings and these are one of the only brands that stand up to the demands of the job).

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

Mother Nature. A large part of my job is figuring out how to roll with her punches… .

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

I wish I had invested in some kind of wrist and back brace.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish others knew how rewarding the job actually is. I love creating something beautiful for a client that is living and will hopefully live for many years to come.

What was the first job you ever had?

Scooping ice cream at Findeisen’s Ice Cream in Salem when I was 15. I was still practicing getting my license, so my father would drive me to work. His payment: ice cream at the end of my shifts.

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

A dear friend had told me once ‘The devil is in the details.’ … Don’t overlook the small things.

Five favorites
Favorite book: I’m a sucker for the Twilight series.
Favorite movie: I’m sure you can guess from my favorite book
Favorite music: Folk-pop
Favorite food: Anything sweet
Favorite thing about NH: I love the ability to enjoy outdoor activities in multiple seasons. My favorite seasons? Fall and stick season.

Featured photo: Georgia Brust. Courtesy photo.

Welcome to ski season

What to expect on the slopes this winter

As the crisp winter air settles in and the first snowflakes begin to fall, winter sports fans eagerly anticipate the start of the ski season. We talked with Aly Coakley, marketing director of McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester where they kicked off the season on Dec. 9, to get an insider’s perspective on gearing up for the winter months.

How are you getting ready for the season?

We have all the snowmaking [processes] on, and our staff is out there at every cold window of opportunity making snow. We have top-to-bottom on the Queen’s Trail open, and our beginners’ area is also set. We have quite a bit of snow stacked up. We haven’t seen a ton of cold snow days, but at this point there’s plenty of snow out there for people to get out and enjoy.

What is your expectation for the length of this season?

We’re anticipating operating all the way until the end of March. That’s usually our goal. Last March we experienced a “miracle March” with so much snow. We’re hoping for the same this year, maybe with more frequent snowstorms throughout the season, so we can keep going through March.

What are the environmental considerations in your snowmaking process? Is that something you have to think about?

Yes, paying attention to the weather is really important because we don’t want to be making a lot of wet snow when it’s too warm, as it’s a waste of electricity and resources. We are very conscious of when and how we operate. Using better snowmaking equipment, like better snow guns and snow fans, allows for more effective operations. It’s really important to stay on top of the latest technology to ensure that our environmental impact is as limited as possible.

Do you notice a difference between man-made and natural snow?

One of the big differences with man-made snow is that it’s squeaky. The nice thing about natural snow is that it’s all caught in the trees, and it just looks beautiful. There’s nothing better than waking up to a powder day with a nicely groomed trail of man-made snow underneath and natural snow on top. That combination makes the perfect powder day.

Are there any special events or unique attractions planned for the upcoming season?

Yes, we have some really cool events coming up. One highlight is our Park Affair event, a women’s snowboarding competition that’s open to any skiers and riders who identify as she/her/they/them. The first prize is $5,000, which is a big deal. Park Affair is a great partner, and they’ll be here on Sunday, Jan. 14. We’ll have everyone from the youngest in our backpack program to really talented athletes who compete in larger competitions. In January, we also have our Gilman race, followed by several other exciting events with great prizes. Then, in March, we have our Little Max Jamboree, which is like a fun race where kids from our snow sports programs participate, dress up in costumes and compete for various prizes, like Best Costume. We also host our pond skim event, where people dress in Hawaiian outfits or any crazy costume they want and skim across a man-made pond we create at the end of the season. Last year we had a big balloon arch, which was wild. At the end of March we have the Vertical Challenge, a fun, free race. Participants who perform well can win tickets to go to Jay Peak for the finals. Alongside these, we have ongoing programs like our learn-to-ski and Tuesday night adult race league. Another popular program is our One Great Race, where for $68 you can ski, snowboard, snow tube, take lessons, and it includes rentals. This program starts in January and has become hugely popular.

How does McIntyre engage with the local community or collaborate with other ski areas?

We collaborate quite a bit with other ski areas. Through Ski New Hampshire, which is our collective, we work together to address any issues we’re facing as a group. In addition to that, we engage in a lot of reciprocal activities. We’re part of the Freedom Pass program, which is included with our junior or adult season passes. This offers 30 free days on the mountain at any of the Freedom Pass partner locations. We’ve also partnered with places like Pats Peak, Plattekill in New York, Ragged Mountain and Great Glen Trails. All these partners offer different ticket options to our passholders, which is a fantastic benefit for those skiing at McIntyre. If they’re going on a ski vacation up north, they can check out Great Glen Trails or visit Ragged Mountain. We all work together to ensure that skiers get great value from their investment in our passes.

