We took a tour of Concord’s cool art galleries
Insider staff If there’s one thing Concord is not short on, it’s art galleries.For a relatively small city in little old New Hampshire, Concord is pretty impressive when it comes to galleries. Big, small, inside, outside, newer, older – it’s all here. We poked around each one last week and pulled together as much info as we could to give you a nice little guide to Concord’s art gallery scene. In this feature, we’ll focus on the places...
You don’t have to go to a big-time gallery
Concord is home to all kinds of places to see and buy art. You already know about all the big ones, of course. But you may not know that there are many other places that have art, even if these places don’t call themselves art galleries.As usual, we’re sure there are places we missed, as Concord is a pretty big city and we’re pretty small in comparison. But, also as usual, we gave it the ol’ college try.Here’s what we found:Dos...
It’s not easy creating an eye-catching exhibit
Insider staffWhen you walk into an art gallery, more often that not it’s to check out the work hanging on the walls – or on display if it’s too big, heavy or bulky to go on the walls.Chances are, unless you’re an artie (that’s a foodie for the arts), you probably don’t pay much attention to the way the art is arranged, especially if it’s done right. And if you go back to the same gallery for the next show, it won’t be placed the exact...
Traveling the world without leaving school
Insider staff Visiting places like the Galapagos Islands, ancient Egypt or Greece is something most people would jump at the chance to do.But battling other travelers in an airport (or several), going through customs and the long hours spent on a plane is not exactly something we’d put on list of things we are crazy about doing.So what if we told you there’s a way to visit historical spots like the pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza...
Pat & the Hats did their thing at True Brew
Insider staffIf you’ve been following the Concord music scene for a while, you’ve probably heard/seen Pat & the Hats. The five-piece indie rock band has been rocking the Concord area for years, but the band recently packed up and moved down to Boston.Apparently there are slightly more opportunities for gigs down there than there are up here. But, nevertheless, there’s always a gig to be played at True Brew Barista, and that’s...
Like helping kids? Then go buy art at NHTI Saturday
Sure, if you have some disposable cash to throw around, by all means go out and spend hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars on a piece of art.We’re all for supporting artists and it will certainly act as a conversation starter for visitors to your home or office.And we can all agree that the higher the price tag, the more well-known and admired the artist is. But we can also agree that those artists had to start their art career...
Learn to play Mahjong at the Concord library
Insider staffYou may remember our Games Issue from back in January. In that issue, we found a group of hard-core Mahjong players at the Heights Community Center. It was fascinating to watch, but it was hard to get any context, not knowing a thing about the game. It was a pleasant surprise, then, when we found out that the Concord Public Library was holding sessions to teach people how to play. So, naturally, we went down there last...
Two comedians, one stop
Hatbox Theatre is happy to announce its first live stand-up comedy night. Working in concert with veteran New Hampshire comedian, Greg Boggis, we are bringing some of New Hampshire and Boston’s top stand-up comedy performers. The first installment of Friday Night Comedy at The Hatbox Theatre will bring the headliner direct from Boston, Stephen Bjork. Bjork has appeared at The Borgata in Atlantic City, The Improv in Las Vegas,...
Help decide how to complete the Audi seat project
On Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. in the Audi lobby, the Friends of the Audi will hold the first official meeting of the seat project. The project has a total cost $100,000, with $20,000 already funded. So that means $80,000 needs to be raised to finish it. For every past upgrade project, a similar meeting has been held to develop the “how to do that.” Well over $1 million has been raised for the Audi though such cooperative creative efforts....
Founders Breakfast Stout
Insider staffIt’s not often that you get to drink a beer classified as a breakfast stout, so when we found out the Red Blazer had one on tap, trying one was a no-brainer.If the name Founders Breakfast Stout sounds familiar, it’s because it should be. This is the beer that caused controversy last year because of the beer’s label depicting a baby. After a bunch of political wrangling, the beer overcame a mini ban and is now available in...
Poetry of Silence at Gibson’s Bookstore
If you hear of an event called Poetry of Silence, you might be a little confused at first.Silent poetry? What does that mean? How are we supposed to experience it if it’s silent?Well, that’s not exactly what it means. Poetry of Silence, which will be presented at Gibson’s Bookstore on Wednesday night at 7, is an open mic to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.This was a dark time in history in which the Ottoman...
Bits and pieces from new ‘Monitor’ columns
Downtown Megan Doyle At last week’s meeting, the city council agreed to spend $2 million to bury utilities on South Main Street. That brings the total budget for the Main Street project to over $13 million for design, construction and marketing. Officials have promised the last-minute addition will not push the November deadline for the project’s completion. Southbound traffic will still be able to flow through the work zone, though...
This Week in Concord History
April 19, 1865: On the day of President Lincoln’s funeral in Washington, Civil War veterans, in a procession with a band, march to services at Concord churches. April 19, 1976: New England’s biggest April heat wave of the 20th century reaches its crescendo, and the temperature in Concord hits 95 degrees. It’s the third day in a row with a temperature of 90 or above and the fourth day in a row above 80. April 19, 2003:...
Bulletin Board
Shred-a-thon at Bank of America Every day, millions of Americans lose their hard-earned money to identity theft and other types of scams. Protecting your personal information can help reduce your risk of identity theft. That is why AARP New Hampshire and Bank of New Hampshire have teamed up to offer a “shred-a-thon” at Bank of New Hampshire, 11 Triangle Park Drive, in Concord on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon The public can bring three...
