Bow High School to perform ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Bow High School students freshly returned from spring vacation will head off to Italy this weekend, at least in their imaginations. Students will present Romeo and Juliet on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Choral and Theatre Director Sarah Evans said the play was chosen because of the depth of the characters and that students are already familiar with this William Shakespeare play, having studied it freshman year....
Mandolin Festival to be held virtually
The 19th Annual March Mandolin Festival will be held March 27 and 28, via Zoom, and hosted by the Concord Community Music School in Concord. This year, the festival features Marla Fibish, Baron Collins-Hill, and David Surette, with special guest vocalist Susie Burke. This two-day event offers group workshops on a variety of topics, jam sessions, and a Saturday evening concert. Last March, the festival was the last live musical event...
Gibson’s Bookstore to host event with judge Charles Schudson
Gibson’s Bookstore will host the Honorable Charles Benjamin Schudson on May 8 at 6 p.m. Schudson is a Wisconsin Reserve Judge Emeritus, an adjunct/visiting professor of law, and the author of Independence Corrupted: How America’s Judges Make Their Decisions. Nominated for the 2018 National Book Award, the 2019 Chautauqua Prize, and the 2019 ABA Silver Gavel Award, this book provides a penetrating view into the minds of judges. With...
Tougias to present on memoir
Monitor staff Michael Tougias spent his childhood getting into scraps along the Connecticut River in his hometown of Longmeadow, Mass., and farther north at a vacation spot on Lake Morey in Fairlee, Vt., on the border with Orford, N.H.He shares some of those stories in his memoir, his 30th book, The Waters Between Us. He will discuss his book, those stories and growing up in the 1960s during a Walker Lecture Series event on April 7 at...
Book of the Week: ‘Meet Me at the Museum’
Meet Me at the Museum Anne Youngson 2018, 272 pages Fiction In 1964 a young girl named Tina was fascinated by the Tollund Man, a mummified body from the Iron Age found in Denmark. His body had been preserved in a bog. She and her schoolgirl friends wrote to Professor Glob about it, and he dedicated his book, The Bog People, to these young girls.Now, more than 50 years later, Tina writes to the professor again. She has always wanted to...
Bulletin Board: Virtual gatherings
Support for those impacted by drinkingAl-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help. While social distancing remains in place, New...
This Week in Concord History
April 30, 1697: In Penacook along the Merrimack River, Hannah Dustin and two other captives turn on the Indians who kidnapped them and killed Dustin’s newborn child in March. They catch all the Indians asleep, kill 10 of them and return home to Haverhill, Mass. For the 10 scalps they bring with them, they collect a bounty of 50 pounds. April 30, 1963: New Hampshire establishes the nation’s first modern state-run lottery. April 30,...
City newsletter: Be on look out for these things
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights:Fraud alertThe Concord Police would like to make the community aware of a scam that is currently taking place. Some Concord residents have been receiving phone calls from what appears to be from the Concord Police Department (225-8600)....
Food Snob: Spicy tuna roll from Splendid Sushi
Fun fact: The Food Snob loves sushi. Less-fun fact: The Food Snob is not rich. That second fact there explains why you’ve never seen a Food Snob review of sushi before. While it is an excellent, tasty, nutritious food, it tends to be on the pricier side, with some rolls ringing in at a dollar per piece or more. That adds up when you’re trying to make a whole meal out of it. But we made our way to Splendid Sushi at 26 Pleasant St. last...
Book: Finding community through cooking
Angelina’s Bachelors: A Novel, with FoodBy Brian O’Reilly(359 pages, fiction, 2011)Angelina and Frank are a young couple living in Philadelphia, surrounded by a caring Italian family, and a large network of friends. They have a terrific life together, and a loving relationship. The only thing missing is a child. Angelina has a passion for cooking, and is always happy in the kitchen. Then Frank, still a young man, dies suddenly of a...
