We found some pretty wild Christmas light displays around Concord
There’s still no snow on the ground around here, but that hasn’t stopped many of you from getting into the holiday spirit. Admittedly, we don’t have a real scientific way to gauge the level of holiday spirit in the community, but looking for light and decoration displays is one indicator that’s usually pretty reliable. Given the amount of time, energy and, in many cases, money that goes into some of these displays, we have a hard time...
Need a Yankee swap gift for your next party?
One of the best parts of a holiday get-together, whether it be with family and friends or with the crew from work, is the Yankee swap. It’s all about the element of surprise, because you get to bring something unique that will appeal to the entire group, but you don’t want to bring the gift that someone gets “stuck with.” And we know you don’t have a ton of free time, so we meandered around Main Street to see what we could find for...
Tips for an inexpensive holiday decoration
For the InsiderIt’s time to decorate the exterior of your home for the holidays and we all know that it can get a bit expensive when you want to put decorative greenery on your doors, lamp posts, etc. Why not make your own swags for instance? Evergreens, whether pine, spruce or fir have symbolized Christmas throughout history. Typically we associate Christmas greens as the Christmas tree itself proudly decorated and displayed inside...
Get in the giving spirit
We’re probably a lot alike in the fact that we can’t wait for Christmas morning to come.There’s nothing quite like walking up to the ol’ tree all sleepy-eyed and seeing a pile of presents all neatly wrapped, waiting to be torn open.But unfortunately, there are many out there not as fortunate to have more than a single present to open. Some families don’t have the ability to buy anything to go under the tree.It’s sad, but there’s a way...
Video: St. Paul’s ballet to perform ‘Nutcracker Act II’
Well before Zoë Dienes decided to attend St. Paul’s School, she would go each December with her family to the free performance of The Nutcracker Act II and watch the dancers glide across the stage. “I would dream I was up there,” Dienes said. But she no longer has to fantasize about being in the school’s ballet company – she’s already living that dream. And now Dienes, a Concord native, is the one who could be an inspiration to young...
We found some tasty holiday sweets around Concord
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – that time when bakeries and other eateries start rolling out the Christmas cupcakes, cookies, pastries, danishes and anything else that’s sweet and can somehow be vaguely associated with the biggest holiday of the year. In one of the tougher assignments anyone has ever taken on, we went out last week to see who had what in terms of the holiday sweets, and how they tasted.Our first stop was...
Check out these handy Christmas craft ideas at Art Plus
Now that it’s officially December, there’s only one thing on everybody’s mind: Christmas, and more importantly, Christmas shopping.Whether you’re a kid who’s working on perfecting your list or a parent who’s trying to check off every last item, these next few weeks are sure to be a mad scramble for the majority of the public.But it doesn’t have to be that way.It’s an old (and somewhat cheesy) saying, but the best gifts are often the...
Take an easy hike on the West End Farm Trail
As the days get a little shorter and the temperature continues to drop, odds are you’re spending less and less time outside. But it doesn’t have to be that way.And the Concord Trails Committee is doing its part to keep you active – and outdoors.The group’s monthly hikes series continues with an excursion on the West End Farm Trail on Saturday and whoever wants to join is invited.Rob Knight will lead the hike on what is billed as “an...
Tim sure is looking like a brand new man
Over my four years at the Insider, you may have noticed there’s been little change to the way my hair looks. Outside of letting it grow long and shaggy for a few months and then getting it chopped into what equates to an adult-inspired bowl cut, there’s never been a lot to it. I’ve pretty much had the same thing for all of my adult life – and a good chunk of my teenage years, except for that long-haired grunge phase I went through my...
Bulletin Board
Double feature with film society The NHTI Film Society will host a canoeing and kayaking double feature on Friday, Paddle for the North (Not Rated, 2015, 53 mins.) and – back by popular demand – Kayaking the Aleutians (Not Rated, 2017, 70 mins.). The screening will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sweeney Auditorium. Admission is by donation ($5 suggested); free with an NHTI student ID. For more information, contact Steve Ambra at 271-6484...
Poster contest winner earns pizza for class
Local third graders celebrated America Recycles Day, held on Nov. 15, by participating in a recycling poster contest hosted by Concord General Services. Concord General Services manages trash and recycling services for the community and has successfully reduced trash tonnage by 40 percent in Concord since the introduction of Pay-As- You-Throw trash bags in 2009.Unit-based pricing methods, such as pay-as- you-throw, have proved to...
Live music, theater and movie listings for Concord
As it is officially the month of Christmas now, the entertainment calendar is jam-packed with shows that fit that bill. Between holiday concerts and plays, it looks to be a very festive week ahead in Concord. Most music shows are free, but check with the venue before heading out to see whether there will be a cover charge. Music Thursday -Granite State Revival will be joined by Walker Smith at Penuche’s at 8:30 p.m. for a...
N.H. nature photographs at Forest Society
During his adventures in the forests of New Hampshire, photographer Ken MacGray has been drawn to the sights and sounds of water. So much so, MacGray has an entire exhibit dedicated to its natural beauty at the Forest Society that you can see through the end of the month.
The new McGowan Fine Art is worth a visit
Well, it finally happened: McGowan Fine Art is officially moved into its new 2 Phenix Ave. location and open for business.After announcing its closing this summer and subsequent move, the gallery will live on. And following a few difficult days of moving artwork, cabinets, furniture and all those triangle frame samples – while taking the time to set it all up – McGowan unveiled its new spot to the public the day after Thanksgiving....
Concord is home to great exhibition spaces
Concord is home to lots of great locations to see some incredible art. So that means at any given time, there will be a wide range of work on display all over the city. It’s hard keeping track of all the shows, hours you can view them and how long they’ll be around. So we’ve compiled this trusty list for you, so you can concentrate on checking out the art. McGowan Closer: Gary Haven Smith and Bert Yarborough Through Dec. 22 Hours:...
Missed Connections: Look who’s trying to find love on Craigslist
We took to Craigslist last week to see who had been posting on the Missed Connections pages in our neck of the woods during the month of November. And we found a ton of great entries to share. If you happened to make a connection from one of these missed connections – or any for that fact – we definitely want to know about it. Email us at news@theconcordinsider.com with all the juicy details. hurt my neck you were lookin so...
Book of the Week: ‘Turtles All the Way Down’
Turtles All the Way Down John Green 2017, 286 pages Young AdultIn this novel, the main character, Aza, struggles to handle her obsessive compulsive disorder while leading a somewhat normal life. Juggling life, school and friends as a teenager is never easy, especially when it feels like a never-ending spiral, which in Aza’s head it is. However, a twist gets thrown her way when a local billionaire goes missing once the police come...
This Week in Concord History
Dec. 5, 1908: Fire Chief William Green sets out for the movies at Phenix Hall, but even though the same show played at the nearby Opera House for more than a year, the Phenix is filled. There are plans to convert yet another building in the Durgin block into a theater. “Verily, the people are moving picture mad,” Mayor Charles Corning writes in his diary. Dec. 5, 1963: Under a new state law, all drivers over age 75 must be...
