Entertainment: A double dose of John Franzosa at Hermanos, plus lots of other fun stuff this week
Music Tuesday Craig Fahey at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Kid Pinky at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Andrew Merzi at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Mike Morris at Cheers at 5 p.m. Friday Shameless at Makris Lobster & Steak House at 8 p.m. Nuff Said at Pit Road Lounge at 8 p.m. Rhythm Upstairs at True Brew Barista at 8 p.m. Fugue Mill at Hatbox Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 to $17 at hatboxnh.com. Saturday John...
Book of the Week: ‘Finding Dorothy’
Finding DorothyElizabeth Letts2019, 351 pagesFiction This creative novel is centered on the fascinating character of Maud Baum. Maud was the wife of L. Frank Baum, the man who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This famous book was made into the beloved film, The Wizard of Oz. It starts in Hollywood in 1938 when 77-year-old Maud, now a widow, visits the MGM set. She wants to see how they are turning her husband’s book into a film. She...
Lace ‘em up for a good cause and hit up the 2019 Rock ‘N Race
It’s that time of year again. Birds are chirping, days are getting longer, the air is (very) slowly but surely getting warmer, outdoor patio sets are occupying sidewalk space – it can only mean one thing. Yes, it’s time for the 2019 Rock ‘N Race. The road race is one of the biggest community events in Concord, and for good reason – Rock ‘N Race is a big fundraiser for the Payson Center for Cancer Care at Concord Hospital. In the 16...
HOPE Resource Center at Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care is there to lend a hand
The Payson Center for Cancer Care provides traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation; however, in tandem with the HOPE Resource Center, they truly offer so much more. The HOPE Resource Center at Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care is there to lend a hand while treating cancer and providing complementary services for the patient, family members and loved ones. These services were important to cancer...
The Yogi: Let yoga save you from your technology addiction
A couple of years ago, I was watching the TV show Family Feud with a group of friends and family. I had grown up watching Richard Dawson on the original show, and our group was having a good old time yelling out answers to the survey questions. Then came this one: “Things you do first thing in the morning.” The No. 1 response was “check phone.” We had a good laugh at that one. “No way,” I remember saying. “That can’t be right.” I...
Have you seen this protected spotted turtle that was stolen from Audubon McLane Center?
As a general rule, the Insider stays away from crime stories. However, after receiving an email last week from Stephanie Parkinson, a volunteer at the Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord, about a missing spotted turtle, we couldn’t sit back and do nothing. Apparently, the spotted turtle is a threatened species in New Hampshire, and one was removed from the Audubon’s reptile room, where it has lived for several years. The story has been...
Food Snob: Pulled Pork Sliders from Federal’s Cafe
We got a tip that a new café across from the federal courthouse downtown was open, so we did some investigating and discovered the rumor to be true. The new place is called Federal’s Café (62 Pleasant St.), and the little eatery does breakfast and lunch and serves gourmet Italian coffee. We stopped in on a sunny day last week to check out the lunch options.Before even entering the café, a sign out front listing specials caught our...
Bulletin Board: Big trees, yoga and wine, meetings and more
Music school to host seminars During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, Concord Community Music School is partnering with Riverbend Community Mental Health with a choral concert, panel discussion and weekly presentations that highlight the use of music in mental and behavioral health treatment. The music school will host free weekly “Good Vibes: Music & Mental Health” presentations by licensed expressive arts therapists and...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Beaver Meadow in full swing, public works celebration and more
On Friday, Stefanie Breton, the city’s public information officer, sent out the weekly City Manager’s Newsletter. Here are some of the highlights: Beaver Meadow in full swing The driving range and the course at Beaver Meadow Golf Course are open, as well as the patio. Get out and enjoy some golf! A reminder that our 2019 Chet Wheeler Red, White & Blue Golf Tournament is coming up May 25 to 27. A unique tradition with this event is...
Entertainment: John Cusack comes to the Cap Center for ‘Say Anything’ screening
Music Tuesday Michael Loughlin at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Dave Gerard at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Open mic at Area 23 at 7 p.m. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. Thursday Paul Hubert at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Klose Shave at Penuche’s at 9 p.m. Walker Smith at Cheers at 5 p.m. Friday Audio Jam at Pit Road Lounge at 8 p.m. Change 5 at Makris Lobster & Steak House at 8 p.m. These Trees at True Brew Barista at 8 p.m....