Chef Alan Natkiel to host pop-up dinner event at Lithermans Limited
If you like barbecue food – and who doesn’t? – then you won’t want to miss out on a unique opportunity to try some high-end stuff from a place that isn’t even open yet this weekend. Alan Natkiel, a renowned chef who ran the highly successful Georgia’s Eastside BBQ in New York City for years, is opening a take-out barbecue joint at the former Korner Kupboard location at 394 N. State St. While he doesn’t expect the business to be open...
Book: A French journey
My 25 Years in Provence By Peter Mayle (208 pages, travel biography, 2018) I’m doing a little armchair traveling these days. Peter Mayle is the author of the books A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, Encore Provence and more. Twenty-five years ago Peter and his wife Jennie decided to move from England to a small village in Provence. Peter writes about all manner of things Provence: the beauty of the landscape with its...
Wrap City Sandwich Company coming to Loudon Road soon
There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat on Loudon Road over by the mall – as long as you like national chains like Applebee’s, the Ninety Nine, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Chipotle and others. There’s nothing wrong with any of those places, but you’ve tried them all before – many times, most likely. By the end of this month (with any luck), there will be a new option to choose from, and it has New Hampshire roots: Wrap City...
This week in Concord history
March 26, 2003: Roland Allen of Penacook dies at the age of 82. For more than 60 years, Allen involved himself in nearly every aspect of Penacook life. From running the Penacook Fibre Co. to founding the village community center to serving on the local school board, he seemed to have been everywhere in town at once. In his spare time, he was a prolific songwriter, an amateur inventor and (gasp!) a devoted Yankees fan. March 26,...
Tasty Brews: Henniker Brewing Co.’s Damn Sure double IPA from True Brew Barista
Ever since venturing into the world of craft beer reviews, there haven’t been many New Hampshire brews available in Concord we haven’t tried. Between Concord Craft Brewing Co. and Lithermans Limited right here in our backyard, as well as all the bars and restaurants that always have some Granite State beers on hand, we’re actually pretty spoiled.But on a trip to True Brew Barista last week, we realized there was one that we see all...
Book: Friendship brightens life
The Brilliant Life of Eudora HoneysettBy Annie Lyons(372 pages, fiction, 2020)Eudora Honeysett is an elderly woman who lives in London. She doesn’t have anything to live for. She has no friends or family, and a cat who bites her. She doesn’t want to have her last moments be in an ambulance, racing to a hospital. She wants to die on her own terms, and so she contacts a clinic in Switzerland. She wants to go there to die. The people at...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Garage maintenance schedule, leaf collection and more
Last Friday, the city’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter. There was too much to fit into this space, but you can see the full newsletter by going to concordnh.com and clicking on the Newsletter button on the home page. Parking garage work schedule With the arrival of the spring weather, the city will be moving forward with maintenance activities at the Storrs Street Parking Garage...
Discovery Center reopens with new exhibits
After being closed for renovations and updates since January, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center reopened on March 5.Attendance had been low due to the pandemic, so executive director Jeanne Gerulskis said they took the opportunity to update their exhibits and add some new things, including a majority of the exhibits from the Weather Discovery Center, which was closed last year.The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s mission...
Bulletin Board:
Ty Gagne to speak at NHTI On Feb. 15, 2015, Kate Matrosova, an avid mountaineer, set off before sunrise for a traverse of the Northern Presidential Range in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Late the following day, rescuers carried her frozen body out of the mountains amid some of the worst weather ever recorded on these deceptively rugged slopes. At 32, Matrosova was ultra-fit and healthy and had already summited much larger mountains...
An enduring melody
For the InsiderThe ship left Galway under a heavy fog. The light rain coating the already slick surface of the sailing ship destined for the port of Boston. Between the many passengers stood four young Irishmen destined for America, Martin, James, Michael and Thomas. The indentured servants were destined for the next chapter in their short and difficult lives. Their passage was paid for by an investor and all four of the young men...
