From the Crowd: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Hatbox
For one month out of the year, you get to indulge in all things Christmas.We get to watch classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas. There are ballets like The Nutcracker and books including titles such as The Night Before Christmas, The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, to read after sitting on the shelves for the last 11 months.But even we...
Downtown will be staying up real late Friday
By now, you’ve clearly switched over to holiday shopping mode – or at least intend to in the very near future.May we remind you that December begins on Thursday and that doesn’t leave a lot of time to make it through that list of yours. So why not begin your shopping endeavor during Concord’s most festive way possible – by checking out Midnight Merriment Friday night, from 5:30 p.m. till, well, midnight.This will be the 24th year of...
Nothing says holiday spirit like a festive craft
Are you looking for a way to spice up your decorating game this year? Do you look at all your old holiday decor and want something new and different? If you haven’t seen anything you like in the stores, maybe this is the year to create something festive yourself. We took to the internet to see what we could find in the Concord world of crafts, and are we ever glad we did. There’s tons going on between now and Christmas to spruce up...
‘The Holiday Spectacular’ returns to the Audi
More than a decade ago, Cindy Flanagan brought a group of her dancers on a bus trip to take in a holiday variety show.And ever since, Concord Dance Academy has put on a similar show, The Holiday Spectacular, on the Audi stage each December. But each year, it seems to get bigger and better as new pieces and music are added to the show to keep people coming back for more.“This will be the most exciting year ever,” Flanagan said.Flanagan...
Concord Handmade is back for the holidays
For the first time in six years, Alison Murphy didn’t have to find a new home for her holiday pop-up shop.Fortunately, the 26 Pleasant St. location was still available, so faithful customers of Concord Handmade won’t have to search all over the downtown area for the six-week store like they’ve had to in years past. But while the space is the same, you’ll notice a few differences. Gone is the stage at the front of the store, so you can...
Now’s the time to get some new winter gear
With winter just around the corner – if it’s not officially here already – you might be in the market for some new gear for all your cold weather activities.But it can be expensive to procure new skis, boots, skates and hockey equipment, especially with the holidays right around the corner. And odds are it’s not like anyone is going to buy you the right thing anyway.So we have a solution: This Saturday, get in your car, drive to...
Beyond the Cubicle: Tim learned how the city gets rid of leaves
This time of year, you probably don’t see your lawn all that much. That’s just how it goes in this little corner of the world during the fall months. Those bright and colorful leaves that people drive around for hours on end just to look at, eventually turn brown – and fall all over the place. So you spend your afternoons and weekends raking all those leaves to the curb, just hoping that the leaf fairies come and pick them up before...
It’s almost time to cut your Christmas tree
When picking out the family Christmas tree, there’s a lot to consider.How tall can it be? How many sides will be viewable? How much do you want to spend? As you’ve probably learned over the years, not all Christmas trees are made (or grow) the same. And that’s part of the fun of it. Now we don’t know about you, but we are the kind of people who like to visit a Christmas tree farm. We have nothing against the ones you’ll find being...
Here are some tips on how to cook for a group
We understand the panic is starting to set in. You have the family coming over for Thanksgiving dinner and you’re not used to cooking for a big group – and you want everything to be perfect.Well, first of all, it’s your family so it doesn’t have to be perfect. And secondly, we’re here to help.In an effort to make your Turkey Day go a bit smoother, we checked in with Jessie Bennington, Codi Labrecque and Greg Tompkins, three members of...
You can drive over the Sewalls Falls Bridge now
If you don’t live in East Concord or happen to be an employee of the Monitor, the fact that the Sewalls Falls bridge was closed for what seemed like an eternity probably hasn’t affected your day-to-day life all that much.Inconvenient at times? We’re sure it has been, but not to the extent where the options on which way you can leave your job – one that requires you to travel all over the city – had been cut in half.So now that the...