Looking ahead, are there any new technologies or innovations you’re considering to enhance future ski seasons?

We’re always looking to enhance our facilities and have a wish list of upgrades and what’s actually feasible. We’re considering RFID options and new lift technologies. Upgrades in snowmaking and the system itself, beyond just the fans, are on our radar. We’re also focusing on expanding our programs in ways that are affordable for families but also cater to their varying needs. We’ve added a new rental fleet of snowboards from Burton and are looking to expand the snowboard line in our retail shop. Our seasonal lease program has grown with additional perks for those opting for seasonal rentals. We’re staying on top of what consumers and our guests are looking for, as well as what makes sense for McIntyre. In the lodge, one small but significant change is adding a water bottle refill station. As a mom with two kids, I find it hugely convenient to fill up water bottles right there. We’re doing these small things where we can, and then tackling bigger projects as they fit into our budget. The biggest future enhancement from my perspective would be implementing RFID technology, not just for smoothing operations but for our hill as well. This would reduce lines at the ticket counter and provide a more accurate count of guests going up and down the hill, among other benefits.

Snow making

President and general manager Ross Boisvert

Can you explain the technology and process involved in making man-made snow and its impact on activities like skiing, snowboarding and tubing?

Our system includes an air system and a fan gun system, which is water to our fan guns. These fan guns are state-of-the-art, pretty new within the last three to five years. They have onboard weather stations that measure temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and wet bulb temperature. This allows the guns to give us readings to operate them at their highest capacity. The colder and drier the air, the more snow we can make. For instance, last night, when [the temperature] was in the teens, we had much better productivity compared to the night before, which was evident just walking in from one morning to the next. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity decrease the productivity of snowmaking.

When we turned one of the guns on last night, which we had shut off during the day, we made more snow in an hour than we did all of the previous night. This morning we walked into about a 10-foot pile at the base, compared to a couple of inches the night before. So we had a very productive night versus a very expensive night with low productivity previously.

We run fan guns, which look like cannons. They have big fans that push out air and water molecules, with onboard compressors that provide compressed air to help make the snow. Essentially, there’s what’s called a nucleus that puts out a bead of water. As more water is added, those crystals bond with other water molecules, creating snow quickly. Man-made snow has more density than natural snow. If you compare a pile of natural snow and a pile of man-made snow under a burner, the natural snow would melt quicker due to its lower density. Natural snow is smoother and quieter to ski on, but if we didn’t have snowmaking abilities in this day and age, ski resorts really wouldn’t exist. We rely heavily on our snowmaking system and, more importantly, our snowmakers, our staff that’s out there at all hours of the night, making sure the guns are running efficiently. It’s always great to go and hug a snowmaker.

Winter forecast

Derek Schroeter, a meteorologist at the U.S. National Weather Service office in Gray, Maine, which covers weather predictions for northern New Hampshire, offered what insights he could into the winter 2023-2024 season, emphasizing, first, the uncertainty in long-term snowfall predictions.

“We cannot make any definitive predictions on snowfall,” he said.

The NWS is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA’s role is to provide weather forecasts up to a week in advance, Schroeter said, and while the Climate Prediction Center offers seasonal outlooks, it focuses mainly on temperature and precipitation trends rather than specific snowfall predictions. For the December to February period, “Northern New England is likely to experience above-normal temperatures, with equal chances for precipitation,” Schroeter said.

These forecasts are influenced by El Niño conditions in the Pacific, he said, typically leading to warmer temperatures in the northern U.S.

Despite the general trend, however, Schroeter recalls that past El Niño events have sometimes led to above-normal snowfall in New Hampshire.

“Statistically, the majority of El Niño events favor below-normal snowfall, but this does not rule out the possibility of this El Niño event leading to above-normal or near-normal snowfall,” he said.

Regarding the potential for repeat snow events, Schroeter noted the current absence of a favorable storm track, but remains optimistic.

“It’s too hard to pin down at this time range,” he said, “but typically, every winter, even in below-normal snowfall years, we tend to get into a favorable pattern for snowstorms that can lead to at least a short window of good skiing.”

