Ever wonder what happens to your Christmas tree? We found out
So we had been wondering: What happens to all the Christmas trees Concord residents throw out by the curb? We know the city comes along and collects them, but where do they go from there? Well, we got to the bottom of it last week, when we snuck over the border (shhh!) to The Dirt Doctors in Pembroke. The Dirt Doctors sell all kinds of landscaping supplies – pavers, stone, mulch, loam – and they take in all kinds of stuff, too. “We’ll...
Get a taste of spring with the Art and Bloom show at McGowan
Which comes first, the art or the bloom? Technically, it’s the art piece that is the inspiration for the floral arrangement at the Concord Garden Club’s annual Art and Bloom exhibit, although many would argue that the inspiration is already in the arrangers’ head and the art piece is just a means to give it form. This year’s show will again be held at McGowan Fine Art, and will feature 16 floral arrangements and fine art pairings,...
Get out and enjoy winter
Bears hibernate, humans don’t. But that’s what it feels like with winter in New England. As a matter of fact, the average weight gain is five to seven pounds during winter months as we hunker down with calorie-laden snacks, weather-related excuses why we aren’t moving our bodies and bulky sweaters that let us hide those extra pounds. And don’t forget the kids who are getting on each other’s nerves and doing way too much screen time....
It’s all fun and games until – actually, it’s always all fun and games
If our favorite hobby here at the Insider is eating (which it most definitely and so obviously is), our second-favorite would have to be playing games. After all, we’re just a couple of kids at heart, and playing games is just what we like to do. But enough about us. We’re trying to tell you about all the games you can play right here in Concord. Whether you were already aware or not, this city is loaded with all kinds of interesting...
Attention all nerds: Science Cafe is making a return to Concord
Ever wondered how autonomous cars work? Or maybe you’ve always been curious about the details of Jurassic Park-style genetic modification. Or, maybe you’re just kind of a geek who loves science, engineering and technical stuff like that – and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you fit into any of the above categories, you’ll definitely want to check out Science Cafe Concord, moderated by Monitor reporter David Brooks. Brooks, also...
Head on over to the library and pick up your Book Bingo card
You wouldn’t normally think that books and bingo go well together. Can you imagine sitting in a packed bingo hall, five cards in front of you, trying to take in a few chapters of War and Peace between each call? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. But the folks at the Concord Public Library have done the impossible: They’ve figured out a perfect way to blend the two unrelated hobbies. It’s called Book Bingo, and it serves as the...
We tried Concordland, the game invented by the previous Insiders
So we thought that since this is the games issue, we should try to play our own game, Concordland. Well, not “our” own, but the last set of Insiders, Ben and Keith, made and printed it. It ended up being a good time.
Break out those planners – Here’s what’s coming up in 2016
With the start of a new year, it’s natural to want to look ahead at what’s to come, what’s to be expected. 2015 was a big year in Concord, but that doesn’t mean the capital city’s 251st year can’t be just as cool, if not better, than its 250th. We thought long and hard about some of the notable events (or expected notable events) coming up this year, and decided to fill you in early – way early, in some cases – just so you can start...
General Services works like a machine – or a team – during a storm
If you’ve looked out your window lately, you may have noticed that it has (finally) snowed. We didn’t get a ton last week – thankfully – but it was enough to mess up the roads and just be a general nuisance to everyone trying to navigate through it. But, as luck would have it, the hard workers at the General Services Department were all over it like white on snow, as they are every time there’s a storm around here. Director Chip...
What has the mall always needed? Bounce houses and laser tag
If we had one complaint about Concord, its been the lack of bounce house and laser tag venues. It seems like almost every week we talk about getting our bounce on, only to remember there’s no place to go. There are other times when we just want to shoot each other – not with a firearm, of course, but rather a laser gun. One of those ones that doesn’t burn or vaporize anything, just makes cool sounds and lights up. But we’ve run into...
