Market Days was the place to be last week
In case you missed all the signs around town or last week’s issue of the Insider, Intown Concord’s 42nd annual Market Days Festival was held on Main Street last week, and there was lots to do. And since we like to take part in happening things around Concord, we had to check it out for ourselves.
Instagram was full of pics from Market Days
We spent a lot of time at Market Days this year, but even we couldn’t be there the entire time. As you can see, we were pretty busy last week with other stuff going on. But we couldn’t help feel like we missed out on stuff, especially when we started combing through all the great pictures on Instagram. Since you probably felt the same way, we decided to dedicate a page to all of the cool shots taken by people who didn’t get paid to...
Job Lot has goodies to enhance your Fourth
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, we figured why not see what Ocean State Job Lot has in stock to enhance your holiday fun.
Go Try It: Kan Jam (and other yard games)
We’re taking a slightly different approach to this week’s Go Try It piece. Whereas we usually tell you about something specific in the city that you can go try, this time we’re going to tell you about some fun stuff you can do pretty much anywhere – if you have the equipment. We tried out Kan Jam, a game involving flying discs and glorified rolled-up plastic sleds. You’ve probably seen it played by now – it’s begun to take over...
Quote ‘The Princess Bride’ at Red River
Are you one of those people who just can’t resist quoting your favorite movies? Do your friends and family get annoyed when you do it? Have you started watching movies on your own to avoid the backlash that ensues when you start reciting the lines you’ve spent years memorizing? Well, never fear because we have just the solution – if you like quoting The Princess Bride, that is. Red River Theatres is hosting a Princess Bride...
The Thomson brothers are still pedaling away
The last time we caught up with Derek and Dylan Thomson, the bicycle riding brothers were in Colorado, and had made it to South Dakota by the time we hit newsstands. And since we promised to keep you posted about the duo’s journey across the country, from San Francisco to Seabrook, to raise money for the Connolly Tough Fund using the name Cycling the US for ALS, we decided to check in to see what kind of progress they had made over...
Guyette Pool got a much needed face-lift
Guyette Pool at Rolfe Park has received some major renovations for the new pool season. Concord General Services’ Public Properties Division renovated the pool to enhance safety, accessibility, efficiency and appeal. A public ribbon cutting ceremony with Concord Mayor Jim Bouley, and City Manager Tom Aspell, was held on June 16 to commemorate the renovations with the community and local residents. A grand pool reopening hosted by...
This exhibit will make you take a closer look
The art work of NHTI visual arts professor Meghan Ambra is currently on display in the NHTI library through July 8. Here’s a sampling of what’s on display.
Tasty Brews: Long Trail Unearthed stout
Insider staffFor this week’s Tasty Brews installment, we went back to Area 23, home of “conspiracy brews and craft theories,” because we always love a good conspiracy beer.In the mood for something a bit dark, we tried the Unearthed Stout by Long Trail – never heard of it, but the bartender said it was good.He wasn’t lying.This beer had a very thick head of foam and a deep, dark brown color. It isn’t as aromatic as one might assume,...
Hey, those cardboard boats actually worked
A few weeks ago, we checked in with third- and fifth-grade students at Christa McAuliffe School who were building some life-sized boats out of cardboard. That was fun and all, but we know you really wanted to see the end result. That’s why we trekked up to Ashland (don’t tell our bosses we snuck out!) recently to see how they would fare in the water. Both boats passed the test with flying colors, floating with ease while supporting a...
Book of the Week: Listen, Slowly
Listen, SlowlyThanhha Lai2015, 260 pagesFiction – Children’s Twelve-year-old Mai is looking forward to spending the summer at the beach in California with her best friend and her secret crush. Instead her parents force her to accompany her grandmother, Ba, to Vietnam to discover her roots. Ba has engaged a detective to search for her husband who was listed as MIA in the war. She doesn’t believe he is still alive but doesn’t feel in...