WHERE TO SKI

Here are some of the New Hampshire spots to hit the slopes. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Abenaki Ski Area
390 Pine Hill Road, Wolfeboro
Hours of operation: Regular: Wednesday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday/Vacation: Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; MLK Day and Presidents Day: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Pricing:
• Day passes: kiddie tow $5, resident $8, non-resident $16, resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $10, non-resident (weekend, holiday, vacation) $20
• Season passes: youth $50/$100, senior (55+) $50/$100, adult $75/$150, family $250/$375 (resident/non-resident rates)
• Rentals available
More info: 569-5639, wolfeboronh.us/abenaki-ski-area

Attitash Mountain Resort
775 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Pricing and availability are date-specific; visit the resort website for the most up-to-date lift ticket pricing
More info: 223-7669, attitash.com

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center
Where: 1573 Route 302, Bartlett
Hours of operation: Open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift: adult $22/day, junior (age 16 & under) free with a paying adult; senior (age 65+) $20/day.
• Season passes: adult $195, senior $175
• Rentals: skis/snowshoes $23/day; skate skis $28/day
• Lessons: private instruction $50, group lessons adult $60 adult, child $40
More info: 374-2277, bearnotchskitouring.com

Black Mountain
Where: 373 Black Mountain Road, Jackson
Hours of operation:
• Monday, Thursday and Friday (non-holiday) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holiday periods 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday periods include Dec. 26 through Jan. 1; Jan. 13 through Jan. 15; Feb. 17 through Feb. 25
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) weekend and holiday $91, weekday $71; Junior (6-17) weekend and holiday $65, weekday $55; senior (65+) weekend and holiday $60, weekday $60; tot (5 and under) free.
• Surface lift: $25
• After 2 p.m. ski free with purchase of full-price next-day ticket
• Locals ski on Sunday afternoon for $25 (with valid ID from specific counties)
• Group sales: Special rates available, contact for more information
More info: 383-4490, blackmt.com

Bretton Woods
Where: 99 Ski Area Road, Bretton Woods
Hours of operation:
Through Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; starting Dec. 22, Friday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: Early season (before Dec. 22): adults $91 to $109, teens $72 to $82, juniors $52 to $62, seniors $42 to $105; Regular season (after Dec. 22): adults $111 to $139, teens $72 to $92, juniors $52 to $72, seniors $42 to $124
• Season passes available for purchase with various options and benefits, including discounts at resort retail shops and unlimited use of certain lifts
More info: 278-3320, brettonwoods.com

Cannon Mountain
Where: 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia
Hours of operation: Depends on Mountain Report; see website
Pricing:
• Lift tickets: adult (18-64) $96 to $111, teen (13-17)/college $83 to $98, military $58 to $73
• Two-day lift tickets: adult $177 to $192, teen/college $151 to $166, military $101 to $116
• Season passes: Adult Cannon Pass starts at $591, prices vary with purchase date and age categories
More info: 823-8800, cannonmt.com

Crotched Mountain Ski Area
Where: 615 Francestown Road, Bennington
Hours of operation: Sunday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets: junior (7-17) weekday $70, weekend $84; adult (18-64) weekday $80, weekend $94; senior (65+ years) weekday $70, weekend $84
More Info: 588-3668 or visit crotchedmtn.com

Gunstock Mountain Resort
Where: 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford
Hours of operation: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $49, junior (6-22) $599, adult (23-59) $899, senior (60-69) $599
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $63, weekend $75; adult weekday $87, weekend $99; senior weekday $63, weekend $75
More Info: 293-4341, gunstock.com

Loon Mountain Resort
Where: 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln
Hours of operation: Non-holiday Monday through Friday lifts open at 9 a.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays lifts open at 8 a.m. Individual lift closure times vary. Check the Mountain Report for times.
Pricing:
• Season passes: child (0-5) $30, junior (6-18) $919, adult (19-64) $1,449, senior (65-79) $1,099
• Daily lift tickets: junior weekday $59, weekend $89; adult weekday $71, weekend $107; senior weekday $63, weekend $95
• Two-day pass: junior $102, adult $123, senior $108
More info: 745-8111 or loonmtn.com

