From the Crowd: M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Split’ a bizarre thriller
M. Night Shyamalan has always been an enigma wrapped in a mystery. He burst onto the scene as a visionary genius of sorts with his 1999 hit The Sixth Sense, followed strongly by the clever Unbreakable in 2000. It gets interesting after that point. The love-it-or-hate-it Signs was next for the director, and it’s been sort of downhill from there for him, at least in terms of reviews. His films since Signs such as The Village, Lady in...
Submit nominations for Impact Awards
The N.H. Center for Nonprofits is seeking nominations for the Nonprofit Impact Awards to be presented April 4 at the Nonprofit Impact Celebration in Concord. Four Nonprofit Impact Awards will be presented to individuals and nonprofits that have made outstanding contributions to their communities. “The Nonprofit Impact Awards celebrate the vision, innovation and entrepreneurship that we see throughout the nonprofit sector,” said...
There’s a new exhibit at Kimball-Jenkins
The latest Kimball-Jenkins art exhibit, “Visceral Explorations,” is on display in the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery through March 1, with an opening reception scheduled for Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. As always, here’s a sampling of what we saw, and if you want to see the rest, you’ll just have to go check out the show.
Mindful parenting reading coming up
Kathy Walsh, award-winning children’s author and mindfulness expert, will be hosting a book reading of her two guides on mindful parenting at Gibson’s Bookstore on Saturday at 2 p.m. Walsh’s best-selling parenting guides include 30 Days to a Mindful Home and Raising Peaceful Kids. In this high-tech, busy world of today, how do parents create balanced, peaceful environments for their children to grow up in? What is “Mindful Parenting?”...
CYPN: Doug Phelan is a huge fan of living in Concord
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to another “Young Professional of the Month,” Doug Phelan. How old are you? 29 Where do you live? Downtown Concord! It’s definitely the place to be. The buzz is real. Where do you currently work? I’m a family medicine resident physician at the N.H. Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency. I practice throughout Concord Hospital, but mostly...
Here’s a roundup of live music this week
After all this snow, we sure could use a break from the harsh realities of winter. And what better way than finding a warm, cozy establishment and listening to some live music? We know, it sounds pretty good right about now. Luckily, we did a lot of the leg work for you and found a few performances on the docket around town this week. You just have to decide which one to go to. Woman’s Club The Concord Coachmen will celebrate this...
You’ve got to experience the new Simchik Cinema
It’s been a few months since Red River Theatres has been at full strength.That’s because a capital campaign project – the first since Red River opened its doors almost 10 years ago – had temporarily shutdown use of the Simchik Cinema.But the wait is over – and was well worth it. During the first week of February, the screening room was reopened for public use, and after taking a little tour of it last week, we can’t wait to go catch a...
Science Cafe to discuss winter blues next Tuesday
This is the time of year when many people struggle with the “winter blues,” also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, a term that most appropriately creates the acronym SAD. Months of little daylight and being stuck indoors by the cold and wet can leave people feeling unsettled or even seriously depressed. Science Cafe Concord will discuss the matter – how serious it is, how it can be recognized, how it can be avoided or treated – at...
Mikey G to put on a clinic at Strings & Things
Nobody is going to become the next Jimi Hendrix overnight – that much is obvious. But if you’re looking to improve your playing skills at least marginally, you should check out the free guitar clinic coming up at Strings & Things Music on Saturday at 4 p.m. – it couldn’t hurt, right?The downtown music supply shop likes to put on at least one event per month, and after a brief hiatus in January, the shop is ready to get 2017...
Concord Reads is back for 2017 with ‘Adrift’
Attention all readers: Concord Reads is back in action at the Concord Public Library. Every year, the library picks a book to base several months of programming around. These things can include movies, fun activities, discussions and more. Last spring, the featured book was When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning, and participants got the chance to meet and talk to the author about the writing process. This year, it’s all...
