Millions of Lights 2023 — The Hippo — 11/30/23

Holiday on Stage p. 14

Comedian Drew Dunn p. 32

local news, food, arts and entertainment

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Nov 30 - dec 6, 2023

Millions of

Where to find holiday displays big and small

INSIDE: Holiday market with a german flair

Holly Jolly

MIDNIGHT MERRIMENT FUN!

Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2023 vol 23 no 48

Free Screenings: 8 & 10PM Limited Seating D E C. No Ticket Necessary!

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News and culture weekly serving Metro southern New Hampshire Published every Thursday (1st copy free; 2nd $1).

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Editorial

Saturday,

Executive Editor Amy Diaz, adiaz@hippopress.com Editorial Design Jennifer Gingras hippolayout@gmail.com

December 9th 9am-3pm

Copy Editor Lisa Parsons, lparsons@hippopress.com Staff Writers Angie Sykeny asykeny@hippopress.com Mya Blanchard mblanchard@hippopress.com

ALSO SHOWING THIS WEEKEND:

Contributors Michelle Belliveau, John Fladd, Jennifer Graham, Henry Homeyer, Chelsea Kearin, Dave Long, Eric W. Saeger, Meghan Siegler, Dan Szczesny, Michael Witthaus

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 2

thebohemian603.com 50 S. Willow St. Unit 9, Manchester, NH Tanger Outlets in Tilton, NH

Jeff Rapsis, Ext. 123 jrapsis@hippopress.com Production Jennifer Gingras, Brooke Fraser Circulation Manager Doug Ladd, Ext. 135 dladd@hippopress.com Advertising Manager Charlene Nichols, Ext. 126 cnichols@hippopress.com Account Executives Alyse Savage, 603-493-2026 asavage@hippopress.com Roxanne Macaig, Ext. 127 rmacaig@hippopress.com Tammie Boucher, support staff, Ext. 150 To place an ad call 625-1855, Ext. 126 For Classifieds dial Ext. 150 or e-mail classifieds@hippopress.com Unsolicited submissions will not be returned or acknowledged and will be destroyed.

Opinions expressed by columnists do not represent the views of the Hippo or its advertisers.

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Arts & Crafts

Listings Arts listings: arts@hippopress.com Inside/Outside listings: listings@hippopress.com Food & Drink listings: food@hippopress.com Music listings: music@hippopress.com

on the cover 10 In this week’s cover story we look at lights — no, not directly into the lights but at the big light displays that are brightening up this holiday season, from the professionally designed attractions to homeowners’ pride and joy. Above: The Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (courtesy photo). On the cover: The Proposal Ball at the LaBelle Lights. (Photo by Mya Blanchard.)

Also on the cover Mya Blanchard looks at the European Christmas market-inspired Amherst German Christmas Market (page 24). Mya also checks out the comedy The Thanksgiving Play (page 14). Michael Witthaus talks to comedian Drew Dunn, who plays his hometown stage — the Nashua Center for the Arts.

Inside this week

NEWS & NoteS 4 news in brief 6 Sports 7 this week 8 Quality of Life Index the Arts 14 The THanksgiving Play 15 arts roundup Inside/Outside 18 Car Talk Automotive advice.

19 Treasure Hunt There’s gold in your attic.

20 Kiddie Pool Family fun events this weekend.

Careers 22 on the job What it’s like to be a...

Food 24 Weekly Specials The Amherst German Christmas Market; In the Kitchen; Weekly Dish; Drinks with John Fladd.

Pop Culture 28 Reviews CDs, books and more. Amy Diaz takes the kids to WIsh and Trolls Band Together.

NITE 32 Bands, clubs, nightlife Nite Roundup, concert & comedy listings and more.

34 Music this Week Live music at your favorite bars and restaurants.

37 Comedy this Week Where to find laughs 38 Concerts Big ticket shows.

38 Trivia Nights Find some friendly competition.

Odds & Ends 39 Jonesin’ Crossword 39 ken ken, word roundup 40 Rock N’ Roll Crossword 40 sudoku 41 Signs of Life 41 7 little words 42 News of the Weird

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NEWS & NOTES School funds The Manchester School District has been awarded a new GEAR UP grant totaling $4.8 million, to be distributed over seven years.

According to a press release, this grant from the U.S. Department of Education will support college and career readiness programs, with an emphasis on serving students from middle school through high school graduation. The funding enables the hiring of full-time staff for programming, training and professional development.

The GEAR UP NH project, managed by Campus Compact for NH, focuses on early academic readiness, career exploration, dual enrollment and postsecondary persistence. Interventions include academic tutoring, out-of-school activities, college visits, financial literacy workshops and more, aiming to close the state’s equity gaps and aid students in realizing their aspirations. The district will have access to the funds starting January 2024.