McIntyre Ski Area
Where: 50 Chalet Way, Manchester
Hours of operation: full day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; night 4 to 9 p.m.; half-day morning 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; half-day afternoon 1 to 6 p.m.
Pricing:
• Season passes: adult (18-64) $439; junior (4-17) $419; senior (65+) $35; toddler (age 3 & under) free with purchase of an adult season pass (special offer: buy two junior passes and get up to two adult season passes at $179 each)
• Special tickets $68 for 3:30-to-9 p.m. ticket (includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing, rentals) $58 for 5:30 p.m.+ until 9 p.m.
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com
• Lesson tips are available from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; après ski with live music, hot cocoa and cash bar.
More Info: 622-6159 or mcintyreskiarea.com

Mount Sunapee
Where: 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Hours of operation: weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; midweek 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing: Daily lift tickets for child (5-12) weekday $64, weekend $69; adult (13-64) weekday $95, weekend $103; senior (62+) weekday $76, weekend $82. Two-day pass for child $128, adult $190, senior $152
More info: 763-3500, mountsunapee.com

Pats Peak
Where: 686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Hours of operation:
Pats Peak plans to be open daily until 4 p.m. Night skiing starts on Dec. 26.
Pricing:
• Weekend/holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $95 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), $85 (12:30 p.m. to close), $72 (4 p.m. to close); junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $85, $75, $62 respectively; child (5 & under) $18
• Weekday, non-holiday lift tickets: adult (18-64) $76 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), prices range from $66 to $79 for other time slots; junior (6-17) and senior (65+) $62 to $69 depending on time slot and area; child (5 & under) free Monday through Thursday, $18 Friday
• Valley Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $62
• Bluster Area lift tickets (weekend/holiday and weekday, non-holiday) adult/junior/senior $39
• Beginner Area lift tickets: Friday/weekend/holiday $39 (adult/junior/senior), Monday through Thursday, non-holiday free
More info: 428-3245 or visit patspeak.com

Ragged Mountain Resort
Where: 620 Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pricing:
• Lift tickets (window rates): adult (13-64) $99 to $119; junior (6-12) $72 to $89; senior (65-79) $72 to $89
• Half-day tickets (noon to 4 p.m.): adult (13-64) $59 to $69; junior (6-12) $49 to $59; senior (65-79) $45 to $55
• Advance rates also available
More info: 768-3600 or raggedmountainresort.com

Waterville Valley Resort
Where: 1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley
Hours of operation:
• Through Jan. 15: weekdays 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Jan. 15 to mid-March: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mid-March to Closing Day: weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing:
• Adult (18-64) lift tickets: full day $116, half day $106, two-day pack $204, three-day pack $288
• Teen (13-17)/college/military lift tickets: full day $106, half day $96, two-day pack $181, three-day pack $255
• Junior (6-12)/senior (65+) lift tickets: full day $96, half day $86, two-day pack $159, three-day pack $222
• Tyke (5 & under)/80+ lift tickets: full day, half day, two-day pack, three-day pack: free
More info: 800-468-2553, waterville.com

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 23/12/14

Dear Donna,

What can you tell me about these tiny drink umbrellas? They have tags on them that say ‘Made in Japan.’

Thanks.

George

Dear George,

I can start by saying I remember going to Asian restaurants and begging my mom for one in my milk!

These novelty drink umbrellas were very popular mid-century. Yours were made in Japan, but they were invented in Hawaii. They started off to provide shade in a drink so the ice wouldn’t melt too quickly. They were perfect-size accents for Barbies and other similar dolls.

The value on them original with the bands seems to be under $2. A box full like you have is probably in the $30 range. Priceless, though, for the memories!

Thanks for sharing, George, and have fun with them.

Kiddie Pool 23/12/14

Family fun for whenever

It’s a party!

• Catch Mr. Aaron Holiday Party on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $13.75. Mr. Aaron (mraaronmusic.com) is described as “a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer making music and videos for kids and their grownups,” according to the venue’s website.

• The cast of the Palace Theatre’s A Christmas Carol will attend the storytime at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Go online to reserve a spot for this free event.

• Enjoy a Grinch-centric storytime at Balin Books (375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com) on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. Both the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the new sequel How the Grinch Lost Christmas will be read and the event will feature hot cocoa, cookie decorating and crafts, according to the website.

Still a lot of Nutcracker

• Ballet Misha presents The Nutcrackeron Saturday, Dec. 16, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). Tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for children under 18. Visit tickets.anselm.edu to purchase tickets online.

• Safe Haven Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45 for adults and $40 for students and seniors. Visit safehavenballet.org/events for more info.