Making Good Health Simple: Have trouble getting yourself to the gym? Get a workout buddy
Exercise: “Yeah!” for some, and “Ugh” for others. The dichotomy among people’s attitudes toward exercise is clear. From the obsessive, early-morning rooster crowd (that arrive to the gym several minutes before the doors are open), to the people whose friends have to lure them to the gym with promises of post-workout nachos and margaritas, motivation seems to be the issue. To help us answer this age-old question of “How do I get myself...
CYPN: State employee Noah Hodgetts is the Young Professional of the Month
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network introduces you to our Young Professional of the Month, Noah Hodgetts. Each month the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better.How old are you? 31.Where do you live? Concord.Where do you currently work? I am an Assistant Planner in the Planning Division at the New Hampshire...
Poet Deborah Brown to present ‘The Human Half’ at Gibson’s Bookstore
Poet Deborah Brown will visit Gibson’s Bookstore on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to share the intimate poems from her new volume of verse, The Human Half. Threaded with echoes of familial trauma – a sister’s battle with cancer, a brother’s struggles with depression – the lyric poems in The Human Half reveal an open-hearted speaker who finds solace in the beauties of celestial navigation, the flowers along the railroad tracks, and the brushwork...
Book of the Week: ‘Unto Us a Son is Given’
Donna Leon 2019, 259 pages Mystery Detective Guido Brunetti is asked by his father-in-law, Count Falier, to look into something for him. One of the Count’s oldest friends, Gonzalo, a wealthy man, wants to adopt a good-looking and much younger man as his son. If he is adopted, this man would inherit Gonzalo’s entire fortune, which greatly concerns his friends. Count Falier is very concerned about this and hopes that Guido can help him....
This Week in Concord History
May 14, 1726: Having made camp near the Merrimack River the night before, a surveying party of 34 men from Haverhill, Mass., fans out in the fields and woods of what will one day be Concord. May 14, 1846: The New Hampshire Patriot advises Concord that the United States has declared war on Mexico. New Hampshire will enlist a battalion of 389 men, including Concord’s Fire Engine Co. No. 2 and three Patriot printers. May 14, 1977: Two...
Come along on the ‘Insider’ Field Trip to Tilton and Northfield
If you’re not from Tilton, what are some of things that come to mind when you think of that town? The Tanger Outlets? The slew of fast-food joints? The car dealerships? The big fireworks store?Nobody would blame you for associating these things with Tilton. After all, Exit 20 off Interstate 93 dumps you right into the heart of all that commercial stuff that makes up a good chunk of Tilton. But if you drive around a little more, you’ll...
Take a drive to Lochmere Country Club in Tilton and take in the beauty of the course
Among the many ways Tilton is similar to Concord is the presence of a golf course. Sure, Concord has two courses, but one is a members-only country club. In Tilton (technically the village of Lochmere, within Tilton), all they have is the Lochmere Golf and Country Club, and this club is open to the public. Lochmere is certainly a picturesque course, with all kinds of changes in elevation providing a variety of pleasant views from many...
Kettlehead Brewing Co. is a must-stop destination for any trip to Tilton
There are plenty of places to grab a beer and a bite to eat in Tilton. If you’re after Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, you can probably find endless supplies of those fine libations at the 99, Uno’s, Applebee’s and Chili’s, just to name a few. Those establishments also no doubt offer staple menu items like burgers, mac and cheese, salads and pasta.But if you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, something a little less...
We tried a tuna burger and a Great North Tie Dyed at Onions Pub in Tilton
Over the course of our field trip, we had some hot wings at Kettlehead and some pulled pork potato skins at Tilt’n Diner, both of which were excellent. While they were good, neither dish was meant to be a full meal, so we knew we had to find a place to have an honest, sit-down lunch experience. We ended up in the quaint downtown center, where we found Onions Pub and Restaurant, which occupies the lower level of the Tilton Inn. The...
Tilt’n Diner has some tasty pulled pork potato skins
If there’s one truth in life, it’s that the skin is often the best part. Whether we’re talking turkey, fried chicken, grilled trout or anything else that has skin, there’s something about a thin, crispy outer layer that just hits the spot.This is rarely more true than with potatoes. While potatoes are pretty great in virtually any style of preparation, it’s hard to do better than loading up some skins with cheese, meat and whatever...
