Take a trip through the ‘Seasons’ with Sandy Wadlington
New England is known for its four seasons, and Sandy Wadlington has spent years capturing the scenery spring, summer, fall and winter create. And if the impending winter has got you missing the other three seasons a little bit more these days, then check out Wadlington’s exhibit at McGowan Fine Art. It includes a variety of media, pastel, caran d’ache and colored pencil drawings and will be on display through Dec. 19.
Shop local this week during Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday
As you well know, once the clock strikes midnight on Thanksgiving night the focus turns exclusively toward Christmas shopping. Black Friday has been a thing for a long time, where people wake up well before the crack of dawn, go to (insert name of big-box store here) and wait in line for the doors to open. In the last few years, the crazy shopping tradition even spilled into Thanksgiving night. But who wants to end their holiday...
Book of the Week: ‘Ana of California’
Ana of California Andi Teran 2015, 353 pages Fiction Ana of California, which is “inspired” by Anne of Green Gables, is both familiar and fresh. Ana Cortez is an orphan from Boyle Heights in East L.A. She’s almost 16, the age when she can “emancipate” out of the foster care system. In the meantime, she’s in trouble for telling off her latest foster mother. Her social worker suggests Garber Farm in northern California, owned by brother...
City Briefly
Last week, City Manager Tom Aspell spent much of his time walking up and down North Main Street admiring all the shiny new amenities while taking breaks to pen his last city memo before the Thanksgiving holiday on the strategically placed red benches. And here it is for your consumption. Just think of it as your turkey day appetizer that you can’t eat. Holiday time City offices closed In observance of Thanksgiving, all city offices...
Instagram photo of the week
Instagram user @steffiezera took this shot of a crane putting up a gigantic Christmas tree in front of the State House last week. It sure will be nice not to see that crane again for a few months.
The Bulletin Board
Concord Chorale to perform holiday concerts The Concord Chorale welcomes the holiday season with “Laud to the Nativity.” The chorale will perform Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant St. The concert is also performed on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Church, 43 Pine St., Exeter. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors and students, and available at...
Meals on Wheels makes sure seniors always get their grub on
Everybody has to eat. For many people, that’s as easy as running to the grocery store or hitting up the drive-through. But for some seniors, it’s not quite so easy. That’s where Meals on Wheels comes in. The program delivers meals up to five times a week to seniors at least 60 years old who need them. A wellness check is also included as part of the delivery, and is considered equally important, said Joan Baretto, assistant director...
It’s fake trees and prizes galore at the 15th annual Fez-tival of Trees
Dozens of fake Christmas trees set up in a function hall, decorated with ice cream cones, scratch tickets, candles and more. It can only mean one thing: the Bektash Shriners’ Fez-tival of Trees is back for another year – its 15th, to be exact (wouldn’t be 2015 without a milestone anniversary in Concord). Since we told you about the Fez-tival after it happened last year, we decided to fill you in ahead of time this year – so you can go...
The people have voted, and here’s who took home the SNOB awards
In case you missed last week’s issue of the Insider (shame on you) and all those signs around town, the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival was held this past weekend. With more than 70 films shown during the four-day festival and three beer tastings, Red River Theatres was quite busy to say the least. There was also three nights of music, capped off with a bash at the Barley House for the awards ceremony. And since we couldn’t...
Mill Brook to close season with ‘Reflections: Five Visions’ exhibit
Before the snowflakes start to fly and winter sets in for what will probably feel like an eternity, Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Center is hosting one final exhibition for 2015, “Reflections: Five Visions.” It features the work of Sean Beavers, Judith Cooper, Sydney Bella Sparrow, David Preston Wells and Lindley Briggs, and will be on display through Christmas Eve. With a mixture of sculptures and paintings, the work spans...
The Granite United Way Guide to Gifts and Giving
It’s almost time for the latest and greatest toys, electronics and deals to dominate the television airwaves for what will likely feel like months on end, and that can only mean one thing – the holidays are upon us. But while many of us make our way to store after store looking for the perfect gift for everyone on our shopping list, there are lots of people out there not as fortunate. Many of our community members won’t find any gifts...
We found more fun stuff to do this week
Wednesday Do you have a song you’ve just been waiting for the world to hear? Well here’s your chance. The Concord Community Music School will let you record up to five minutes of your soon to be No. 1 billboard sensation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the studio. If you’re interested in learning all about hiking when it’s really cold out then you might want to head down to the Concord library tonight as 6 p.m. for a little introduction with...
Ladies and gentlemen, meet ConcordTV’s newest Junior Hosts
It’s not every day that you get to meet the future TV and movie stars of America, or maybe even the world. That’s why it’s a big deal that we’re introducing you to ConcordTV’s newest Junior Hosts. The local television station put out the word about Junior Host auditions a few months ago (with a little help from the Insider), and the talent showed up in droves, said Executive Director Doris Ballard. Unlike in past years where there has...