Look at what we found at the Peeps contest
There’s always fun stuff happening at the Concord Public Library, so it’s no surprise the fine folks over on Green Street held the library’s annual Peeps diorama contest recently. Using marshmallow rabbits and chicks, participants were asked to re-create their favorite scene from a book or movie. You might remember our re-enactment last year of the infamous gingerbread house meets mini cannon video. Anyway, with the voting set to take...
A lot is being done to fight hunger in Concord
It’s probably safe to say that we are all familiar with the uncomfortable symptoms (and often inappropriately loud growls) that accompany an empty stomach. However, many of us are fortunate enough to remedy this with a quick run to the refrigerator. But let’s take a moment to consider a scenario where the remedy was not so simple. What if you had to stretch the little food you had until the end of the month? What if you were faced...
Book of the Week: Lapham Rising
Lapham Rising Roger Rosenblatt 2006, 243 pages Fiction The hero of Roger Rosenblatt’s satire is Harry March, a well-known author, who lives on a tiny island in Quogue, in the Hamptons. His wife has left him for a Hollywood events planner, he hasn’t written anything in some time, and he’s been jettisoning his belongings. He lives – and converses with – his West Highland White Terrier, Hector. Eschewing banks, he keeps his savings in...
Revamp your wardrobe for spring – for cheap
Even though last week was a pretty wild (terrible) one in terms of weather, it is mid-April now, and we know the bitter cold, tree-snapping wind and depressing snow can’t last too much longer. Even if you (smartly) haven’t put away the snow boots and long johns just yet, you’ve probably started pulling some of the spring gear out of hibernation. In doing so, you may have realized that you’re sick of all the same old shirts, dresses...
When it comes to story time, Tim’s got game
When it comes to story time with my daughter Sophie, I’m kind of a pro. Every night, we grab a couple books, sometimes the same ones night after night if that’s what she asks for, and snuggle down for some relaxing time before bed. A few of her favorites are My Cat, Coon Cat, Hop on Pop and Are You My Mother? There’s also Gossie & Gertie, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Barnyard Dance. I could keep listing others, but we only have...
Songweavers to put on a show for 25th anniversary
Who doesn’t love hearing some good, live music? There are always plenty of options for that in Concord, but it’s not often that you get to hear a special, 25th anniversary performance like you do this Saturday. This happens to be the 25th year of the Songweavers, and the singing group is putting on a big show to celebrate. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Songwevers will take the stage at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant St., to...
Grab a taster or two at Lithermans tap room
It sure is a nice treat to mosey on up to the bar at a local watering hole and order a cold one. There’s nothing quite like a freshly poured draft beer to whet the whistle. But how do you decide which one to satisfy your craving? If you’re a beer connoisseur like us, getting a little taste of what each tap has to offer sounds like a great idea – and quite delicious. That’s why we had to check out Lithermans Limited for the grand...
Check out this unique work at Kimball-Jenkins
We’re always on the lookout for unique and thought provoking art and we found just that during our trip to the Kimball-Jenkins Estate last week. The latest exhibit gracing the walls of the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery features the work of Al Jaeger and Paul Pollaro. Two very different styles, Pollaro works in oil paint and tar on wood to create his large pieces (like the one seen on top), while Jaeger, a very well-known New Hampshire...
Do you have what it takes to fence?
En garde. Ready. Fence. Those are the final words you’ll hear before you square off with a foil carrying opponent whose only goal is to poke you in the chest as many times as possible over the course of the next three minutes. That’s just how it goes when you step on the fencing strip at Concord Fencing Club. But don’t worry, you’re wearing plenty of protective gear – like an under arm protector, hard plastic chest shield, a heavy...
Catch the Reel Paddling Film Festival at Red River
If you’re into paddling – or reeling, for that matter – you might want to check out the Reel Paddling Film Festival coming to Red River Theatres this Wednesday.The festival, presented by the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and co-hosted by New Hampshire Fish & Game and the Contoocook River Canoe Co., will feature an evening of adventure paddling films. Attendees are invited to show up early to hang out, enjoy some refreshments and get...
Rundlett Middle School underwater robotics team competes at UNH
As part of the 21C after school program, Rundlett Middle School offers students the opportunity to take part in an underwater robotics club. The students began constructing their robots in January and have spent some time recently testing their bots in the Concord Comfort Inn pool to get ready for the UNH Regional Seaperch Competition, which they took part in on April 2. And as you can probably guess, these are the students that...
Don’t miss Discover Wild New Hampshire Day
Insider staff What New Hampshire Fish and Game is all about can really be summed up in its motto: Connecting You to Life Outdoors. The state organization wants you to enjoy all the outdoor beauty New Hampshire has to offer. And not only do they want you to do it year round, but especially on Saturday when Fish and Game hosts the annual Discover WILD N.H. Day at its headquarters on Hazen Drive. One day each April, Fish and Game closes...
Concord Chorale to perform April 16-17
The Concord Chorale is ready to bring an inspired performance of Mozart’s epic “Requiem Mass in D Minor” to Concord over the weekend. With more than 160 musicians on stage, the Chorale will join forces with Phillips Exeter Academy’s 40-member Concert Choir and 25-member Chamber Orchestra, along with selected professional musicians and soloists. In other words, it’s gonna be a pretty big deal. Mozart’s final masterpiece will be...
