Tag: 250731

Four pets will become can-famous

Great North Aleworks is looking for an animal star

For the fourth year, Great North Aleworks in Manchester is partnering with the Animal Rescue League of NH for a Paw Prints Beer Label fundraiser.

“It’s very exciting,” said Charlotte Williams, the Director of Development for the Animal Rescue League. “It’s an opportunity for people to nominate their beloved pets, past or present. The pets who get the most votes will be on cans of a limited, small-batch production by Great North, and the label will feature a picture of four fantastic pets.” This will be a set of four different cans, she said, with one pet featured on each can.

For the first three years of this fundraiser, Williams said, the beer cans featured dogs, “but this year it’s for all types of pets.” A wide variety of animals have been nominated by their owners, so far, she said. “We have rabbits. We have a sheep. We have a pig, and a donkey, and even a starfish. And, of course, we have lots of cats and dogs as well.”

Pet owners pay $10 to nominate a pet and then, through Aug. 4, friends, family and any other pet/beer enthusiasts can pay $1 to vote for one of the nominated pets.

“On certain Fridays,” Williams said, “two votes will be the same price as one. We call it a ‘Yappy Hour.’”

Williams said the response to this year’s competition has been overwhelming.

“We’ve just been blown away,” she said. “In the past we might have [had] 40 to 60 dogs nominated. We’ve had 221 pets nominated so far this year. We’ve raised over $17,000 so far. It’s been an incredible response.”

On Saturday, Sept. 20, the beer with the winning pets on the label will be revealed at a special can-release party at Great North Aleworks, where the beer will be for sale, as long as supplies last. This will be a very limited run of beer, said Brian Parda of Great North Alweworks. “It will probably be around 30 or 35 cases,” he said, “with six four-packs to a case.” The Paw Prints Ale will only be available at the brewery, he said.

This year, the Paw Prints beer will be a blonde ale, he said.

“We’ve done a couple different styles [for this event] over the years,” he said. “We landed on Blonde Ale, something that we’re releasing in September … Septembers tend to still be quite warm, so we thought that would be something flavorful and refreshing, whether you drink an IPA or you like to drink a lager that you can enjoy.”

Not surprisingly, the can reveal party will be pet-friendly.

“A lot of our employees own dogs and love dogs,” Parda said. “…We are as dog-friendly as we are legally allowed to be. We are not allowed to have dogs inside the indoor space of our tasting room, but out on our patio [is permitted]. ”

Paw Prints
To nominate a pet to be on a can of “Paw Prints” Blonde Ale, or to vote for your favorite contestant, visit gogophotocontest.com/arlnh. It costs $10 to nominate a pet, and $1 to vote for one. This contest will continue until Monday, Aug. 4.
The winners of the contest will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 20, at a reveal party at Great North Aleworks (1050 Holt Ave., No. 14, Manchester, 858-5789, greatnorthaleworks.com). The beer can be purchased at the brewery while supplies last.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Food trucks & big cookies

The Southern New Hampshire Food Truck Festival

There is a mystery surrounding this weekend’s Food Truck Festival at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, and it has to do with cookies.

Jody Donahue is the founder and director of Great New England Food Truck Festivals and the organizer of the event, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. She said food trucks will not be the only attractions at the festival. “There will be 50 vendors participating inside and outside the dome,” Donahue said. “We will have a kids’ zone, with a couple of free bounce houses. There will be chalk play, bubble play, and hula hoops. We will have live music with local musicians. We’ll have three different [acts] playing on Saturday and two different ones on Sunday. They usually play for about two hours each.”

And, of course, there will be the food trucks — 20 of them in all.

“We have a wide variety of food trucks,” Donahue said. “We have Hawaiian and Jamaican food. We’ve got a cannoli truck. We have barbecue. We have Cousin’s Lobster coming with all of their seafood, their lobster rolls and lobster chowder.” Other food trucks will include Bubble Bee Milk Tea, Teenie Wienies, the Deadproof Pizza Co., The Burstin’ Kernel kettle corn, and Big Al’s Grill and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade.

Donahue said that for her the best thing about this festival is the sense of community it brings with it.

“About an hour or an hour and a half in,” she said, “things are settled in and I just stand there and I look around and I think, ‘Wow, this is fun. Look at the people dancing. They’re having such a good time.’ People are eating. They’re challenging each other to see how many trucks can they eat off of. Because the event is two days this year, they can come back on Sunday for free and eat off of another truck. It’s really apparent that people are having a good time.”

But there’s still the mystery of the cookies.

In previous years, the Food Truck Festival featured a whoopie pie-eating contest. Donahue said that the whoopie pies, provided by Maggie’s Munchies (therealmaggiesmunchies.com), were intimidating. “They were amazing,” she said. “Each one was, I think it was a 12-inch whoopie pie. It was huge — HUGE! And they actually finished it. There were people who actually finished their whoopie pie!”