This Week in Concord History
Feb. 14, 2000: Everett Arena officials ask the Concord City Council to chip in half the construction costs for adding two new locker rooms. Among other things, the plans would bring the rink into compliance with federal disability regulations and gender equity laws. Feb. 14, 2001: About 100 Bow residents attend a hearing on potential cuts to the school district budget. Many in the crowd are students particularly alarmed by...
Bulletin Board
February vacation fun at River Guild Looking for some something fun for your child to do during February vacation week? Join The River Guild for its Creative Movers mini-camp for three days full of creativity, art, movement, games, yoga, breathing and relaxation stories. There will be dancing, story telling, group activities, creating a group play, snacks and more. The camp, which runs Feb. 28 through March 2, is open to children ages...
Book of the Week: ‘The Sun Is Also A Star’
The Sun is Also a Star Nicola Yoon 2016, 384 pages Young Adult Fiction This is the book for the hopeless romantic. It chronicles Daniel and Natasha’s love story from just before they meet until they part ways with broken hearts. Yoon explores hope, love, logic, science, God, race, nationality, immigration and possibility over the course of one incredible day. The narrative style is quite creative: Daniel and Natasha each tell their...
We found out how the Hobey Sticks are made
Like most tournaments, the teams who takes on all comers in their division in the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championships are rewarded with some hardware.But this isn’t some boring plaque or trophy – the winners of the seven Black Ice divisions are given a Hobey Stick. Named, of course, for the hockey legend from St. Paul’s School, Hobey Baker.Sure trophies are nice to display and polish when company comes over, but this is a pond hockey...
Here’s where you can get your Black Ice American Ale
It’s that time of year again. With the 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship comes the inevitable Black Ice American Ale, the custom concoction 603 Brewery whips up for the tournament every year.The beer is a light-bodied, crisp and refreshing ale – we taste-tested it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It even won the silver medal in the 2016 Best of Craft Beer Awards. At 5 percent alcohol by volume and 20 International Bittering...
Cheers is going to have a bar – made of ice – for Black Ice
If you’re over the age of 21, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a bar before.But, have you ever been to an ice bar? Well, if your answer is no, you might want to keep reading.Because in conjunction with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship being held at White Park this weekend, Cheers is putting together a little outdoor fun on their redone patio.From 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Cheers will open its patio for patrons to...
We learned how to cook a Valentine’s Day meal
If you know anything about us at all, you know we’re pretty big fans of food. You may also know that despite this fact, neither of us is particularly great at preparing it. That’s why we stopped by the library last week to learn from one of the best in the business, chef Liz Barbour. Barbour took over the library a few weeks ago with a Cooking with Chocolate program, and that program was so successful the library had to bring her back...
Go Try It: Pick out flowers for that special someone
I’ve always thought that in my previous life, I was probably a florist.For some reason, I’ve always enjoyed flowers and especially picking out a nice arrangement for that special someone. When I was much younger, that person was my mom, and these days it’s my wife, Mary.So whenever Valentine’s Day rolls around, I look forward to taking a trip to a local flower shop, looking through the selection of fresh cut flowers and putting...
We found some cool Valentine’s Day activities
The most romantic holiday of the year is right around the corner, and we’re willing to bet one or two of you still don’t have any plans lined up. In an effort to help you stay out of the doghouse on Valentine’s Day, we talked to our confidential sources and scoured the interwebs to find out everything that’s going on around here for the holiday – well, maybe not everything, but we sure found quite a bit. Here’s a sampling of some...
Fall in love with downtown this Valentine’s season
Visitors are invited to join the thriving downtown Concord community by spending time eating, shopping or just exploring all that is wonderful about the new Main Street and downtown. During Fall in Love with Downtown, Feb. 7-14, select local businesses will be offering discounts, deals, workshops and much more. Why not spread the love? People are encouraged to use #xoxoConcord on social media to share with everyone what they love...