Don’t miss the wellness fair
Have you been looking to be more healthy these days? Do you need a little motivation to get you going? Well, look no further than the city of Concord’s wellness fair next Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Holiday Inn. More than 30 vendors will overtake the grand ballroom, and none of them will be trying to sell you anything since it’s a city sanctioned event. It’s merely a way to get information about some great resources in your neck of the...
You need to be careful deep frying a turkey
There are plenty of ways to cook a turkey. You can roast your Thanksgiving bird in the oven the traditional way, smoke it in the smoker or toss it (very gently) on the old grill. You can even microwave it, but that is something we don’t necessarily recommended unless there are no other options, and in that case, we suggest buying an oven. But over the years, deep frying a turkey has become increasingly popular. It cooks your bird in a...
Friends of Forgotten Children needs your help
As you flip through the pages of this week’s issue, you’ll notice that at this time of year, there are a lot of organizations that could use your help. Whether it’s through volunteering or donations, the need is great. And you can count the Friends of Forgotten Children as one of the many places that could use your services. Later this week, they’ll hand out their Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families from all over the Concord...
Christmas parade is Saturday on the Heights
It’s not even December and Christmas is more than a month away, but we all know that holiday festivities traditionally find their way into our world starting in November. Every year, it seems like the store displays are put out earlier and earlier to get us in the holiday spirit.Well, add the Concord Christmas Parade to the list of holiday happenings before we even sit down to eat turkey. On Saturday, Loudon Road will be the place to...
There’s an artistry to building a stone wall
If you look closely, you’ll see them all over. They’re lining front yards on the outskirts of the city, found randomly in the woods and at one time they were probably used to settle property disputes.We’re talking about stone walls – and when you see one, you can’t help but wonder the story behind them. Who built it? How long had it been there? Why was it built? Sure, we could probably throw a few stones together and call it a wall,...
Want to know how astronauts train on Earth?
If you’ve ever dreamt of going to space, you’ll have to get a little training.It’s kind of this rule that NASA has in order to be on a space shuttle destined for outside Earth’s atmosphere. And until they start offering scenic tourist packages, you’re kind of stuck doing all the hard work every astronaut goes through.But have you ever wondered how astronauts train for being in outer space on Earth? There is this little thing called...
Who do you think should be Mr. Concord?
If you’re one of those people who likes to say, “I was there” for the first of what turns into a really cool annual event, you’ll want to clear your schedule for Friday. Because you are not going to want to miss the first-ever Mr. Concord Pageant at the Grappone Conference Center. “I was home last winter recovering from a rotator cuff surgery, and I kept thinking of ways the Concord Contemporary Club could raise some funds and it just...
A lot of work goes into hosting a film festival
If you’ve ever been to one of the many time slots for the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival, you know it can get a little crazy.With films and events one after another for days in a row, it’s amazing that things run so smooth year after year. A lot of it has to do with the preparation and planning of the festival board, but what may get lost in the shuffle is the credit that the good people over at Red River Theatres...
We checked out the Winter Farmers’ Market
There’s nothing quite like the start of something new.The first day of school, the first snowfall, and what I found out Saturday, the first Winter Farmers’ Market of the season.Jon told you last week all about the indoor spot to keep your local buys going through the cold winter months, but previewing and experiencing are two totally different things. I had to see what was happening at the market for myself.While it was a day that...
Local Baskit provides all you’ll need for a meal
Let’s face it, it’s not easy to make a gourmet meal using all fresh, local ingredients. It’s hard enough to find time to procure all the pieces of your dinner puzzle.So why not let Local Baskit do the work for you? The Concord-based meal kit startup is putting together some creative weekly meal options for you to choose from. They provide the ingredients and the recipe. All you have to do is the cooking.Owner Beth Richards was in your...
Add another trails network to Concord’s list
It’s well known that Concord is home to some pretty sweet hiking and walking trails.The collection of paths make up more than 70 miles of potential spots for leisure activity.Well, you can now add close to five more miles to that total after the opening of the Broken Ground Trails a little over a week ago.The city purchased 270 acres in 2013 that sit in the general area between Portsmouth Street and Curtisville Road.“Part of (the...