This year, Donahue said, there will be a change. “I didn’t realize, but since she submitted her application, she [Maggie] has switched products and she’s gone from whoopie pies to cookies. She wanted to host the Jumbo Cookie Eating Contest. She makes these giant, jumbo cookies. She’s going to make a 5-pound cookie. Whoever can eat their 5-pound cookie the fastest, or whoever eats the most of their cookie in a set time, will win a T-shirt and a $50 gift certificate.”

Maggie Josti is the owner of Maggie’s Munchies. She said the specifics of the cookies in the Jumbo Cookie Eating Contest are still up in the air. “I still have to confirm that,” she said. “We’re definitely doing a cookie eating contest, but I don’t know if they’re going to be jumbo cookies or if the number of cookies people can eat in a certain amount of time is what will be jumbo.”

The Southern New Hampshire Food Truck Festival
When: Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Hampshire Dome, 34 Emerson Road, Milford
Admission: Admission is $6, which allows guests to visit for both days. Parking is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
More: gnefoodtruckfest.com.

Featured photo: Cookies from Maggie’s Munchies. Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 25/07/31

News from the local food scene

• Hot Chicken and more: Sunny’s Hot Chicken (196 Lake Ave., Manchester, 674-4611) has opened, offering hot chicken wings and American, Greek and Indian favorites for eating in or takeout. It is open seven days, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Search for them on Facebook.

• Making new cocktails: Tuscan Market (Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) will host a Seasonal Cocktails workshop Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Learn to mix two inspired seasonal cocktails with Tuscan Market’s mixologists. Tuscan Market describes this as “a fun, interactive class for cocktail lovers.” Food and beverages can be ordered during the class and will be added to a final bill. Tickets for this event are $65.87 through eventbrite.com.

• Formal tea for kids: Honey Cup Cafe & Tearoom (150 Bridge St., Manchester, 836-6008, honeycupnh.com) now provides a special Kids’ Tea Service, Tuesday through Friday, by reservation. One child or several will be served a formal treat tower with kid-friendly sweet and savory treats, and a bottomless pot of tea (or juice, milk or soda). The price per tier of the treat tower, which can be shared among children and their adults, is $28. There will also be kid-friendly stories and activities.

• Hidden gems among French wines: France produces some of the most well-known wines, but also some excellent lesser-known ones. Wine on Main (9 N Main St, Concord, 897-5828, wineonmainnh.com) will host a special summer wine class to teach you about France’s hidden gems. On Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., learn about selections from places like Cahors, Languedoc, Cotes du Roussillon, Savoie, Corsica and more. The cost is $35 per person through Wine on Main’s website and includes six wines and light snacks. Participation is limited to 20 people.

• Dinner and cigars: The Bedford Village Inn’s annual Cigar Dinner is slated for Thursday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. The dinner includes a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a three course meal with each course paired with a cigar and an alcoholic beverage. Tickets cost $150 per person, 21+.

Kiddie Pool 25/07/31

Family fun for whenever

National Night Out

Tuesday, Aug. 5, is the National Night Out, when many first responder departments hold outreach events, such as fairs and touch-a-truck events. Here are some of the events planned locally according to the police departments’ Facebook pages; see natw.org.

• Bedford holds its annual Police vs. Fire softball game starting at 7 p.m. at Selvoski Field, 20 County Road.

• In Concord, the National Night Out event featuring food, prizes, K-9 demonstrations, a climbing wall and more will take place in Rollins Park from 5 to 8 p.m.

• The Derry Police Department will hold its event in MacGregor Park from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring live music from 19th Nervous Breakdown (a Rolling Stones tribute band), the Department’s comfort dog, lawn games, giveaways and more.

• The Goffstown Police Department will be joined by first responders from Weare, New Boston and Dunbarton at Goffstown High School for its event from 5 to 8 p.m. that will feature live music, food, games (including an Oreo stacking contest) and more, according to a video on its Facebook page.

• In Hollis, the police, fire, DPW library and town hall are partnering for the event in Nichols Field from 5 to 8 p.m. featuring food, lawn games, touch-a-truck and more.

• Hudson Police Department will hold its event at the Rodgers Memorial Library from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for food, games and more.

• Manchester’s National Night Out event featuring food and more will take place in Victory Park and the Hartnett Parking lot, 5 to 8 p.m.

• Merrimack will hold its event at Merrimack High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and feature ice cream, music, games, arts and crafts and more.

• The Nashua Police Department’s event will take place in Greeley Park starting at 5 p.m. and feature food, demonstrations, community booths, giveaways and more.

• Salem’s Night Out will take place at the Salem High School from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature food, music, an obstacle course, demonstrations, a petting zoo, vendors and more.