Tim made Valentine’s Day cards with his daughter
Now that Tim’s daughter, Sophie, is growing up faster than her mom and dad would like, she’s doing all kinds of fun stuff. So this past weekend, the Goodwins pulled out the arts and crafts supplies to make some Valentines. Tim isn’t much of an artist, as you are all well aware, so it’s a good thing Sophie knows how to create something that others will actually enjoy.
The Audubon needs your help with counting birds
The New Hampshire Audubon’s Backyard Winter Bird Survey celebrates 30 years of tracking the state’s winter birds, and you can help. Biologists need assistance from residents all over the Granite State to get a clear picture of what’s really happening with our winter birds. This year’s survey will take place this Saturday and Sunday. Anyone can participate in the Backyard Winter Bird Survey by counting the birds in their own backyard...
NHTI wheelchair basketball game was a big success
NHTI’s annual Wheelchair Basketball Benefit for the Zach DeVitz Memorial Equipment Fund last week was another smashing success. Students and faculty members faced off in a fun game of wheelchair basketball, which was won (handily) by the faculty team. In the end, though, everybody was a winner – the event raised about $2,000, which will go toward buying assistive technology for students with disabilities. Nice work, NHTI!
We learned about the spots to go ice fishing in Concord and Bow
When it comes to being outside for an extended period of time in the winter months, we usually find any excuse in the book to avoid it.But the reality is that some people out there really enjoy it – like the ones who find a frozen lake, drill a hole and try to catch fish.If you live in New Hampshire, you have to experience ice fishing at least once and it turns out that around these parts there are some prime locations to drop a line...
If you like good basketball, then this is for you
If you’re a big hoops fan, then you’ll want to make your way to Bishop Brady this Sunday.Five of the top 15 prep school teams in the country will play in the fourth annual Frank Monahan Foundation Basketball Showcase, along with a couple local squads.In addition to four prep school matchups, the Bishop Brady and Pembroke Academy boys teams will play, giving fans the opportunity to see five games in one day – and for a very affordable...
Don’t pull a Sherri – bring us on your next vacation!
Well, technically Monitor ad guru Sherri Cote did take us on her lavish family cruise to the Southern Caribbean last month, but after telling us she had a copy of the Insider with her as she left the office, Cote never took us out of her suitcase. As punishment, we’re publicly shaming her for poor execution. So don’t pull a Sherri – make sure you take a picture with us on your next getaway.
Two can’t-miss events coming up at Gibson’s
If you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what kinds of bookish events are coming up this/next week, you can now relax, because we’ve figured it all out for you.On Thursday (Feb. 9), you’ll get the rare opportunity to interact with a National Book Award finalist when Andrew Krivak comes to Gibson’s Bookstore to talk about his second novel, The Signal Flame.If you’re not familiar with Krivak’s work, shame on you – he...
Check out Kent Maxwell’s Chamber exhibit
If you can remember all the way back to last week’s Insider, we had a collection of work from the N.H. Furniture Masters on display at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. And as it turns out, the Chamber is quite good at multi-tasking because also showing on the walls of the Smile Building location is the work of Kent Maxwell. Maxwell’s exhibit, “Horizons,” is a collection of paintings that, according to Maxwell’s artist...
Love Project at NEC to be a night of fun, love
Love and laughter often go hand in hand, just like a couple of sweethearts. That’s why The Love Project, presented by Laughta in New Hampsha, should be a perfect way to spend your Friday after Valentine’s Day. NEC Concord will open its doors at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 for this one-time-only comedy variety show that’s all about love. If you’re not familiar with Laughta in New Hampsha, here’s a little background: “Laughta in New Hampsha is a...
‘American Idol’ star Alex Preston to play at the Cap Center
Quick – how many people do you know who have ever collaborated professionally with Jason Mraz, Jennifer Lopez or Keith Urban? While many of you probably just said, “None,” there’s a chance that some of you do, in fact, know Alex Preston, second runner-up on American Idol XIII.Preston, 23, is a Mont Vernon native who became known to the world when he appeared on the hit musical talent show in 2014. Now, after a few years of fame have...