Bulletin Board
New exhibit atMcGowan July 5 McGowan Fine Art announces “Hello, My Name Is – Addicted to Art,” a group show featuring new works from John Bonner, Meghan Cochran, Rick Gerber, Pat Gerkin, Catherine Graffam, Valerie Hird, Bruce McColl, Lucy Mink, Kat O’Connor, Susan Stranc, Susan Wahlrab, Shiao-Ping Wang and Molly Wensberg. The show will run from July 5-Aug. 19, with a ‘Thirsty Thursday’ informal introduction to art and opportunity to...
This Week in Concord History
June 28, 1833: During his eastern tour, President Andrew Jackson stays at the Eagle Coffee House across from the State House in Concord. Since no bed in the hotel is deemed adequate for a president, Mrs. John Estabrook has lent the house her large mahogany model. Slightly ill, Jackson passes up the renowned hotel cuisine, subsisting on bread and milk. June 28, 1860: Responding to the Democratic celebrations of the previous day, Wide...
Welcome to Market Days 2016
Can you believe it, Market Days is finally here. We know you’re probably as excited as we are for the 42nd edition of Concord’s premiere summer event, put on by Intown Concord, so let’s not waste any more of your time with Insider flibber flabber. The festival kicks off Thursday at 10 a.m. and will be going strong for three straight days (June 23-25). Well, technically it closes down at 10 p.m. each night, but during those 12 hours...
Pick winners at Tandy’s Eagle Square Stage
There’s definitely no shortage of entertainment at the Tandy’s Eagle Square Stage during Market Days. The location has a jam-packed schedule, but the highlight will be Market Days Idol, the popular and fun let’s-take-this-seriously karaoke competition. Some of the area’s best amateur singers will take the stage each day of the festival and show off what they can do. Then the audience (that means you) will vote on the contestants each...
It’s all local at the Homegrown Music Stage
If you plan on heading over to Bicentennial Square during Market Days, be prepared to hear live, local music – and a lot of it. That’s because the square will play host to the Homegrown Music Stage, a showcase of some of New Hampshire’s best bands. With Penuche’s and True Brew Barista – both big players in the local music scene – right there, it only makes sense that Bicentennial Square is the location for this local-minded music...
Multicultural Festival to celebrate 10 years
Insider staff They say America is a melting pot. It’s where the whole world comes to hang out and get along.The same could be said for little old Concord, which is home to dozens of cultures from all over the globe.Although you may not think of New Hampshire’s capital city as being a hotbed of cultural diversity, there’s a lot more here than you might realize.All of this will be evident come Saturday, when the 10th annual Concord...
Here’s some more info to help make your experience better
You’ve probably figured out, if you read this issue from the very beginning, Market Days is filled with stuff for people of all ages. It’s exactly what you’d expect of a classic New England festival that closes down roads and attracts people from all over the state and beyond. We’ve told you about the music and entertainment, the beer, and just about everything you can expect to see and hear over the course of the three days. Almost...
South Main Park Stage has plenty going on
The great thing about the South Main Park Stage is the variety. Spend a couple hours and you might see an acoustic musician and a barbershop quartet. Maybe you’ll catch a taekwondo demo and a dance routine. There’s the Freese Brothers Big Band on Friday evening, followed by the chance to play Star Fox on a giant outdoor screen courtesy of Red River Theatres, which will then use said big screen to show The Last Starfighter. Saturday’s...
Looking for family fun? Try the State House
There’s nothing quite like Free Family Fun. And Market Days is full of it. Now we’re not completely sure where you’re standing, but you see that big building with a golden dome on top. Head that way. Right in front of that is the State House lawn, and that’s where you want to be for all kinds of fun happening throughout the three-day event. What kind of fun? Hope you can read and walk at the same time. There’s magic shows and crafts –...
Run the Capital City Classic 10K Road Race
We know that it’s going to be tough to stay away from all that delicious and not-so-good-for-you food that is synonymous with Market Days. And we can’t blame you. We’ll probably indulge a little ourselves. But if you live for the festival and spend every moment of the 36 hours it’s open roaming around Main Street looking for snacks, you probably won’t feel all that great about your eating choices come Sunday. But there’s definitely...