School contracts In other Manchester school news, the Manchester Board of School Committee recently endorsed tentative contract agreements with five unions representing a broad array of District employees, including educators, principals, support staff and administration. According to a press release, the next step for these agreements is obtaining approval from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Negotiations, which started in the fall, are part of the District’s strategy to bolster recruitment and retention as

current contracts are due to expire

by June 30, 2024. The agreements will proceed to the aldermen for a vote scheduled for Dec. 5, following approval by union members and the School Committee.

Goodwill Tripp Harrison has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, succeeding Richard J. Cantz. Bringing experience from his previous role as President and CEO of Goodwill of South Mississippi, Harrison joins at a pivotal time as the nonprofit expands services and advances sustainability efforts, according to a press release. Goodwill Northern New England, serving Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, operates 29 stores and provides various programs supporting more than 17,000 individuals annually.

Harrison’s track record includes growth, complex problem-solving and partnership-building. He said in the release that he aims to enhance the organization’s community impact, employee support and customer service, building on his past successes in retail operations, mission services and community partnerships across different regions. Goodwill NNE, an autonomous nonprofit, focuses on services for adults with disabilities, workforce development, and sustainability, contributing to local community needs.

Health and Addiction Services Advisory Committee, which had been inactive since July 2021 due to Covid-19 challenges.

According to a press release, the committee will resume advising the Insurance Commissioner on improving access to mental health and substance use disorder services through private insurance and aims to enhance service delivery, advise on regulatory actions and implement new legal requirements.

There are still vacant positions, and the Department invites interested individuals to apply. The Insurance Department remains a resource for the public regarding insurance marketplace matters.

Feedback wanted The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in collaboration with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and the UNH Center on Aging and Community Living, is seeking public input on the state’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for older adults and people with disabilities. According to a press release, this initiative, funded by the CMS “Money Follows the Person” Demonstration Expansion award, aims to evaluate and enhance New Hampshire’s system of long-term services and supports. Public forums, both in-person and virtual, are scheduled for December to gather stakeholder input. The findings will contribute to a final Committee openings The New Hampshire Insur- report due in June 2024, offerance Department has announced ing recommendations to improve the reactivation of the Mental community integration and independence for service users. DHHS

Bridge preservation work was set to begin Nov. 29 on the Patten Hill Road bridge over Route 101 in Candia, according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The work will require a lane closure, with traffic controlled by alternating stop and yield signs on either side of the bridge. Weather permitting, the project is expected to take about five months. Motorists are encouraged to consider signing up for real-time construction and traffic updates via text or email from newengland511.org.

Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for The Residences at Chestnut in Manchester on Nov. 29. According to a press release, the eventCONCORD marked the start of construction on the affordable housing development, addressing Manchester’s housing shortage.

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and LAC Vice President Scott Shaw were among the speak- Hooksett ers. LAC, a subsidiary of Lincoln Avenue Capital, develops affordable housing across 26 Goffstown states.

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Mount Pleasant Elementary School in Nashua, a recipient of aBedford 20232024 CLiF Year of the Book grant, hosted an event on Nov. 28 with children’s author Matt Forrest EsenAmherst wine and Nashua Public Library, marking the occasion of approximately 50 Milford students receiving their first library cards. Funded by the Children’s Literacy Center of Waterbury Center, Vermont, the school was awarded a $25,000 grant for literacy programming, which includes supporting author visits.

encourages individuals, caregivers and stakeholders to participate in these sessions and provide feedback via email or attend the listening sessions detailed in the announcement. Email NHHCBSfeedback@dhhs.nh.gov.

Political praise House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) has been named the 2023 recipient of the Tom Thomson Defender of Liberty Award by the state chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP),

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according to a press release. In his second term as speaker, Packard’s leadership has been pivotal in a closely divided New Hampshire House, through efforts that include the voice vote passage of the state budget, the accelerated repeal of the state’s interest and dividends tax and bipartisan efforts in bail reform and housing, the release said. The award will be presented at the AFP Christmas Party on Dec. 19.

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Then came a 21-17 loss to the dysfunctional Raiders a week away from firing their plainly over his coach Josh McDaniels.

But Sunday’s loss to the hapless Giants is the worst so far. For a second straight week they couldn’t outscore a team they held to just 10 points, despite being able to move the ball on the ground with 144 rushing yards, after 167 the week before, in large part because of the indecisive, mistake-prone puddle of doubt and insecurity Mac Jones has devolved into.

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after he was all but given Coach of the Year honors after a 3-0 start.