No plans for New Year’s Eve yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered
So now that Christmas is over and you’ve opened all your presents and eaten all the turkey, ham and roast beef you can handle, your attention is likely focused on the other big winter holiday: New Year’s Eve. The last night of the year may just be the biggest party night there is in the whole world, but many of you no doubt are still looking for something to do around here. After all, who can be bothered to sit down and plan New...
Four generous people times 25 days equals 100 Acts of Kindness
If you’ve found a candy cane on your windshield, a bag of popcorn taped to a Red Box machine or a bag of change and candy attached to a downtown parking kiosk, you have likely been a lucky recipient of 100 Acts of Kindness. Or it’s just one of the great coincidences of all time, but most likely this was the work of Jessica Fogg Livingston and her family. The quintet has been going around Concord since the first of December committing...
We hit every Dunkin’ Donuts around to give you the ultimate guide
While you’re out scrambling like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way to check off those last few items on your Christmas shopping list, it’s important to make sure you have enough energy to battle the traffic, long lines and angry parents you’re sure to encounter. You also don’t want to fall asleep out there – that could be bad. So what do you do to give yourself a little boost? Well, chug coffee, of course. If you didn’t...
It was Holiday Cookie Madness at the Heights Community Center
It’s been said time and time again, yet it still bears repeating: We really like food here at the Insider. We also really like Christmas. It’s pretty cool to meet and interact with new people, too. Therefore, we absolutely had to check out Holiday Cookie Madness at the Heights Community Center last week. And it wasn’t a disappointing trip. The event, in which people got together to learn how to bake three types of cookies, was put on...
Artistic sisters team up for Side by Side exhibit at McGowan
When your mom is a painter, you’ll probably find an artistic path yourself. But that doesn’t mean you’ll follow the same style as her – or even your siblings. And the latest show at McGowan Fine Art will attest to that. The exhibit is called Side by Side, and it features the paintings of sisters Bethany Cole Rymes and Hanna Cole Dahar. This exhibit is a special, limited-run kind of deal: it began Monday and runs until New Year’s Eve,...
This Week in Concord History
Dec. 22, 1964: Sen. Norris Cotton criticizes the GOP for its complacency. “We Republicans have felt for too long we had New Hampshire in our pockets. It’s been quite a few years since the Republicans in a campaign did any real work.” He says the job has become tougher with an influx of new residents from Massachusetts. “We’re glad to have them, but the large majority of them are fundamentally Democrats.” Dec. 23, 1865: Home at last...
We scoured the streets to find the best light and decoration displays
It’s not officially the Christmas season until the neighborhood becomes aglow in lights. Well, it’s now officially that time, as evidenced by all these photos taken in Concord and Penacook.
The Food Snob hits up Vibes Gourmet Burgers
If there’s one thing we like to do around here, it’s eat food. Lots of food. Good food. Luckily, we were able to do just that last week at the new burger joint downtown, Vibes Gourmet Burgers. We’d been anxiously awaiting the opening for months, and for a little while there we were afraid we might never get to taste one of these gourmet burgers. But after a lot of red-tape hopping, paperwork and waiting, Vibes finally opened to the...
Sing traditional carols at United Baptist
Christmas is the time of year for spreading joy, giving thanks and generally being merry and jolly. One way of spreading joy while being merry and jolly is to sing your heart out with a group of others doing the same thing. And thanks to United Baptist Church, there’s a venue for you to do just that. The church invites anyone who wants to sing classic Christmas songs with a group of others to come down for the second annual Christmas...
Follow the 12 Days of Mindfulness for a more enjoyable holiday
The holiday season is upon us. For many, this means we are busier and more stressed than ever trying to get everything done. This year, try to make the season a less stressful and more enjoyable one. The 12 Days of Mindfulness can help us keep a healthy perspective. It offers a friendly reminder for each day in order for us to continue feeling festive. On the 1st day of mindfulness my Rolfer said to me… 1. Pause within your busy day...