Catching up with Intown Concord’s Susan Sokul
Despite a busy schedule leading up to Market Days, we caught up with Susan Sokul, communications and events coordinator for Intown Concord, to get a look at some of the behind the scenes stuff that goes on with Concord’s premiere summer event. And of course we have to share what we found out with all of you.When do you start planning for Market Days? Once Midnight Merriment is in the rear-view mirror, we launch right into Market Days....
See very strong people at Pleasant and Main
Nothing against Thursday and Friday, but Saturday steals the show at the intersection of Pleasant and Main (yep, we mean North and South). It kicks off with the fourth annual Fire Truck Pull at 10 a.m., where teams of 10 try to be the fastest to yank a 45,000 Concord fire truck down a 100-yard section of Main Street. Extreem Cheer of Bow will dazzle audiences with whatever cheerleaders do these days, starting at 1 p.m. And to cap off...
Did you know there’s beer and wine at Market Days?
We’ve all been there. It’s a hot day, you’ve been walking around Market Days for hours checking out all the vendors, grabbing a bite to eat and taking in some of the entertainment. Then the mood strikes: it’s time for a cold one.Good thing there’s a beer and hospitality tent right smack dab in the middle of the festival. Like any other place in this country that serves beer (and wine), you have to be 21 years old to indulge, but if...
Help decide who is named Market Days Idol
Insider staff If you’ve ever been to Tandy’s Top Shelf, you probably know that karaoke is pretty serious business there.It’s not all typical barroom karaoke, either, in which whoever has had the most to drink gets up there and stumbles through “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” or “Piano Man” while everyone else in the room tries hard to keep their dinner down.No, Tandy’s takes a little more pride than that. That’s why the eatery is once again...
Touch A Truck at Market Days
If you start your Market Days experience at the top of North Main Street, that’s where you’ll find the Touch-a-truck area.You’ll see all kinds of big trucks and cool cars over the three days along with some demos.THURSDAY10:15 to 11:15 a.m.: Spank Alley Demo TeamNoon to 5 p.m.: Things That Go Fast!6 to 7 p.m.: Granite State Roller DerbyFRIDAYNoon to 5 p.m.: Your City and Safety5:30 to 6:15 p.m.: Spank Alley Demo Team 6:30 to 9 p.m.:...
Get a little Krazy with the kids
If jumping up and down in a bouncy house or making your way through an obstacle course is your child’s idea of fun, then you need to check out the Krazy Kids area at City Plaza. The Krazy Kids area is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day and for a cool Abraham Lincoln (that’s a $5 bill) you can play as much as you want for the day. You’ll get a wrist band that not only allows you to be in the Krazy Kids area, but also play mini golf...
Test those putting skills
One of the best additions to Market Days in recent memory has to be the mini golf course and once again it’s back to test your putting skills. Ten businesses signed up to design custom holes to help you practice your putting skills. The course will once again be at City Plaza, and you can play for just $5 – and that’s for an entire day. So you can play a quick round in the morning and then go back for a night cap in the afternoon....
Check out some Concord summer concerts
So we kinda missed the boat on this one, seeing as the first concert in Concord Parks and Rec’s summer concert series was last week – and the second one is tonight (Tuesday).But the saying does go “better late than never.’Anyway, back to the point. Tonight’s show at Kiwanis Park, next to Everett Arena, features none other than the Nevers Band.The Nevers Band are a mainstay on Concord’s summer concert series and will be so again this...
Ballard’s Ice Cream to throw birthday/retirement bash
Insider staff Ballard’s Ice Cream has been a fixture in Concord for the past 36 years, serving up frozen goodness and smiles to the masses every summer.It is therefore bittersweet to announce that this will be the last go-round for owner Norm Ballard, who is ready to both turn 70 and retire. That means the shop will be sold after this season.“They’re gonna miss me,” Ballard said of his faithful customers he’s gotten to know so well...