• New England School of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theater at Pinkerton Academy (5 Pinkerton St., Derry). Tickets cost $32.50. Visit facebook.com/newenglandschoolofdance.

• The New Hampshire School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (14 Canterbury Road, Concord). Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the studio (183 Londonderry Turnpike). There will be an additional performance on Sunday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the box office or online at palacetheatre.org.

Holiday on screen

• Elf (PG, 2003) will screen on Friday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Flying Monkey in Plymouth (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com).

• The Polar Express (G, 2004) will screen Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org)

The Art Roundup 23/12/14

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

Last weekend of Hatbox’s A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will close out its run at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com) with shows Friday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. The show will be the final mainstage production at the Hatbox’s Steeplegate Mall location because Hatbox, along with most of the mall’s other tenants, has received notice to leave their space by the end of January 2024, according to hatboxnh.com. The space’s final performances after A Christmas Carol will be Queen City Improv on Friday, Dec. 29, at 7:30 p.m. and Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Check back with the website for updates on the search for a new venue, the statement said. Tickets for A Christmas Carol cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members, and $19 for senior members.

Dance!

The Palace Youth Theatre will hold two dance master classes for ages 12 and up at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester). A Musical Theater Dance Masterclass with Jenna Bienvenue, a PYT alum and the current Ghost of Christmas Past, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A Jazz Dance Masterclass with Sebastian Goldberg, the director of dance, will be held on Friday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The cost for each class is $20. Contact meganquinn@palacetheatre.org for information on how to sign up.

The Aaron Tolson Dance Institute’s Winter Intensive will be held Saturday, Dec. 30, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Dana Center at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu). Take one class in hip-hop, ballet, tap, modern or contemporary dance for $30, or take five for a full day of classes for $120. See the website for the schedule.

Call to artists

The Londonderry Arts Council is holding an open call for the 2024 Library Artist Program to artists in all media — painting, sculpture, photography and more, according to a press release. The pieces will be displayed on nine easels (or in locked cases for 3D items) for one month at the Leach Library, the release said. Apply by submitting digital images of works along with a brief artist’s biographical statement to the Londonderry Arts Council at londonderryartscouncil.org/featuredartist. Email artscouncil@londonderry.com for more information.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Safe Haven Ballet (safehavenballet.org) presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4:30 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28.

Nutcracker by Candlelight

“Candlelight: Holiday Special featuring The Nutcracker and more”on Thursday, Dec. 21, from 6 and 8:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). Tickets to the 6 p.m. show cost $45 to $60; tickets to the 8 p.m. show cost $43 to $60. Courtesy photo.

Art of all kinds

Art 3 Gallery in Manchester explores the power of art with current exhibit

Art 3 Gallery’s final exhibition of 2023, “The Power of Art,” on display through Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, showcases the art of 60 to 70 artists, from paintings and photographs to sculptures and mixed media.

“Twice a year we try to come up with an innovative idea for an art exhibit that is broad and representational enough to encompass all the artists that we carry,” said Sue Jones of Art 3 Gallery. “We don’t want to just focus on landscapes, or portraits or things that have people … or animals in them, so we try to pick themes that are very broad and would cover a lot of different artists’ artwork, so this particular one [is] called The Power of Art.”

About 200 artists, local, national and international, show their art at the gallery. Among them is Mary Graham, whose oil paintings “Vesper Light I” and “Vesper Light II” are featured in the show.

“My grandmother, when I was 8 years old, gave me a set of oils and I have been studying art ever since,” she said. “I have a bachelor’s in fine arts [and] I was a set designer and costume designer before going into fine art full-time, but I’ve been doing oil painting for the last 20 years or so exclusively. I’ve done some watercolor and drawing but primarily oil painting.”

When her grandparents retired and bought a farm in New Hampshire, she realized it was where she was meant to be. After living in various cities, being originally from Manhattan, and having her first daughter, she finally made the move, drawing artistic inspiration from the mountains.

“I like to paint from high up rather than looking up at them,” Graham said. “I like to hike and look down from them. I love the space, the air, the contemplative feeling that I get looking out over the summits and being in places that are unlike any other place on Earth.”

Pre-pandemic, Art 3 Gallery would have live openings on Thursday nights. Now they post video walkthroughs of the gallery on their website and social media pages. You can also stop by the gallery to see the exhibition on weekdays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment.