Saying goodbye to the Sewalls Falls Bridge after 100 years together
If you’ve been to the Insider’s neck of the woods lately, you’ve probably noticed that it hasn’t been the easiest part of town to get around since the end of last year. Not because East Concord is the epicenter of the traffic universe, but because the 100-year-old Sewalls Falls Bridge has been out of commission. The 660-foot steel bridge that was built in the summer of 1915 saw its last commuter Nov. 31, 2014, and it’s made getting...
The Bow Garden Club put together fine-smelling wreaths and swags
The Bow Garden Club was busy this weekend making wreaths and swags at the Old Town Hall. Poinsettias were also prepared to be delivered to people’s homes. Power was out in the morning, but that didn’t stop the garden club members from making it all happen.
At Concord High, seniors call the shots
There are lots of shows to see in Concord if you’re looking for an entertaining night out. Everyone knows about the cool movies at Red River Theatres, the fun plays at the Concord City Auditorium, the big productions at the Capitol Center for the Arts and the local music at pretty much all of the restaurants and bars. But you might not know much about the hidden gem that is Concord High School’s Senior Directed One Acts. The annual...
Take a look at the past – and future – of the Sewalls Falls Bridge
We found some old photos of the Sewalls Falls Bridge lying around the office taken by former “Monitor” photographer Ken Williams. We also found a rendering of what the new bridge will look like on the Sewalls Falls Bridge project’s official website. It only made sense, then, that we show you the past and future of “The Most Courteous Bridge in the World.”
This Week in Concord History
Dec. 8, 1979: Concord City Manager Jim Smith rescinds the fire department’s ban on live Christmas trees in public buildings. Dec. 8, 1991: James Carville, an adviser to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign, speaks confidently about his man in an interview with the Monitor: “I have no doubt if we could spend 10 minutes with everybody in the state, we’d win this campaign.” Clinton will finish second to Paul Tsongas but...
Believe it or not, we caught up with Santa between appearances
It’s now officially December, which means it’s Santa Claus’s busiest month of the year. There’s not much time left for him to make his list (and check it twice), build the toys and train the reindeer for that grueling ride around the planet. As the population continues to climb, so do the requests for iPhones, Beats headphones, yoga pants and Xbox Ones. With such high demand and so little time, Santa is under a lot of pressure to make...
We’re stepping up our gingerbread house-building game this year
After getting an in-depth tutorial on how a real gingerbread house is made from Sue Chandler of Chandler’s Candies last year, we decided it was time to step up our game this holiday season. So when we heard about the Presidential Oaks Gingerbread House Competition, we couldn’t dial the phone fast enough to secure our entry. The rules were simple and straightforward: It can not exceed 24 inches high, 24 inches wide and 24 inches long...
Annual Ski and Skate Sale has a new home, but the same great deals
The annual Ski and Skate Sale put on by the Capital Ski and Outing Club has been a holiday fixture in Concord for more than 30 years. Every year on the first Saturday of December, people line up hours in advance for the chance to score some gnarly snow gear – skis, snowboards, skates, snowshoes – at a big discount. There’s a mix of new equipment sent in by dealers and used goods submitted by members of the community. And all of it is...
Zonta Club of Concord lends a helping hand to NHTI student
What happens when a student who is one semester away from graduating with a degree in dental hygiene learns that she won’t be receiving a grant she was counting on? First there is panic. Then there is the hardest step: asking for help. For Natasha Deneault, that is exactly the path she followed one month ago. She turned to her academic adviser, who approached NHTI’s development director, who made a call to the Zonta Club of Concord....
This Week in Concord History
Dec. 1, 1848: Edward E. Sturtevant, a Concord printer, writes to his parents in Keene: “The Shakers are having a trial before a Legislative committee, which excites some curiosity among the people of this town. . . . A petition is presented for a law against parents and guardians binding children to them, alleging that they (the children) are taught to disregard all friendship for father & mother & brothers & sisters – to...
