We took a look at Concord’s ice cream shops
We always get really tough assignments over here at the Insider, whether it’s riding electric animals inside the mall or playing wheelchair basketball. That’s why it was no sweat when we decided to take on the task of hitting up a sampling of Concord’s ice cream joints to find out what makes each one unique. Plus, we know you probably don’t have time to go around to every ice creamery in town, and we’re just here to help. So here’s a...
Beyond the Cubicle: Scooping and twisting ice cream at Ballard’s
There’s no way we could dedicate an entire issue to ice cream and not feature some kind of ice cream-related job. We did a feature on making ice cream at Arnie’s last year, so we wanted to try something different this time around. “Why not jump in with some ice cream scoopers?” we said to ourselves. Next thing you know, I’m putting on a T-shirt and hat at Ballard’s Ice Cream. The very first thing I learned about working at Ballard’s...
Don’t have a yard? Join a community garden
There’s nothing quite like feeling the dirt between your fingers as you plant a seed. That seed will hopefully sprout and grow into a beautiful flower, hearty vegetable or tasty fruit at the end of the summer for you to enjoy. There’s something to be said about growing your own food. But if you live in downtown Concord, you might not have the kind of space required for a garden. It might be too shady or no yard at all. And if you grew...
Tasty Brews: We stopped by an Oddball tasting at Barb’s
Trying a new beer can be a tricky situation. If you buy a six pack and don’t like it, then it sits in your fridge until you can pawn it off to an unsuspecting guest. And if you order it at a restaurant, there’s almost an expectation that if you get a beer with dinner that you finish it – no matter how much you would rather pour it down the drain. But you don’t want to be stuck drinking the same beer over and over again. Everyone needs...
Tackling the T-shirt Sundae at Arnie’s Place
For the Ice Cream Issue, it didn’t seem right not to do a feature that involved us eating ice cream. We felt we’d be doing all of you a disservice if we didn’t go out and try something the city had to offer. Since we kind of like to go big or go home over here, we decided to head over to Arnie’s Place to tackle the T-shirt Sundae, the legendary eight-scoop behemoth that gets you a free T-shirt if you finish it all. For me, I took this...
Don’t forget about fro-yo, too
So we’ve already told you pretty much all there is to know about ice cream in Concord, but some of you might be sitting there thinking, “Well what about frozen yogurt fans? Any love for us?” Of course there is. We know full well that fro-yo is all the rage these days, and Concord has two shops specializing in the treat. Therefore, we checked out what each had to offer so we could pass the tasty finds on to you. Orange Leaf When it’s...
Try It: We made our own ice cream, and it was tasty
Since this is the Ice Cream Issue, it’s only right that one of us try to make our own. And I was the lucky one who just happened to own an ice cream maker. I’ve eaten enough of it to know what its supposed to taste like, so at least I had that going for me. But I had never used my ice cream maker, which is surprising considering how much I enjoy ice cream. I had no idea what to put in it or how much, but luckily I had the manual....
Penacook Farmers Market opens Monday
The Penacook Village Farmers Market, put on by the Penacook Village Association, will open for its seventh year on Monday at the 1834 Rolfe House on 11 Penacook St. in Penacook. The market, which is opening a little earlier this year, will run each Monday, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., through Aug. 29. With the short winter and people wanting more markets opening earlier made the most sense. And we’re all about making sense. Last year, the...
The Concord Arts Market returns Saturday
Since it’s been so nice out lately, you’ve probably done some strolling around downtown. If you’ve gone out on a weekend morning, you may have even noticed or stopped by the Concord Farmers Market – which opened a few weeks early this year – and asked yourself, “Where’s the arts market?” Don’t worry, it’s right around the corner.Market season starts this Saturday, with the Concord Arts Market running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in...
Charlie Stella to present ‘Tommy Red’ at Gibson’s Bookstore
If you love books, authors and reading in general, you should head over to Gibson’s Bookstore on Thursday to meet an award-winning author. Prolific crime writer Charlie Stella will talk about his newest work, Tommy Red, which focuses on a hit crime that takes place on Star Island. The event is Thursday at 5:30 p.m., and it’s free.
These painters sure like the Merrimack River
The N.H. Audubon is all about the protection of birds – and just nature in general. So it’s no surprise that a group called the Merrimack River Painters, who produce all kinds of great works including birds and nature, is currently exhibiting at the Audubon’s McLane Center. The group of 12 artists from New Hampshire and Maine will have their work on display through June, so you’ve got plenty of time to check it out.
N.H. Association for the Blind Walk for Sight is Saturday
Chances are, you know how to walk. Whether you like to do it outside of what’s required to live your daily life is another story. But we must let you know that it is a good source of exercise, and this Saturday, it also happens to be a great way to raise money for the New Hampshire Association for the Blind. So if you feel like using those legs for more than making your way to the refrigerator for another bowl of ice cream, sign up to...
Grammarnator: It’s lesson time
What can we say about appositives? Let’s start with a definition – a noun or a pronoun, often with modifiers, that follows another noun to describe or explain it. If other words are associated with it, an appositive phrase is created. Consider this sentence about a famous regional sports figure: Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots, has lost the appeal of his four-game suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Ah,...
Adventure Shopping
We took an Adventure Shopping trip to Ocean State Job Lot last week, and here’s what we found. As usual, there was plenty of bizarre stuff to check out.
Around Town: Here’s a new way to watch traffic
We see all kinds of things in our travels around Concord, but this was the first time we found an office chair on the side of the road that we can only assume was used to count the cars driving by Sewalls Falls Road. Although it was a short-lived feature on Mountain Road, as it was gone less than 24 hours after we came across it. We didn’t see a “free” sign, but we can see why someone would grab it.
Book of the Week: Killing Trail
Killing Trail Margaret Mizushima 2015, 314 pages Fiction Mattie Cobb really likes her new partner. He’s good-looking, has thick dark hair, brown eyes, a killer smile, and he listens to what she says. He’s also eager to please! He’s their first K-9 police dog, Robo. Mattie won the chance to be his trainer, and she is excited about working with him. Mattie and Robo find the body of a teenage girl in the woods, and Mattie suspects...
Bulletin Board
McGowan to open Bob Larsen exhibit McGowan Fine Art announces the opening of “Inspirations, New Watercolors” featuring the paintings of Bob Larsen. The show will run through June 30, with an artist’s reception on Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. This show is free and open to the public. This show offers a chance to take in the sights of New Hampshire as seen through the eyes of a noted artist. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to...
This Week in Concord History
May 31, 1856: Edward H. Rollins, Concord politico, leads a mass meeting at Phenix Hall to condemn terrorism in Kansas and the caning of Sen. Charles Sumner on the floor of the U.S. Senate. It is among the first gatherings in the city of a new party, the Republicans. May 31, 1873: The city council appropriates $12,000 to build a new bridge over the Contoocook River in Penacook. May 31, 1932: The Schoonmaker Chair Co. goes...