Black Ice Pond Hockey, WinterFest to take over capital city this weekend
It’s definitely starting to get colder out there now, but the scene in the capital city will be red hot this weekend as three big-time events combine for one gigantic winter celebration. Back for a ninth year is the ever-popular 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship, which takes place on the frozen pond at White Park. This tournament attracts hundreds of players from all over the country, and it’s become a big weekend for family fun...
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce invites public to trip to Spain in March
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce invites members, their family and friends, and interested community members to join them on a nine-day journey through Spain’s Costa del Sol departing March 19. One of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, Costa del Sol stretches along 90 miles of the Malaga province. Visitors come for the striking landscapes, coastal sites, charming hinterland villages, rich cultural heritage, local food...
Despite some big-name gallery closures, art scene alive and well in Concord
In late July, McGowan Fine Art closed for good. The art gallery had been in business since 1980, and even a move to a less-expensive space couldn’t save the business.Then, in late December, Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden owner Pam Tarbell announced that she would be closing her gallery by the end of the month after a 22-year run. She’ll open back up in the spring as PR Tarbell Fine Art and Art Consulting, but the gallery...
Making Good Health Simple: Life hacks for sneaking in some exercise every day
“I’m too tired.” “I don’t have time.” “I don’t know what to do.” Just a few of the most common excuses I hear from clients as to why they simply cannot exercise. I get it – life happens. Even with our best intentions the day slips by, and before you know it, it’s time for bed. We fill our days with work, taxiing kids, chores, errands, family obligations and unfortunately self-care is the first thing people remove from the list....
Entertainment: Lots of comedy and drama on Concord’s stages this week
It’s a very busy week on the entertainment front in Concord, marked by two comedy shows, a Harry Potter spoof and a Ukranian national ballet troupe making its first-ever visit to the United States, among other fun stuff. Here’s what we found: Music Tuesday Kid Pinky at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Jazz student recital at Concord Community Music School at 7 p.m. Wednesday Tim Wildman at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Odd...
City Manager’s Newsletter: City Council meeting highlights, winter operations 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. Come out to the parking forum Come meet with the city’s Parking Committee to discuss final draft...
UNH Law to screen ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ lead discussion on civics
On Sunday, the New Hampshire Institute for Civics Education will screen To Kill a Mockingbird as part of a multiyear statewide program designed to foster conversations with the public on law, justice, and civics.The screening will take place from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of New Hampshire School of Law’s Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership, and Public Service in Concord. There will be a break midway through...
Instagram: A breathtaking, kind of spooky shot of Turkey Pond
Instagram user @sheldonmckinley_ has done it again. His photos have appeared in these pages a few times already, but we couldn’t resist running this photo of the partially frozen Turkey Pond reflecting some beautiful colors off the sky. The user, Sheldon McKinley, commented that the water sort of looks like outer space, which it does. Another fine shot from @sheldonmckinley_. Have you taken a cool photo somewhere around Concord? If...
Bulletin Board: Two chances to sing, family fun, health groups
Open Sing at Concord Chorale Singers are invited to the Concord Chorale Open Sing on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. Meet the director and membership, preview the spring concert repertoire, and then schedule an audition. Rehearsal space is in the Concord High School band room, 170 Warren St. Enter through the Fruit Street side door near the corner of Pleasant Street, across from the gas station. More information is available at...
Downtown: What’s up with all the banks on Main Street?
It seems to be a common sight in downtown: a store or a food spot goes away and is later replaced by a banking institution. Take the former site of the Crazy Goat, bought by Bangor Savings Bank in August. While conceptual plans leave room for some sort of restaurant, the split-level building’s facade will be dominated by a banking sign. Then there was the Pompanoosuc Mills furniture store at 11 N. Main Street. They moved down the...
Blast From the Past: Reflecting on the dedication of the Franklin Pierce statue
I captured the simple beauty of our 14th president standing in front of our golden New Hampshire State House dome on a recent cold January morning.With the only sound the falling sleet early this morning on a deserted Main Street, I reflected back to the dedication of this statue on Nov. 25, 1914.Franklin Pierce died on Oct. 8, 1869, in a rented home on South Main Street. During his last hours and near death, he asked his Irish...
Gibson’s Bookstore to welcome historian Jack Noon with ‘The Tornado of 1821’
Historian Jack Noon will visit Gibson’s Bookstore on Thursday to talk about his book, The Tornado of 1821, describing an extremely violent weather anomaly which hit New Hampshire towns from the Connecticut River to the Merrimack through Croydon, Sunapee, Lake Sunapee, New London, Sutton, Warner and Webster in a single hour.In New Hampshire late on a Sunday afternoon in September 1821, a tornado blasted its way from the Connecticut...
Doris Ballard expands her cultural vision of Concord
Monitor staff Doris Ballard still sees her hometown as a city with potential.Already a major force in three local venues – television, business and, most recently, comedy – the 71-year-old Concord resident is the backbone behind a multifaceted show that’s scheduled to run the second Thursday of each month at Tandy’s Pub.Its premiere, on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, will include more than Ballard’s usual lineup of amateur and professional...
Book of the Week: ‘Murder at the Brightwell’
Murder at the Brightwell Ashley Weaver 2014, 325 pages Fiction/mystery This traditional mystery starts in Kent, England, in 1932. Amory Ames is fed up with her playboy husband, Milo, who keeps going off to Europe to gamble, leaving her at home. After five years of marriage, she sees him so little, she wonders if they should even stay together. Her ex-fiancé, Gil Trent, asks her a favor. Gil’s sister Emmeline is engaged to another...
This Week in Concord History
Jan. 22, 1811: A cow belonging to Abner Farnum Jr. of Concord gives birth to a two-headed calf. Jan. 22, 1942: The Monitor reports that rather than wait for the draft, 32 men have enlisted at the Concord recruiting office for the duration of the war. Eleven are from Concord. Most have signed up for the air corps and been sent to Missouri to train. Jan. 22, 2001: The Concord School Board names Chris Rath the superintendent of the...
