June 23-29 named N.H. Talking Books Week
The New Hampshire State Library’s Talking Books Services pision has been named the 2013 Network Library of the Year by the Library of Congress’ National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped section. In recognition of this achievement, Gov. Maggie Hassan issued a proclamation naming June 23-29, 2014 “New Hampshire Talking Books Week.” N.H. Talking Books Services provides recorded books and magazines as well as the...
This is a mid-paper announcement that Midsummer Night Magic is back
Midsummer Night Magic, a summer solstice extravaganza, will parade into Downtown Concord for its 3rd year on June 20. Midsummer Night Magic is a summoning of community spirit, an evening festival of the unexpected, and a treasure trove of family-friendly fun. The magic will take over the courtyards and side streets of downtown Concord with live performances, multicultural musings, artistic acts, an outdoor movie and a people’s...
Audubon to offer Nature Day Camps this summer
Have your kids ever thought about how nature recycles? Do they ask where our water comes from? Do they wonder how plants and animals survive harsh weather or food shortages? If so, N.H. Audubon has those answers and many more as its Nature Day Camps program kicks off for 2014. Offering six sessions beginning this week and running through the week of Aug. 11 for children ages 4 through 15, N.H. Audubon summer day camps will cultivate...
Instagram photo of the week – Tue, 17 Jun 2014
Pink sky at night, sailor’s delight, pink sky in morning, sailors take warning, blue and orange and steel gray and fire sky in an Instagram photo, TAKE SHELTER THE WORLD IS PROBABLY ENDING. Or it could just be a passing shower. Thanks to Instagram user @christine99 for this awesome photo.
6th annual strawberry festival in Bow June 28
The Bow Mills United Methodist Church will hold its 6th Annual Strawberry Festival on June 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 505 South St., Bow. Festivities include food, vendors, dance, disc dog, service dog, packgoat and karate demos. There will be a blessing of the animals at 10:15 a.m., a kids station for activities and musical entertainment by The Kid Jazz Band, Bow Mills Junior Choir *Strawberry Shortcake and much more. Proceeds...
Liz Hebbel has the vision – and arsenal – to create unique recycled art
Liz Hebbel likes to think of herself as a hunter and gatherer. No, she doesn’t track down wild animals and berries on the outskirts of Concord. While it would be quite interesting to see her trudging through the woods on a daily basis, Hebbel isn’t constantly in search of her next meal – she can get that at the grocery store. What Hebbel’s on the lookout for are second-hand items to add to her basement workshop that will one day help...
Concord Public Library Book of the week
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net.Howl’s Moving CastleDiana Wynne Jones1986, 212 pagesFictionWhen summer rolls around, it’s always good to remember our favorites – those perennial stories we keep coming back to year after year. Howl’s Moving Castle is one such story. Written by the masterful and prolific Diana Wynne Jones, this book is the kind you just don’t want to put down, no...
Check out some funky recycled garden art
Happy Returns whimsical recycled garden art will host an open house at 15 Pine St. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Rocking the ‘burns – Tue, 17 Jun 2014
Insider rules to live by, No. 364: You can never have too many pictures of rocks with sideburns. We like this one of a Joseph Wheelwright sculpture at St. Paul’s, from our own Instagram feed.
‘Monitor’ photo intern Ariana van den Akker bids Concord farewell
What made you decide to pursue photography as a career?The power of a photograph is what drew me to photography. Photographs can do so many things – they can change history, they can expose hidden truths, they can bring you into worlds you may never experience otherwise. What is your favorite/most memorable assignment or photo you’ve taken?From Concord? Definitely when Ray (Duckler) and I went searching for the site of a 1944 plane...
Tim adds 35 pounds to his belly – and it wasn’t just because of food
So last week, I gained about 35 pounds. Now, I know what you’re thinking, and no, it’s not because I spent every waking moment at the recently opened Five Guys taking down double cheeseburgers and large fries like it was my job. I mean, let’s be honest, it would be a great job to have, but there’s no way I could accomplish that kind of weight gain in just one week. It would take at least two weeks to add that many pounds with my below...
From can to canvas, Bertolino’s aerosol art at Dos Amigos
Andre Bertolino wants you to check out all the colorful art work he made spraying aerosol on canvas. That’s why some of his best and brightest is strategically hung on the walls of Dos Amigos through early July. So next time you get a burrito or taco, check it out.
Makris Lobster House hosts bike trick pros during motorcycle week
The back parking lot at Makris Lobster House turned into a motorcycle trick showcase Friday afternoon as part of the bike week celebration, which doesn’t make it all that different than the Insider parking lot on any given afternoon (actually yes, it does).
The Food Snob is but one man who destroyed burgers at Five Guys
Scarfing down a perfectly cooked burger with a side of potato strips deep fried in oil (otherwise known as French fries) is what the Food Snob considers a great day at the office. It’s actually one of the only days in which he comes to the office. So you can only imagine the excitement he felt last week when the rumor mill provided some much needed information – Five Guys, after months of speculation, had finally opened its doors. But...
Missed Connections: Scratching an urgent itch
We at the Insider like to scour Craigslist’s Missed Connections to see if anyone in Concord wants to watch a Golden Girls marathon with us is finding true love online. Here, presented unedited as always, are some of the best recent entries.Ocean State Job Lots….Were you there today? – m4w (Concord)Between 1 and 1:30 PMYou were with two other women, one you called Mom, the other, well could be Grandma?You Dark Long...
