Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun
These days, going outside isn’t exactly at the top of the list of things we want to do. But we’re not bears so we can’t just hibernate all winter – or can we? Unfortunately, no, so instead of just sitting around watching TV and waiting for the temperatures to rise, we decided to see what Concord had to offer in the area of indoor fun. Just because leaving the house requires a jacket, scarf, winter hat and gloves, doesn’t mean you...
If sports is your thing, we’ve got you covered
As you know, we get to try some pretty cool stuff with this job. And as past our prime, wannabe professional athletes, taking part in any athletic endeavor takes us back to the glory days when we thought competing at the highest level was a real possibility – even though looking back, we all know it was never really in the cards. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun, which is pretty much what being an Insider is all about. So over...
If entertainment is what you’re looking for . . .
Concord is kind of a hot spot for entertainment, whether it be live or on the big screen. With a plethora of great spots to catch a play, a film or comedy show, there’s always something going on to get you through the cold days and nights of winter. So if you’re looking for something to do, check out one of these establishments – odds are you’ll find something that catches your eye. The Audi The Concord City Auditorium, more...
Here’s some cool stuff for the whole family
If you’re like us, you probably spend most of your day trying to entertain and appease your kid(s). Those little ones, God love them, just have more energy than seems humanly possible, and they tend to like to let that energy out. But, you may also be like us in that we don’t really have a ton of space at home (or patience) for them to let it all out in a safe, nondestructive manner. That’s where these places come in. Concord has all...
Stay warm, dry and cozy while rocking out
If there’s one thing Concord has plenty of, it’s places to listen to some live music. Whether you’re looking for a big-time, national act or the next big thing on the acoustic scene, you’re bound to find something you like right here in the capital city. Since it’s winter and this is the Indoor Fun Issue, we decided to pull together a list of some of the best places to go for live music in Concord. Although you have to step outside...
Educational stuff sure can be for fun, too
While some may say that learning isn’t fun, we tend to disagree with the premise.We sure had a lot of fun in college, although most of that was outside of the classroom, and it’s not like we went all that often anyway (just kidding, stay in school kids).And when it comes to fun around here, there’s plenty that falls into the educational realm. Don’t believe us? Keep reading.Discovery Center When you walk into the Discovery Center, it...
Go Try It: Play a board game or two at True Brew Barista
It’s 20 degrees on a dreary Saturday afternoon. No bands are playing, you don’t like any of the movies that are out and you’re not in the mood to go sit at a bar.What do you do?Call up a friend and head over to True Brew Barista and play some games, of course.The Bicentennial Square coffee joint is home to all kinds of classic and modern board and card games that everybody knows and loves. Plus, you can get coffee, tea, sandwiches and...
This is the Rhythm of the Night – preview story
It’s the beginning of a new year, which can only mean one thing: It’s time for Rhythm of the Night at the Concord City Auditorium.Rhythm of the Night is a big showcase of local dance companies that has served as the traditional kick-off event for the new year’s schedule at the Audi since 1992.This Saturday – the 26th for Rhythm of the Night – will feature 172 dancers and nine companies, so there will be plenty of kicking, tapping,...
Suspend your disbelief at Discovering Magic
“Mind-numbing.” “Jaw-dropping.” “Eye-opening.” All of these terms are used in the official promotional material for Andrew Pinard’s Discovering Magic show, which occurs monthly at Hatbox Theatre. It might sound like a bunch of hyperbole, but after going to the show last week, I think the description actually undersells what Pinard does in that little theater.Pinard, who owns Hatbox, has been working his magic for years, and the...
McGowan Fine Art is hosting Art & Bloom
Are you sick of putting on layers upon layers of clothing before leaving the house? Have you been daydreaming about an exotic vacation to escape winter? Is looking at brown snow on a daily basis getting you down? Well, while we can’t make spring come any sooner (sorry), there is something coming up that will help brighten your day – and it’s Art & Bloom.The annual collaboration between the Concord Garden Club and McGowan Fine Art,...
Shakespeare reading at library on Monday
Want to brush up on your Shakespeare? Please join The Stratford Club members as we begin reading Coriolanus on Monday. We will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Shakespeare Room, located on the second floor of the Concord Public Library. Reading of this play will continue Jan. 30, Feb. 13 and 27, and March 13. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will then be read at biweekly meetings beginning March 22 and ending May 8. For more...
