On the Road: The ‘Insider’ takes a trip out West
After a nearly 2,000-mile road trip visiting three National Parks in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, longtime friends Margaret Harlan and Liz Dane rode up to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wy. They had to leave their “horses” outside but were able to hop on their saddles at the bar. Yes, all the bar seats are real horse saddles, Dane said.Thanks for bringing us along, ladies!If you’re going somewhere cool, bring your...
Book of the Week: ‘The Toymakers’
The ToymakersRobert Dinsdale2018, 468 pagesAdult fantasy fiction Papa Jack’s Emporium is the magical toy store of everyone’s dreams. It opens each year on the day of the first frost in London, and closes when the first snowdrop blossoms. The Emporium is also a family: Papa Jack and his sons, Kaspar and Emil, who are close in age and intensely competitive in their toy-making. When a runaway girl, Cathy, applies for work on Opening Day...
This Week in Concord history
Nov. 27, 1817: Between 20 and 30 pet dogs throughout Concord are bitten by a dog with rabies. The rabid dog will be killed the next day. Nov. 27, 1884: It is Thanksgiving, but the trains are running in Concord and the mail will be delivered as usual, at 7 and 11 a.m. But in general, “the streets wore a Sunday-like still,” the Evening Monitor reports. Nov. 27, 1999: In a game of word association, voters interviewed around Concord...
The 2018 Insider’s Guide to Gifts and Giving
Welcome to the Insider’s 2018 Guide to Gifts and Giving, a collaboration between Granite United Way and the Insider. There are many service organizations in our general area, and they’re always looking for help. That need intensifies as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach, but the need is always there. The United Way put out a call to as many organizations as they could reach, asking them to share what some of their needs...
The Windmill Restaurant to continue tradition of serving free Thanksgiving meal
Thanksgiving. When you hear it, you probably immediately think of all kinds of things – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, family, old friends, wine, pie, football, naps. It’s one of those holidays where it’s perfectly acceptable to just sit around the house all day eating, drinking and dozing off.But for so many people, the holiday isn’t so rosy. For those who don’t have anywhere to go, or anything to eat, it’s just another cold...
Christmas tree lighting ceremony to kick off holiday season in Concord
For the InsiderThe 32nd Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday is shaping up to be a great afternoon and evening downtown to officially kick off the festive holiday season in the capital city. How many people who have lived in Concord all their lives remember it was tradition to light the Christmas tree lights and the Nativity Scene located on the State House Plaza? The Capitol Shopping Center would have a large...
Get fit – in a sustainable and responsible manner – at 43 Degrees North
If you’re at all familiar with the Insider, you probably know that hitting the gym hasn’t always been a priority for our staffers over the years (with the exception of Keith Testa – that guy is ripped). That’s why we were a tad late in getting around to checking out 43 Degrees North Athletic Club off Hall Street.It isn’t exactly brand-spankin’ new anymore – it opened last January – but 43 Degrees North is definitely a place that...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Bagged leaf collection begins, road work continues and more
The city of Concord’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The newsletter contained too much information for us to fit into this spot, so we’re just printing some highlights here. For the full newsletter, go to concordnh.gov and click the “Newsletter” button on the home page.Thanksgiving remindersCity offices will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving....
Entertainment: Just because it’s Thanksgiving week doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and although the holiday itself is a sleepy one on the entertainment front, the rest of the week is packed. Have a look, and enjoy that turkey! Music Tuesday Paul Hubert at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Dark Star Orchestra at the Capitol Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $38 plus fees at ccanh.com. Wednesday Mike Morris at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Open mic with Gardner Berry at Area 23 at 7...
Special events, new beers on tap at Lithermans Limited
If there’s one thing better than Thanksgiving, it’s beer. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. However, you don’t have to choose – Thanksgiving and beer go together like, well, turkey and gravy, and Lithermans Limited has caught on to that. The Hall Street brewery is always busy, and the days leading up to and following Thanksgiving are no different. There are a couple special events on the horizon, as well...