We had fun in Tilton and Northfield, but there were some things we missed
It was a whirlwind trip trough Tilton and Northfield, and what a trip it was. For as much fun as we had, there were a few things we didn’t have enough time to get around to. For instance, we wanted to check out Smoke N Barley, a country store that stocks all kinds of exotic craft beer, beer-brewing supplies and a wide range of tobacco products. We weren’t able to get in touch with an owner to show us around. We also had high hopes of...
Bulletin Board: Comedy club, Instant Pot demo and more
Comedy Club for Mother’s Day With Mother’s Day fast approaching on Sunday, May 12, why not treat her to a night of fun and surprises? Laughta in New Hampsha presents “Bring a Mom for a Night of Laughter” on Thursday, May 9, at the new and popular Comedy Club at Tandy’s Pub, 1 Eagle Square. Hosted by David Afflick, the club features the comedy of popular Boston comic Ralphie Joyal as headliner and guest comedians Stephen Sudia, Dennis...
Entertainment: Daniel Tiger comes to Concord, plus tons of live music this week
Music Tuesday Paul Bourgelais at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Dan Walker at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Brooklyn Rider at the Capitol Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free (limited to four per person) at ccanh.com. Klezperanto at Concord City Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Richard Gardzina at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. NEEDTOBREATHE at the Capitol Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $54.50 to $69.50 plus...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Special election notice, farmers market returns and more
On Friday, Stefanie Breton, the city’s public information officer, sent out the weekly City Manager’s Newsletter. Here are some of the highlights: Library to host Holocaust program Concord Public Library will host a program about the Holocaust on Tuesday, May 7, called “The Holocaust: Our Duty to Remember – But What?” This presentation, to be held at 6 p.m. by Mick Grzonka, will provide historical context of the event in Nazi Germany,...
Instagram: A long-exposure shot of Turee Pond in Bow at sunset
We’re pretty big fans of landscape/nature shots, and Instagram is loaded with all kinds of them. This shot here, by user @sheldonmckinley_, really grabbed our attention last week. The photographer, Sheldon McKinley, used a full 2-minute long exposure to capture the sunset over Turee Pond behind Bow High School, and the results speak for themselves. If there is a heaven, it has to look like this. Nice shot, @sheldonmckinley_!Have you...
Book of the Week: ‘Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet’
Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant, editors 1996-present Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction “How can you be glad about apple strudel when babies can’t even depend on gravity, and dogs grow out of people’s hair?” Julie Andrews fields this question through her mail slot in “The Problem with Strudel” by Seth Tourjee; you can read the full story in issue no. 25 of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet (hereafter, LCRW or...
This Week in Concord History
May 7, 1861: The First New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment, gathered in Concord, completes its organization under Col. Mason Tappan of Bradford. Company I is the Concord company, with 34 members from the capital, including its three officers, Capt. Edward E. Sturtevant, 1st Lt. Henry W. Fuller and 2nd Lt. Enoch W. Goss. May 7, 2000: The temperature in Concord tops out at 94 degrees, breaking by one degree a record that had stood...
All about Mental Health Awareness Month, with a word from Riverbend
Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans live with mental illness? Mental illness is directly connected to so many of the important conversations we are having in our society: substance abuse, workplace productivity, education, elder care, childhood development, veteran issues, and more. For years, mental illness and treatment were kept in the shadows but that’s not the case today. The conversation has shifted. Today we value emphasis on...
The City of Concord is tackling mental health awareness in the workplace
City of Concord employees are taking part in a series of quarterly presentations and workshops focusing on mental health in work environments. “Mental health awareness is important for any employer, no matter the size of the company,” said Sarah Gagnon, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Riverbend Community Mental Health. Gagnon is leading the course titled “Mental Health 101.” “We’re doing some anti-stigma activities and...
Expression through the arts is a major theme of Mental Health Awareness Month
Healing and expression through the arts will be a common theme throughout Mental Health Awareness Month. From May 1 through 31, a unique display of works will be on exhibition at the Kimball Jenkins Estate on North Main Street. Artists living with a serious mental illness and those who support them were selected to share their pieces about what you should know about mental health and substance use disorders. Each Tuesday in May, the...