Other artists featured in the exhibition are Sunil Howlader, an artist from Bangladesh whose works, made from various media like oil and acrylic paints and pastels, are on display in Asia, North America, Europe and Australia; modern impressionist Stan Moeller; and Patti Davis Ganek, a painter influenced by abstract expressionism.

“I paint primarily out of my love for this part of the world,” Graham said. “Northeast New Hampshire’s mountains is, I think, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, and that’s why I live here and that’s why I paint, sketch, and draw and work with these mountain landscapes.”

“The Power of Art” at Art 3 Gallery
When: On display through Monday, Jan. 15. Gallery hours are 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment.
Where: 44 W Brook St., Manchester

Quality of Life 23/12/14

Welcome, winter enthusiasts!

New Hampshire has been recognized as the fourth-best state for a winter trip in the U.S., achieving a score of 9.31 out of 10 in a study by travel expert Viator. This commendation highlights the state’s robust offerings for winter enthusiasts, including a high count of ski resorts at 28, the most among the top four states. In addition to providing numerous winter sports opportunities with approximately 61 inches of average snowfall, New Hampshire also caters to ice skating fans with 37 rinks available across the state.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Another reason to get excited about snow.

Bird woes

New Hampshire residents have been noticing a decrease in bird populations, NHPR reported. Sean O’Brien, from the University of New Hampshire’s cooperative extension, has been addressing this concern, identifying a mast year, where oak trees produce abundant acorns, as a key factor. This abundance of forest food reduces birds’ presence in open areas. Furthermore, climate change is impacting bird species, with the National Audubon Society noting significant declines across the U.S. Migratory birds are particularly affected, experiencing habitat changes and increasing temperatures. In contrast, local winter birds like owls and woodpeckers are faring better.

QOL score: -2

Comment: In the report, O’Brien highlighted the importance of native plants in supporting bird populations, recommending that gardens should comprise at least 70 percent native perennials to help birds thrive, along with minimizing pesticide use and keeping cats indoors.

Reading help

New Hampshire is offering free training on the science of reading to parents and educators, NHPR reported, aiming to improve literacy among the state’s elementary students. The Department of Education notes more than 3,300 individuals are already enrolled in the Lexia LETRS courses, with more cohorts opening for 2024. The training covers various aspects of reading education, including phonics and phonology, and is unique in its inclusivity, being open to all adults involved in children’s education, such as parents and homeschool instructors. Funded by federal Covid relief funds, the program sees participation from more than 80 school districts.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The report said this initiative responds to concerns about declining reading scores and the use of outdated teaching methods in the state. New Hampshire’s reading and math scores have been falling since peaking in 2013, with current data showing about half of the state’s fourth-graders not proficient in reading, according to the article.

QOL score: 87

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 87

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

This Week 23/12/14

Big Events December 14, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 14

The Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) production of A Christmas Carol continues through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with an additional show on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $59.

Thursday, Dec. 14

Author Daniel Dain will discuss and sign his bookA History of Bostontoday at 6:30 p.m. at Balin Books (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com). Visit the bookstore’s website to RSVP.

Saturday, Dec. 16

The McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com) will celebrate “Dozens of Decades of Flight” today and tomorrow, commemorating the Dec. 17, 1903, flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright. The event will feature aviation activities, speakers and guest organizations, including Capt. Shawn Grinnell of the U.S. Space Force on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. The celebration is included with admission, which costs $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12, $11 for 62+ and ages 13- college. Planetarium shows cost an additional $6. The center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16

The Little Mermen, described as “the ultimate Disney cover band for Disney fanatics of all ages,” will play the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) today at noon; doors open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets cost $25.

Saturday, Dec. 16

Catch the NH Philharmonic’s annual Holiday Pops concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive in Salem). Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $10 for students and $5 for Salem students; see nhpo.booktix.com for tickets. A livestreaming ticket option is available for the Sunday 2 p.m. concert. See nhphil.org.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Catch a screening of Elf (PG, 2003) today at 3 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com). The event is free but go online to secure tickets. Find more fun family holiday screenings in the Kiddie Pool column on page 22.

Save the Date! Sunday, Dec. 31
The Grappone Conference Center (70 Constitution Ave. in Concord) will have a Disco-Themed New Year’s Eve Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 31, from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The event will feature a buffet dinner, cash bar, cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, dancing to music from DJ Nazzy and a midnight toast, according to a press release. Tickets cost $90 per person and are available via the Grappone Conference Center’s Facebook page and through eventbrite.com. Know of other fun ways to ring in 2024? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Featured photo: A Christmas Carol at the Palace Theatre.