75 – millions of dollars still owed to Jimbo Fisher after his firing as Texas A&M football coach last week. How much freaking money do these football programs have? … Of the Week Award Thumbs Up – Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks: Whose players according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale voted an inordinately high number of full World Series money shares (61 and 71 worth $311,000 and $506,000 respectively) to include clubhouse attendants and support staff that helped them get to the Series to make that extra money. Bravo.

Random Thoughts: Listening to Matt Bonner while sitting in on a recent Celtics broadcast in Toronto I say give that kid a TV gig. He was smart, concise, funny and likable. And I swear his legendary Concord-ite dad Big Dave Bonner didn’t make me say this.

Given her general nastiness to anyone not on her political side, I must say I’m getting a kick out of the flak Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is getting for spending $13,081.36 in public money on an invite-only party to kick off the U of A’s football season. Especially since the “Undefeated” season party badly missed the mark with the Razorbacks going 4-8 after the bash.

Sports 101 Answer: Not surprisingly the NBA leader in fouls committed is 20-year veteran Kareem Abdul Jabbar with 4,657, followed by Karl Malone, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish and ex-76er Caldwell Jones to round out the top five.

Final Thought – Kristaps Porzingis Injury Watch Begins: Everyone knew the risk bringing him to Boston: a lack of durability that’s held him to just 54 games per since 2020, which was preceded by missing an entire season with a torn ACL. And now it begins. He missed one at the 11-game mark, then went out early in Game 15 with a strained calf that will see him miss at least four games, including vs. Joel Embiid and the 76ers.

I’m not second-guessing trading for him.

But his lack of durability was one reason I opposed giving up Rob Williams in the Jrue Holiday trade, because he was proven depth behind him. But given what’s happened to him, that’s a moot point.

What it all means is that Brad Stevens needs to find someone to reliably fill in for him. Though after the C’s depth and draft resources were wiped out by his two big off-season deals it’s hard to see how he’ll do that. Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

This Week Saturday, Dec. 2

Head to Elm Street today at 3 p.m. to watch oodles of runners in Santa suits run in the 3-mile BASC Santa Claus Shuffle, which features stops with the four Santa food groups — chocolate, cookies and milk, candy, and maple, according to millenniumrunning.com, which will explain how to register if you want to take part yourself. A

Friday, Dec. 1

The Bedford Women’s Club’s “Festival of Trees & Holiday Market” runs today from 4 to 7 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bedford Old Town Hall (70 Bedford Center Road). Admission is free and the event will feature a

Stonyfield Organic Lil’ Elf Run (of 100 yards) starts at 2:30 p.m.

Then at 4 p.m. settle in for the annual Manchester Holiday Parade, which will head down Elm Street from Brady Sullivan tower to Victory Park and feature a variety of floats and marchers. For more details on the parade, check out the story on page 19 in the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo.

guest appearance by Santa Claus on Saturday, live music, more than 25 decorated artificial trees that will be raffled, and vendors, according to bedfordwomensclub. org.

Friday, Dec. 1 It’s

Midnight

Big Events November 30 and beyond

Tonight from 5 p.m. to midnight, get holiday cheer and shopping opportunities in downtown Concord. The evening will include an appearance by Santa, strolling carolers, a dance party with DJ Nazzy, the Concord Art Market Winter Giftopolis and more.

For details, check out the story on page 18 in the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo; see hippopress.com for the e-edition.

Friday, Dec. 1

Catch a screening of the holiday “indie dark(ish) comedy” Merry Good Enough, a movie directed by Caroline Keene and Dan Kennedy that was a winner at the 2023 New Hampshire Film Festival for Best NH Feature Narrative, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $10. See the trailer at merrygoodenough.com.

Friday, Dec. 1

Or go even darker with Fright Kingdom’s The Fright Before Christmas haunted attraction (described on the website as being “extremely scary,” where you will encounter “rabid reindeer, crazed carolers, cannibalistic elves”) running today from 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35. Visit frightkingdom.com.

Sunday, Dec. 3

The NH Music Collective Sunday Sessions will feature Ryan Williamson & The hArt of

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Sound today at 6 p.m. at the Cantin Room at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com). Tickets cost $18.75. Find more ticketed concerts this weekend and beyond in our Concert listings on page 38.

Save the Date! Thursday, Dec. 28

Looking for entertainment options for that final week of December? The Harlem Globetrotters 2024 will come to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $44 through $134, with pre-game VIP options.

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Choose gifts that are safe!

Bird enthusiasts can now delve into the world of local avian life through New Hampshire Audubon’s new interactive website dedicated to New Hampshire’s birds. This comprehensive portal, accessible within the New Hampshire Audubon website, provides an in-depth look at the current status of birds in New Hampshire, the challenges they encounter and the actions that can be taken for their conservation. The site allows users to explore information sorted by breeding habitats and species groups, including waterfowl, birds of prey, shorebirds, aerial insectivores and ocean birds. It also offers insights into migration cycles and a resources page filled with bird conservation-related links. Visit stateofthebirds.nhaudubon.org.

