I don't want to belabor that old phrase about the sidewalks rolling up at 5 p.m., because usually, when you repeat old dead things, they take on more importance than they deserve. That old charmer really needs to be ignored into oblivion. Change is apparent here in Concord, and I for one, really appreciate and enjoy it.
I'd like to give a shout out to some (mostly downtown) Concord businesses that are open later. Not to 2 a.m. Not to 4 a.m. But late enough that you should be paying attention.
• Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 N. Main. I have Dos fever. And many of you do as well, especially on Taco Tuesdays. But for the purpose of this article I'll just stop with: They stay open Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.
Zoe & Co. at 92 N. Main. (This has nothing to do with Mexican food) is open Monday through Saturday until 9 p.m. So until 9 p.m. you can go inside for personalized bra-fitting and shopping.
And the bars: The Barley House (132 N. Main), The Green Martini (6 Pleasant St Ext.), Margaritas(1 Bicentennial Sq.), Cheers (17 Depot St.) and Penuches (6 Pleasant St.). All open until about 12:30 on the weekends, a little earlier on weekdays. More on them later . . .
For more wholesome activities, perhaps you'd like to hit Bead It! (146 N. Main St.) They're there for your jewelry- making needs and you can even hang out and make things, Thursday and Friday 'til 8 p.m. (Before heading in, try a stop off at Butters Fine Foods at 70 N. Main St. They have great wine tastings!)
A perusal of Red River Theatres' most recent listings reveals several later show times, including several starting in the 8 p.m. to nearly 9 p.m. hour. Beverages and snacks on site enhance the experience.
Live music. Let's talk music for a minute, shall we? I hear a lot of talk around town about how we need better venues for live music, and we need MORE live music. There is truth to these criticisms . . . but there is also truth to what I'm about to write.
A sampling: In the past few months Concord's bars have seen appearances in Concord by the eclectic Donkilo Afrofunk Orchestra, Concord's own Kitchen, Lakes region faves the Blue Ribbon All Star Band, and three incarnations of the Night of A Thousand Jams at Penuches, and that's just a sampling.
There's also live wine and jazz Monday nights at the Barley House, featuring the Dave Tonkin group on the second Monday of the month and the Scott Solsky quartet on the fourth Monday of the month. Hermanos, too (11 Hills Ave.), keeps live jazz on rotation throughout the week, Sunday through Thursday.
Coming up on Feb. 17, singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault hits the Capitol Center's Spotlight Cafe (44 S. Main St.). On Feb. 24, Darlingside and Barefoot Truth grace that same venue for what promises to be an awesomely hip pairing.
And if that didn't all keep you busy, and you want to get fancy or just stop in for a drink, Old Europe Restaurant (76 N. Main), the Granite (yes, it's all the way up the road, but it's loooovely) and O Steak and Seafood have lovely staff, setting and beverages on hand in the later hours, to hook you up.
I also hear tell of an open mic at Uno's on Mondays from 9 p.m. to midnight. Haven't scoped it out yet, but I'm looking forward to it. And of course, there are evening events popping up regularly at Kimball Jenkins, NHTI, the Co-op, and more. For a city with “nothing to do” there sure is a lot going on. You want more, so bring it!
Katy Brown Solsky is founder and director of the Concord Arts Market. When she's not trying to make Concord cooler, she works as patron relations Manager at the Capital Center for the Arts.