The week that was

The Big Story – A Weird Local Week: No story dominated. The Red Sox actually got worse at the winter meetings and the Bruins surrendered their overall points lead in the NHL thanks to going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, while thin-skinned refs heard it from Jaylen Brown after he was surprisingly ejected vs. New York on Friday. But most notable was D.C. political pub Politico reporting that for the first time in 20 years presidential primary candidates are now scheduling events during Pats games because the Pats are so bad. Exhibit A: the negative yacking about Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh because it may hurt their draft position in April.

That’s where we start the week.

Sports 101: OnSaturdayJayden Daniels became the third player from LSU to win the Heisman Trophy. Name their other two winners.

News Item – New Hampshire Athletes: Two locals were in the news last week. Steelers tight end PatFreiermuth of Durham had three catches for 18 yards vs. the Pats, and Merrimack’s Mickey Gasper was taken by Boston in the Rule 5 draft after spending five years catching in the Yankees organization. He’s got to stick all year with the Sox or he reverts back to New York.

Lakers Win First NBA In-Season Tourney: Yawn. That’s all we got for that.

The Numbers:

3.2 –NFLlowest yards per carry allowed by the stingier than you think Patriots defense.

50 – second best in the NBA blocked shots recorded by San Antonio 7’6” rookie Victor Wembanyama after 19 games, with the 50th being his viral swat off the backboard of a layup attempt by T-Wolves big Naz Reid.

129 – points averaged by the Indiana Pacers, which will set the NBA record for most points per game ever if the number holds.

… Of the Week Awards:

Honors –Good guy Red Sox radio voice Joe Castiglione was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. After 41 years and 6,000 broadcasts he’ll go in next July as the recipient of the Ford Frick Award for broadcast excellence. It’s about time. Congratulations.

Grudge Match –The long feud between historically overrated Chris Paul and touchy referee Scott Foster grabbed headlines again after Paul claimed Foster’s tossing him with two quick T’s was “personal.” The interesting side note is Paul’s teamhas won just twice in the 20 games officiated by Forster since CP3 entered the NBA. It got both a (David) stern response from Commissioner Adam Silver to knock it off.

Stat – Patriots are 1-3 when they’ve given up 10 points or less, while the rest of the NFL is 53-0 when teams have done that.

Thumbs Up – Fisher Cats Sold: As first reported by the Union Leader, the F-Cats were sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings, the operator of 29 minor-league teams, who also bought the Red Sox AAA club in Worcester days earlier. Best of all they’re staying put.

Thumbs Down – Sports Illustrated: In the latest flash-over-substance drone pick, the teenagers now running Sports Illustrated (into the ground) somehow named Colorado Football Coach Deion Sanders as its Sports Person of the Year, a guy who following a 3-0 start after running off almost every Buffalo from 2022 finished at 4-9. Who was their runner-up, Kyrie Irving? What planet do you people live on?

Random Thoughts:

Sorry, Pat Mahomes, you can’t blame the refs for calling back Travis Kelce’s oh-so-alert cross-court lateral/pass to Kadarius Toney that went for a TD vs. Buffalo. Toney lined up in the neutral zone, a preventable mistake that was entirely Toney’s fault. No excuse for such a bonehead move.

Sports 101 Answer: The other two LSU Heisman Trophy winners were Joe Burrow in 2019 and running back Billy Cannon, who after winning in 1959 gave the AFL a huge publicity boost by being the first big name to sign with the fledgling league.

Final Thought – Yanks Got Better, Sox Got Worse: Aside from making their everyday line-up weaker by gift-wrapping Alex Verdugo to the Yanks for three pitchers no one ever heard of, Craig Breslow came away with a doughnut at last week’s winter meetings.

Not sure it was the first mistake of the Breslow era. But it made the Yanks seem less desperate to improve their outfield and thus took some of the leverage San Diego appeared to have as they pursued slugger Juan Soto, who they got the next day in a seven-player blockbuster deal for what’s been called a disappointing return.

This was done with a majority of the starting pitching trade options coming off the board and as the marquee free agents eliminated Boston from their wish list, most notably Shohei Ohtani. Though, since he almost landed in Toronto and got an astonishing $70 million for 10 years from the Dodgers, the dominoes fell right with him.

But if this doesn’t change right away, can you say last in the AL East? Again.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

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