There’s a new look to New Hampshire history, and it’s on the web
If you haven’t checked out the New Hampshire Historical Society’s website recently, it might be a good idea to take a quick gander. We know what you’re thinking: “It’s history, how much can it possibly have changed?” Well, the answer is quite a bit – at least the way the website looks, functions and what’s on it after the society launched a brand new one a little over a week ago. The address is still the same (nhhistory.org), and...
Do you need to get on the Prescribe the Y train?
Penny and James Maurer and their daughter Ava, age 12, were like a lot of today’s American families. Both Penny and James have jobs where a computer demands their attention, and they sit at their desks a lot. With their hectic lives, they often grabbed food on the go and found it difficult to find the time to exercise. Then their pediatrician recommended their family for a pilot program at the Concord Family YMCA called “Prescribe the...
Mario the Magician mesmerized the audience at the Concord library
That Mario the Magician (sometimes known by his non-magician name, Mario Marchese) puts on quite the show. And that’s a double meaning, since he both performs magic shows and makes movies. He was at the Concord Public Library last Thursday to show some kids his tricks, and he also had his documentary film, “Building Magic,” play at the SNOB Film Festival. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.
With shelters closed, coalition to end homelessness feels the pressure
When we get cold, we turn the heat on. When it’s snowing or raining outside, we snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. And when we’re hungry, we go to our refrigerator and make something to eat. But unfortunately, there are many people in and around Concord that don’t have that luxury. The issue of homelessness in the capital city is a real thing, and those involved with the Concord Coalition to End...
It’s always hard to say goodbye, but we must to Hargate Gallery
If you happen to be a fan of the Hargate Gallery at St. Paul’s School, you might want to stop in for a visit. ’Cause if you don’t get there by Saturday, then the school’s longtime home for art exhibits simply won’t be there – at least how you remember it. The final exhibit in Hargate history, appropriately named Farewell to Hargate, closes this weekend and after that there won’t be another art show on the campus for who knows how...
In case you didn’t know we’re famous, here’s proof – on Instagram
We like to think we do good enough work that we’ll get a few thank-yous now and again. Sure we get emails from time to time and hear nice things when we’re bee boppin’ around town – we’ve even gotten a couple boxes of homemade cookies. But when those niceties spill over to social media for the whole world to see (or at least a small section of it), you know you’ve arrived. To our pleasant surprise, there’s been a recent run of...
Book of the Week: ‘Reading Like a Writer’
Reading Like a Writer: A Guide For People Who Love Books And For Those Who Want To Write Them Francine Prose 2006, 273 pages Nonfiction Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose reads like an introductory college course – and it almost is, since she wrote it while teaching. It’s packed with examples and passages from classic works of literature and one mainstream bestseller. Each chapter focuses on one particular aspect of writing and...
City Briefly
Last week, City Manager Tom Aspell thought long and hard about how he’d want to make a difference this year. So Aspell did what he does best and that’s put together his weekly city memo and pass it along for everyone to read and enjoy. Watch your step Clean up after your pooch The city’s cemeteries are a beautiful place to visit and many take advantage of their safe walking paths. There has been an increased amount of people allowing...
The Bulletin Board
The bulletin board: a place for readers to post
Instagram Photo of the Week
That’s two weeks in a row now of epic sunset shots taken in Concord. What a colorful city.
This Week in Concord History
Nov. 17, 1965: Opening Day at Concord’s Everett Arena draws thousands of skaters. “They came streaming across the river bridge and down the hill from the Heights – the moppets and the middle-aged and here and there and old-timer. . . . This community, long known in sports circles as the ‘Cradle of American Hockey,’ celebrated in a mood of holiday revelry,” the Monitor reports. Nov. 17, 2001: The plan to build a senior center in...
We caught up with SNOB Film Festival co-director Derek Obrey
Derek Obrey is kind of a big deal at the Somewhat North Of Boston Film Festival, considering he has the title of co-director. So when we wanted to find out about all the festival’s little details, we asked Obrey for the scoop. So how does one get a movie into the festival? Typically most of our films are submitted through one of two film submission websites. We have been using the website “Without a Box” for the past six years, and...
Pedro Pimentel made another movie and it will be at SNOB
When Pedro Pimentel began writing the screenplay to The Priest, he pictured it taking place in Concord. So it’s only right that it was shot entirely at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate, made its world premiere at Red River Theatres and will make its film festival debut at the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival this weekend. You may remember Pimentel from his days as the president of the Concord High School Film Society or the previous...
Tim decides to celebrate Movember – by getting a sweet new ’stache
Some guys out there can just simply grow a beard. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. No matter how long I let my facial hair grow, it just doesn’t seem to fill in the spots necessary for something people would actually consider a beard, instead of someone who’s just lazy and doesn’t shave. I can pull off a goatee, but that’s about all. For a little while now, my wife has been hinting about wanting to see my clean shaven face again,...
Concord 250 unveils mosaics that honor the city’s past and present
We like to think Concord is pretty special. And there’s lots of cool stuff around the city to back up our argument. We’re not just saying that because it’s the Granite State capital’s 250th birthday this year, but it certainly has helped to solidify our point. Need more proof? Head over to the library one of these days and check out the Concord 250 mosaics. They’re the four rather big and colorful panels hanging on the walls above the...