Treasure Hunt 25/07/31

Hello, Donna,

Can you give me some advice on how to find a new home for my doll clothes? These were from my Barbie dolls. I hate to just toss them. They are all well-used but in good condition for being from the 1970s. Any ideas would be great.

Thank you.

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

Barbies, Ken’s clothing, accessories etc from the 1960s and on can be very sought after by a collector. It could be hard to find that market.

Older Barbie dolls, clothing etc. can vary in value. An item that was mass-produced and every child had would have low value. Hard-to-find ones can be really high. So one outfit can be worth $1 and another much much more — depending on condition always. But who didn’t over-play with their Barbie dolls?

Samantha, I think if you’re looking for a good home and for someone to love them, I might try passing them down to a child to play with them again. Or if you want a value for them, I might try finding a toy collector or doll collector, possibly through an antique shop. If you have difficulty you can reach out and I can try to find a referral for you.

I wish you luck and hope you find a treasure while funding a new home. Just seeing a child’s face when getting clothes for their Barbie is a treasure!

Call to action

League of NH Craftsmen gathering more than a craft fair

As economic uncertainty continues to affect nonprofits across the country, many people wonder if there’s something they can do to make a difference. For those committed to supporting the creative economy, particularly in New Hampshire, the answer can be surprisingly simple: come to the fair.

The annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair is a beloved regional tradition, but it’s also a powerful way for individuals to support the state’s arts community. A celebration of creativity with works from hundreds of artisans, it has roots tracing back to the Great Depression.

“It was one of the first programs created to be a stimulus to help the state reemerge out of a really difficult financial time,” Executive Director Kate Saunders said in a recent phone interview. “It was actually in partnership with state support. It’s a different era now, but it’s a legacy that’s 92 years old.”

Coming to the fair, which opens on Saturday, Aug. 2, and runs daily through Aug. 10, helps not just the League’s mission. Also represented are the New Hampshire Art Association, which has its own tent, and close to a dozen guilds consisting of makers and creators throughout the state.

“So it’s not just supporting the League membership, but you’re actually supporting so many different creative organizations throughout the state of New Hampshire, which I think is really important for people to be mindful of,” Saunders said.

Daily demonstrations are a highlight of the fair. Blacksmith Garry Kalajian will be there every day, continuing an amazing streak. “He’s demonstrated all nine days of the fair, at every fair, for 25 years straight,” Saunders marveled. “He’s just so unique, and it’s not often that you get to see a blacksmith in action.”

A chance to watch artisans at work is one of the reasons the fair is free for kids 16 and under.

“A lot of people, especially New Hampshire residents, have these core memories of the first time they saw a wood turner on the lathe or a blacksmith in action,” Saunders continued. “Core memories are created at the mountain each year.”

Music is an integral part of the event, provided by NH Music Collective.

Performers include Jack Ancora, Brad Myrick, Kimayo, Tom Pirozzoli, Temple Mountain, Chris Lester, Jacob McCurdy and others.

“One of the commitments that the League made this year is to increase the amount … by about 50 percent,” Saunders said. “Because it’s not just about the makers, but also supporting a range of artists.”

A full schedule is available on the Fair’s website, along with a list of participants. Guests can experience it in a leisurely mode by visiting individual artist booths. There’s also the one-stop Shop at the Fair, a cooperative sales area for juried members, most of whom don’t have a dedicated spot, to sell their work in a centralized location.

Though the road ahead seems at times daunting, Saunders remains steadfast — and resourceful.

“It makes me really sad to see that funding go away,” she said, but rather than yielding to discouragement, the League is responding with renewed creativity. That means leveraging its network of sponsors and donors to design a sustainable model for the future rooted in advocacy, partnership and public engagement.

One such initiative is House of Representatives Day at the fair. Saunders has invited legislators from every district across the state, encouraging those with craftspeople in their regions to come witness the fair firsthand. The goal is to help these representatives see the fair not just as a regional event tied to Sunapee or Concord, but as a statewide cultural institution that helps artisans and the creative economy from border to border.

By offering a tangible demonstration of the League’s reach and impact, she hopes to deepen legislators’ understanding of what the League represents. It is, in her words, “a signature of excellence not only in fine craft, but also in the history and culture of the state of New Hampshire.”

More importantly, this year’s event is a call to action. As public funding wanes and challenges rise, community support becomes even more essential. For those who believe in the arts and the creative economy, it’s more than just an enjoyable day out; it’s a powerful vote of confidence in the value of creativity, culture, and craftsmanship in New Hampshire.

“There’s no excuse,” Saunders concluded. “It’s nine days. I’d love to see us reporting back a record attendance this year.”

92nd Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair
When: Saturday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Where: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury
Tickets: $18/one day and $28/two day, 17 and up at nhcrafts.org (16 and under free)

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!