Get your passes for New England Aquarium and other cool places at Concord Public Library
Concord Public Library once again has discount passes to the Museum of Fine Arts and New England Aquarium in Boston. Visit the library’s museum passes web page (accessible through concordpubliclibrary.net) to browse all 15 discount passes to area attractions. There is also a new online reservation service to check availability. Passes and coupons can be reserved up to 30 days in advance. While Concord Public Library provides the...
Bulletin Board: A pair of Chamber events, plus lots of skating
Merrimack County Stamp Collectors to meet Tuesday The Merrimack County Stamp Collectors will hold its monthly meeting at the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, on Tuesday (Nov. 20) beginning at 1 p.m. We invite all who are interested in stamp collecting to attend, share their interest, buy, sell and trade. Meet other collectors and learn more about their hobby and enjoy the fellowship of others with varied...
Instagram: A photo depicting the changing of seasons in Concord
If you haven’t noticed yet, it’s been getting pretty chilly out there lately. It feels like we had about three weeks of legitimate fall and now the bite of winter has already set in. This shot here, taken on Rundlett Street by Instagram user @elodierosereed – a former Monitor staffer and one-time Insider contributor – perfectly encapsulates the harsh transition from “cozy fall weather” to “oh my God, it’s freezing.” Is there any image...
Book of the Week: ‘Beyond the Bright Sea’
Beyond the Bright Sea Lauren Wolk 2017, 283 pages Children’s fiction (over 10 years old) Crow is a 12-year-old girl who lives on a speck of land off Cuttyhunk Island, between Buzzard’s Bay and Vineyard Sound, Mass. How she got there is a familiar story to her: she was washed up by the ocean in an otherwise empty skiff and taken in by Osh, an artist who lived alone on that tiny islet. Osh kept her and raised her, with the help of their...
This Week in Concord History
Nov. 20, 1884: The Evening Monitor’s City Notes column reports: “One week from today is Thanksgiving. Let the turkeys paste that in their hats.” Nov. 21, 1987: On a gusty day during which the temperature never hits 20 degrees, Concord High School defeats Salem 14-7 to win its first state football championship since 1974. Nov. 21, 2000: Frank Monahan, a basketball coach revered locally and well-known nationally, dies of a heart attack...
Join Gibson’s Bookstore for its 120th birthday celebration
First opening its doors in 1898, Gibson’s Bookstore has served Concord and its greater area for 120 years now, and we feel that we’re long overdue for a party! Come down and a share a slice of cake with us, and partake in some of our raffles as we celebrate on Small Business Saturday. Take a “shelfie” in the store to celebrate! Spend $100 and enter to win a signed copy of some of our books! We’ve got signed titles by Bobby Orr, Bob...
The wildly popular Feztival of the Trees set to return for an 18th year
A function hall packed to the gills with plastic Christmas trees, hundreds of dollars of merchandise hanging from the limbs. Wooden doors standing on their own in the middle of a room, ornate wreaths positioned perfectly in the center. Santa Claus sitting in the corner, keeping a close eye on every boy and girl who comes through. It can only be one thing – the Feztival of Trees at the Bektash Shrine Center. Yes, the annual Christmas...
67th annual Christmas parade to roll through Concord on Saturday
It may not even be Thanksgiving yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start getting festive and diving head-first right into Christmas season.The season unofficially gets underway on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the 67th annual Concord Christmas Parade, and there will be a few major changes involving the parade route this year. The parade formation will be at the Community Bridges parking lot on Canterbury Road at the...
Community Players to perform classic ‘Annie’ at Concord City Auditorium
Monitor staff When the Community Players of Concord last put on a production of Annie in 1983, Sarah Silverman was one of two children to fill the role of Annie.Since playing the lead role during the Players’ 56th season, Silverman has gone on to make quite a name for herself in Hollywood circles. Fast forward 35 years, and the Players will once again take the stage this weekend, to open their 91st season, for three shows of Annie at...