This Week In Concord History
June 17, 2000: The Class of 2000 says thank you to Concord High School Assistant Principal Michael Garrett, who has announced his retirement after 40 years at the school. In his honor, a path of granite steps between the school bus circle and the main entrance is christened “Garrett Way.”June 17, 1970: Attorney General Warren Rudman tells the Concord Rotary Club that he was glad the Chicago Three – David Dellinger, Jerry Rubin and...
Classic Concord Photo – Tue, 17 Jun 2014
This is a photo of Merrimack Jail in 1916, at the current location of Concord High School (cue snarky teenager saying it looks like the use hasn’t changed much in almost 100 years). We’re guessing the term maximum security wasn’t invented until prisons started looking less like idyllic farmhouses and more like not-so-idyllic farmhouses. What, your farmhouse doesn’t have barbed-wire rings on top of the fence and steel bars in the...
City briefly
Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell fills up the kiddie pool in his office with cold water and takes a dip. He forgets to leave before conducting his weekly Skype meeting with the President, though, and gets busted when his rubber ducky drifts by in the background. Also in the background? This city memo!Complete StreetsMeetings are really longCity administration, General Services and Engineering staff, McFarland Johnson and the Federal...
Intown Concord needs Market Days volunteers
Intown Concord is calling all lovers of downtown to volunteer at the 40th annual Market Days Festival to be held Thursday through Saturday, July 17-19. We guarantee that as an Intown Concord Market Days volunteer you will have fun and at the same time help to make your city, community and Main Street a place that is enjoyable for all. If you have a few hours on July 17, 18 or 19 to volunteer, contact susan@intownconcord.org. There are...
Penacook Farmers Market to open Monday
The Penacook Village Farmers Market begins its fifth year on June 23 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Buy fresh local vegetables from your local farmer neighbors. Baked goods, prepared food and even dog treats are available. Use your SNAP/EBT card, debit or credit card to make purchases thanks to the Merrimack County Conservation District. Entertainment at the opening will be provided by Erik Ray Gustafson, Montana Bluesman, a one-man band playing...
Chamber of Commerce to hold Italy trip meeting
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce announces it is offering a trip to Italy, departing Oct. 29, for eight days this fall. Special group rates are available to chamber members, their employees, families, friends and the general public. A brief, no-obligation information meeting will be held June 23 at 5 p.m. at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, 49 S. Main St. The all-inclusive trip package includes eight days, Oct. 29 to...
Time to sign up for YMCA summer camps
Concord Family YMCA summer camp is filling up fast – don’t miss out. Whether you want a more traditional day camp experience at Camp Mowkawogan or to boost skills with a specialized sports camp, we offer something for every kid. Day camps provide a safe and fun environment for young people to try new things, be active in the outdoors and build leadership skills. Summer camp begins the week of June 23 and goes until Aug. 22. You can...
Grace Episcopal Church’s monthly supper Friday
Grace Episcopal Church (30 Eastman St.) will host its monthly community supper Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. The June supper features meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn and bread pudding. So come, bring your family and friends and take the night off from cooking. There is no charge, but donations are welcomed and support our Take-A-Tote Ministry which helps to feed Concord’s hungry school children. Contact Grace Episcopal Church for...
Instagram photo of the week – Tue, 10 Jun 2014
You may remember that we featured this 3-D eyeball in Thomas Devaney’s downtown art studio this winter, with a similar shot, but we weren’t able to shoot it while the city was under attack from laser fire, or through our sweet Kool-Aid photo filter, so we figured this would be a solid update with those features. In all honesty, though, this shot from Instagram user @darkell_ did a much better job of capturing the eyeball up close than...
Poetry Society to host double feature, open mic
The Poetry Society of N.H. is pleased to sponsor another outstanding double feature at Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. The features are Stephen Scaer and Donald Wellman. The reading starts at 7 p.m. Scaer and Wellman will read first and then there will be an open mic afterwards. All are welcome and newcomers are encouraged. For further information, contact Don Kimball at...
Classic Concord photo – Tue, 10 Jun 2014
Before there were monster trucks like Grave Digger, there were giant-wheeled carts to move coal around. The main difference was the coal wagon’s tended to crush fewer cars – though it was close – and weren’t (usually) introduced by a bellowing voice yelling “Sunday Sunday Sunday!” This picture of a coal wagon from Abbot and Downing, sent to use by reader Earl Burroughs, also highlights the fact that automobile graphics haven’t evolved...
Concord Public Library Book of the week
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net.One Summer: America, 1927Bill Bryson2013, 509 pagesNonfictionBeloved author Bill Bryson returns to the forefront with an admirable narrative and a compelling concept. In One Summer: America, 1927, Bryson expertly explores the various events and personalities that conspired to make history in four unforgettable months. Among his subjects: Babe Ruth,...
We took several small pictures for mankind at Aerospacefest
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center hosted Aerospacefest on Friday and Saturday, and we stopped by for a piece of the action.
Make yourself comfortable
Recycled furniture shopping tips from a proDan Moore, owner of Furniture Fair of Concord on Manchester Street, hooked us up with some sweet advice to help you find the perfect stuff.∎ Older pieces are usually made of real wood and not particle board or other cheaper materials that some of today’s furniture is made of. So even though it’s used, it’ll probably last forever. “You can pay $400 or $500 for a dresser that’s made of...
You need us on that wall – Tue, 10 Jun 2014
Concord’s own Jim Kinhan recently trudged the nearly-100 mile stretch of Hadrian’s Wall Path that runs from Newcastle to Bowness in the northern countryside of England, and as you can see in this photo, the Insider did, too. Not pictured: Kinhan bouncing on the balls of his feet at the end yelling, “Yo Hadrian!”