Around Town: Missing kidney poster spotted in True Brew bathroom
It’s been quite a long time since we found something weird around town worth taking a picture of and running in the paper. At long last, that drought is over, courtesy of this gem here.During a stop into True Brew Barista last week, a call of nature sent us to the unisex bathroom. Upon entering, an alarming sign was posted on the wall, impossible to miss: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS KIDNEY?We’ve all seen lost dog and lost cat (and lost bonsai...
City news: Spring activities around Concord
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights:Weatherize ConcordThe City of Concord is pleased to announce the launch of Weatherize Concord, a campaign to increase participation by Concord homes and businesses in weatherization and energy efficiency programs administered by NH Saves...
Entertainment: Double doses of Morris, Franzosa at Hermanos this week
MusicTuesdayMike Morris at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m.Liz Hogg at Rattlebox Studio at 7:30 p.m.WednesdayBryan Killough at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m.Open mic at Area 23 at 7 p.m.Scott Kirby, Gary Green and Bob Doolittle at Concord City Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.ThursdayMike Morris at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m.Ryan Williamson at Cheers at 5 p.m.Hometown Eulogy at Penuche’s at 9 p.m.FridayBrick Yard Blues Band at Makris Lobster & Steak...
Book: Lesson is writing a new world
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative FictionBy Jeff VanderMeer(323 pages, nonfiction, 2013)Looking for some advanced fiction writing techniques? This book has everything from worldbuilding to properly using beats. All packaged between wonky illustrations that will make you wonder if you ended up in one of Tim Burton’s stories. Written for authors by authors with all the twisted imaginings you would expect from the...
Ahead of talent show, homeless resource center to host open house May 1
Ahead of the Oct. 5 talent show fundraiser, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness is inviting interested businesses and individuals to drop by an open house at the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness resource center, 238 N. Main St., on May 1 at 5 p.m.At the open house, guests will have the opportunity to visit the Resource Center, Emergency Winter Shelter and hear brief comments about how the coalition is working with the...
Book: Little Blue Chair is delightful
Little Blue Chair By Cary Fagan, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper (Children’s picture boOk, 2016) A child outgrows his little blue chair, so it sits in a pawn shop until it catches the eye of a woman who uses it as a plant stand—until her plant too outgrows the little chair. Free on her lawn, the chair next finds a ship captain to bring it on board…. Cyclical and sweet, this story follows a chair as it is passed...
Break out those prom dresses, moms – it’s time for the 7th annual Mom Prom
Time to dig out your old prom dresses, wedding dresses, or anything that makes you happy, ladies – all for a great cause.The 7th Annual Concord Mom Prom, which will take place Friday, May 3, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Drive, will again benefit Hearts for Kindness, a Concord organization. Tickets are $48 and available at Your Closet Resale Boutique, 7 N. Main St., or online at...
Book: Plucky ducky is shipwrecked
The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred FiddleducklingBy Timothy Basil Ering(picture book, 2017)This plucky little duckling survives a storm at sea, plucking the strings of a fiddle shipwrecked alongside him. The sound draws others toward him, rescuing all who hear in this simple story of the magic of music and the power of love. The unique storyline pairs well with the gentle, whimsical pictures, representative of the plot without...
On Display: ‘Patterns’ exhibit at League of NH Craftsmen
The League of N.H. Craftsmen headquarters on South Main Street is displaying an exhibit called “Patterns,” featuring the work of juried League members. “The League represents the highest quality craftsmanship and innovation, and this exhibition does not disappoint,” according to a press release. “Juried members have stepped up to the challenge of a specific theme and each has made it his or her own in surprising, unpredictable, and...
Some author events to join in online
Danny CaineDanny Caine will visit Gibson’s Bookstore virtually on March 23 at 7 p.m. to share the updated version of his popular pamphlet, How to Resist Amazon and Why, newly expanded from 20 pages to 128! When a company’s workers are literally dying on the job, when their business model relies on preying on local businesses and even their own vendors, when their CEO is literally the richest person in the world while their workers...