Can you believe the Insider is 10 years old?
It’s hard to believe that the Insider is 10 years old. The first edition was published way back on Oct. 24, 2006, so if you want to get technical, on the date of this publication, it’s 10 years old and one day. And boy oh boy has it been one heck of a ride. It started as an idea from former Monitor publisher and original Insider Mark Travis. Other news organizations were having success with free publications and since Concord was (and...
Beyond the Cubicle: Tim gave flowers to complete strangers
If you don’t remember, last Wednesday was beautiful. It felt more like summer than fall with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.For most of us, though, it was a work day – and that can always bring your mood down a bit. The hustle and bustle of the daily grind can wear on you, especially on hump day. But if you happened to be walking down South Main Street around lunch time, there’s a good chance I may given you a beautiful...
Enjoy the smooth sounds of WSPS radio
The next time you’re listening to the radio on a Wednesday evening in the Concord area, turn your dial to 90.5 FM.That’s where you’ll hear the smooth voice of one Ellis Clark – or Radio Ellis as his listeners know him by.Clark is a sophomore at St. Paul’s School and since early last year, he has been manning the school’s radio station each and every Wednesday night when St. Paul’s is in session.The exact time of his show is still...
Did you know that Concord has an airport?
If you’ve noticed small planes and private jets flying just above Concord, it’s probably because they’re coming in for a landing. At the Concord Municipal Airport, of course.For those of you who didn’t know, Concord is home to a two-runway, city owned spot where planes can really come and go as they please. And go figure, it’s actually located along Airport Road.But don’t feel bad, we didn’t know much about it until we took a field...
The Concord Fire Department has a new truck to show off
Over the last couple weeks, you may have noticed a brand-new fire engine rolling around town.That’s because the Concord Fire Department unveiled its brand new Engine 5, a Pierce Arrox XT, at the start of this month.Its permanent home is the Manor Fire Station on Village Street, on the Penacook side of town, but since the fire houses all cover for one another and go to calls in other parts of the city depending on severity, you’ll...
We found some local spots for pumpkins
Now that the calendar has officially turned to October, it’s time to start thinking Halloween.You’ve got time to sort out your costume, but if you want to get in on the fall decorating, you better grab a few pumpkins. And lucky for all of you, we found a number of places in Concord and Bow to get one.Rossview FarmRossview Farm (85 District 5 Road #5), which got back into the pumpkin game this year after a few years off, has lots of...
Find your perfect pumpkin
When I go to a pumpkin patch, I have a certain set of criteria that my choice has to meet.Let’s face it, picking the right pumpkin is a big decision. Everyone has their idea of the perfect pumpkin, and I’m no different.For me, it starts with the color. Its got to be a certain shade of bright orange and there can’t be any green on it. I enjoy a nice shade of green, but not on my pumpkin – unless you’re talking about the handle.Because...
Need a friend? Sit down on a colorful bench
It was last spring and soon-to-be Bow High senior Jack Rich was looking for an idea for his senior project.Rich was going to focus on anti-bullying, but then his mom sent him a link to the website for Tiny Girl, Big Dream, and immediately Rich loved the idea. It wasn’t so much about telling people not to bully each other, but more about promoting friendship.“Basically it’s ‘Need a friend? Sit here,’ ” he said.The mission of the...
Get ready for a full weekend of youth soccer
If you’re a soccer fan, swing by NHTI this weekend. You can also go to Memorial Field, CenterPoint Church and the fields across from Memorial at the State Hospital.There’s other spots outside of the city limits too (shhh, you didn’t hear it from us) because with over 160 teams in one tournament, things need to be spread out a bit.The 11th annual Seacoast Express United Capitol Cup will take over Concord and surrounding towns as teams...