N.H. Master Chorale to present ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ across the state, including Concord
The New Hampshire Master Chorale, a professional-level chamber chorus, this month offers northern New England audiences three opportunities to hear the much-acclaimed new oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard. The concerts will be performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Portsmouth, Concord and Plymouth, respectively.The concert-length work, by the American composer Craig Hella Johnson, tells the story of the brutal 1998 murder of a...
Entertainment: John Prine tribute at NEC Concord a musical highlight
It’s another busy week on the entertainment front around here, especially on the music side. NEC Concord is hosting a John Prine tribute night, Dark Star Orchestra comes to the Cap Center and the Community Players of Concord perform Annie at the Audi. Have a look: Music Tuesday Mike Loughlin at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Dave Gerard at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Gerry Beaudoin at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Felix...
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce celebrates Citizen of the Year, kicks off centennial
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce kicked off its centennial anniversary year at the 99th Annual Meeting & Citizen of the Year Award event presented by Merrimack County Savings Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.The Chamber also honored a special member of the community, three local businesses and showcased a new brand to 300 citizens, nonprofit, municipal and business leaders from the...
Bulletin Board: Vietnam program, mystery dinner and more
Vietnam War program at library New Hampshire Humanities Presenter Aaron Blais will be at Concord Public Library on Wednesday for the program “The Vietnam War: Defining America’s Past and Present – Video and Discussion.” Blais will use scenes from Ken Burns’s newest documentary, The Vietnam War, to lead a conversation about how the war has affected (and still affects) community members and the nation as a whole. This program is open to...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Downtown recycling changes, I-93 expansion hearing and more
The city of Concord’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The newsletter contained too much information for us to fit into this spot, so we’re just printing some highlights here. For the full newsletter, go to concordnh.gov and click the “Newsletter” button on the home page. Recycling bin changes downtown In an effort to reduce recycling contamination and illegal dumping,...
On Display: Watercolor paintings by Judy King at NHTI
The art gallery inside the library at NHTI is currently exhibiting watercolor paintings by Judy King, a recently retired NHTI math professor. The collection features about three dozen original works by King, and many of the paintings depict places King has traveled to. The exhibit will be on display through the end of November.
On the Road: The ‘Insider’ goes to a garden in Eden
We brought the Insider to Eden! Well, not “THE Garden of,” but a nice little garden just the same! This was taken just outside the Eden Historical Museum, which tells the history of the area from prehistoric times to the consolidation of the towns of Leaksville, Spray and Draper in 1967 to form the city of Eden, N.C., where we were visiting friends before Memorial Day.Stephanie Parkinson
CYPN: Julianne Rosset is the Young Professional of the Month
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network introduces you to our “Young Professional of the Month,” Julianne Rosset. Each month the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better.How old are you? 30.Where do you live? Concord.Where do you currently work? I work for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a fish and...
Book of the Week: ‘Severance’
Severance Ling Ma 2018, 304 pages Adult fiction Severance, the debut novel of Chinese-born American Ling Ma, is hard to classify. Its premise is pretty straightforward. Shen Fever rapidly takes over the world, turning almost everyone in its path into what can best be described as a zombie. The infected mindlessly participate in the same action over and over again until death takes them. Millennial workaholic Candace Chen seems to...
This Week in Concord History
Nov. 13, 2001: Concord City Manager Duncan Ballantyne outlines two options for dealing with the Sears Block project, the city’s biggest and most important project in limbo. The city can meet with Hodges Development Corp. or they can proceed with demolition. Nov. 14, 1861: A fire at Main and School streets, the fourth major fire of the year in downtown Concord, destroys a harness factory, a shoe store, the gas-light company offices and...
Get your popcorn ready for the 2018 SNOB Film Festival
It’s that time of year again. Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is still on the horizon, and there’s one thing everybody likes to do around now – watch movies. That’s why it’s the perfect time for the 2018 SNOB Film Festival, back for a 17th year and loaded with high-quality movies and associated events.This year’s festival will take place Nov. 8 through 11, and all films, as usual, will be screened at Red River Theatres....