Bonner says goodbye in the coolest way ever
In case you missed it, Concord native and NBA player Matt Bonner decided to call it a career after 12 years in the pros that included two championships and one tour of Concord with the Larry O’Brien trophy that the Insider just so happened to tag along for. And Bonner, who is also quite famous for his blog, The Sandwich Hunter: The Quest for the Hoagie Grail, decided to announce his retirement in the coolest way possible – with a 2...
Go learn about river bugs
Bug Nights are back.Since 1995, volunteers including anglers, students, teachers, paddlers and many others interested in the health of the Upper Merrimack River and general river ecology began learning about these fascinating creatures and what they tell us about river conditions.Your work as a citizen scientist helps determine the health of the Upper Merrimack watershed. Training is free, fun and a great way to spend quality time...
Granite State of Mind to shift to another key
NEC Concord has quickly established itself as a legit music venue in the heart of downtown, and it’s looking to build on that in 2017.As part of the Listening Room Series, Granite State of Mind is back for another year starting Saturday, and there will be a different feel to it this year.Last year, the first year of the live, in-person iteration of the show (which also exists on WNHN radio), was all about getting to learn about the...
Check out the high-flying Harlem Wizards
Do you like high-flying dunks, trick passes and feeling like you’re part of the action when you attend a basketball game? Well, the Harlem Wizards are coming to town and you can expect all of that – and then some – when they take over the Bishop Brady gymnasium Jan. 25.The event is a fundraiser for Jeremy Woodward, who will run for Tedy’s Team for a third straight year in April’s Boston Marathon. Tedy’s Team was started by former New...
Got an old bicycle? Donate it to this project
You’ve been meaning to fix that old bike in the shed, but let’s face it, two years have passed and you haven’t even moved it more than a couple feet, let alone to the repair shop.At this point, we both know the days of that bike hitting the open road are long gone, so it’s really become more of a nuisance than anything because it just takes up valuable space. But you don’t want to just throw it away – both for cost and sentimental...
Angie Lane is one of Red River’s biggest fans
There’s a new person in charge of Red River Theatres these days.But don’t worry, it’s a familiar face to those who have been frequenting the local independent movie theater over the years.Earlier this month, Angie Lane took over as the new executive director of Red River, returning to the downtown cinema after a year and a half away.If you don’t remember, Lane was the events and marketing manager for a little more than three years...
Celebrate the best that was in N.H. theater
We understand it’s next to impossible to see every theater production in the state. You’d likely need to have a lot of free time and a teleporter for that, which if we’re not mistaken doesn’t actually exist.But here’s the next best thing: The annual N.H. Theatre Awards. That’s right, the best productions, performances and behind-the-scenes folks will be celebrated under one roof this Saturday at the Capitol Center for the Arts,...
Birds and Bean Coffeehouse presents Peggo and Paul Hodes with Kent Allyn
Birds and Beans Coffeehouse presents Peggo & Paul Hodes with Kent Allyn, performing “Love Songs and Other Trivia” on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Audubon’s McLane Center. Peggo Hodes is a classically trained vocalist who teaches voice and conducts the women’s choral group Songweavers at the Concord Community Music School. Former New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes plays guitar and joins his wife on vocals. The talented...
Bulletin Board
Poetry, music event at Gibson’s Join Gibson’s Bookstore on Saturday at 2 p.m. as Rev Mary Francis Drake presents an afternoon of poetry and faith as she shares This Much I Know is True: Gleanings from the Path of Love, accompanied by her sister, singer/songwriter, Audrey Drake. This Much I Know is True: Gleanings from the Path of Love is a compilation of poetry and essays on spiritual topics that culminate three decades of spiritual...
Book of the Week: ‘The Girl From Venice’
The Girl from VeniceMartin Cruz Smith2016, 308 pagesFiction It is 1945, and Cenzo is fishing in the waters off Venice when he comes across the body of a young girl in the sea. He can’t just leave her there. He takes her aboard, and covers her body up under a tarp. Then a gunboat of German soldiers stops him. They are looking for prisoners who have escaped from an institution on a nearby island. But when the boat is searched, the girl...
This Week in Concord History
Jan. 17, 1942: Concord’s zoning board unanimously approves the Brezner Tannery’s takeover of an abandoned mill in Penacook. The tannery will open later in the year, creating 200 jobs. Jan. 17, 1948: Concord’s new mayor, Charles McKee, says he’s not giving up on plans for a new man-made lake on the Turkey River, despite voter opposition. “As I understand it, there was a lake there once, but someone pulled out the...