QOL score: +1 Comment: “Why pay attention to birds?” the website asks and answers: “New Hampshire’s birds are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can tell us about our environment, and what the birds are telling us may be important, not only to their survival but to ours.”

Helping out

The New Hampshire Bankers Association completed its third annual #NHBanksGiveBack month of service in October. According to a press release, the event saw participation from 27 member banks, which engaged in community service activities and financial contributions. This year’s efforts amounted to more than 3,186 volunteer hours across 382 events, with a total of $504,900 in monetary donations. The activities included shred events, food and clothing donations, soup kitchen work, and financial literacy outreach, among others.

QOL score: +1 Comment: “In just three short years, the volunteer efforts of our member banks have contributed more than $1.3 million in financial support to our state and communities, backed by over 5,000 volunteer hours spread out over more than 800 charitable events,” Kristy Merrill, President of New Hampshire Bankers, said in the release.

QOL score: 84 Net change: +3 QOL this week: 87

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In a CommercialSearch study, Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire, was recognized among the top 30 metro areas for career advancement, placing 10th with 56 points. The metrics spotlighting New Hampshire included the second-lowest unemployment rate at 2.3 percent, the fourth-best student-to-teacher ratio with 11 students per faculty, and the fourth-highest job mobility for high-skill workers at 3.9 percent. Additionally, Manchester noted a 7.5 percent growth in the percentage of high qualified jobs, adding 2,120 such positions in one year. The study, aimed at identifying metros with the best career development opportunities, evaluated factors like education and labor market conditions.

QOL score: +1 Comment: Manchester-Nashua was the only metro area from the Northeast that ranked in the top 10 for career development, representing the region amidst a list otherwise dominated by Western metros.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 9

Where to find holiday displays big and small

Millions of

Season of lights

Planning, scenery and tons of twinkles make up professionally crafted displays

By Mya Blanchard

mblanchard@hippopress.com

As I stepped into the world of LaBelle Lights at LaBelle Winery in Derry, I was greeted by the voice of Eartha Kitt singing “Santa Baby.” The entrance to the lights — a new addition this year — is an illuminated present you walk through to continue up the path, under the Gateway Bridge, to the Tasting Room. Once you emerge on the other side of the building, you’re immediately immersed in a winter wonderland among classic Christmas songs and a total of 1½ million lights.

“This is our third year and we’ve been growing it steadily year over year so this is the biggest yet,” said Amy LaBelle, the founder of the winery. “[There are more than] 25 displays along the [half-mile] walk.”

The idea of LaBelle Lights first came to mind at the end of the summer in 2021 during the pandemic, LaBelle says. The idea was to find a way to serve and unite the community and create memories while staying safe.

LaBelle Lights at LaBelle Winery. Photo by Mya Blanchard

“It just became such an awesome, successful, fun event where people are making these great family memories, taking great pictures, reminiscing, creating new family traditions, and so we just decided to keep growing it and leaning into it,” LaBelle said.

As you progress along the path, you walk through bright Christmas ornaments and travel through Candy Cane Lane and Snowflake Forest before coming across one of my personal favorite displays, a 15-foottall shimmery gold teddy bear. Preparing all these displays and the golf course they inhabit for LaBelle is nearly a year-long process.

“It is a project that starts for us in February,” LaBelle said. “We look at all the catalogs … we order the things we want to add, we order commercial strings of lights for things we’re going to build and we order any big pieces that we’re going to be putting on the course. … We have a 45-foot-tall Christmas tree, we have ornaments that you’re able to walk through that are 20 feet high, tunnels, it’s just quite a spectacle.”

While the displays are being custom built prior to being shipped, trees are cut down, cables are hung, items in storage are refurbished, and bridges and tunnels are prepared. Once the golf course closes at the end of October, there’s just two and a half weeks to get everything assembled.

Around the corner from the teddy bear is the bubble bridge, a sleigh and a light tunnel that brings you to the new giant Merry Mushrooms before you come across — another favorite of mine — two sparkling 20-foottall reindeer pulling a present-filled sleigh and a family of silver and gold squirrels.

“Every week has a different theme … to add a bit of extra fun,” LaBelle said.

“There’s ugly sweater week, there’s dress like Santa week … [and] one of the weeks … we’ll be hiding elves along the course.”

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 10

New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Courtesy photo.

Two charities, Toys for Tots and End 68 Hours of Hunger, benefit from LaBelle Lights to bring toys and food to families in need.

“I really hope people that come through LaBelle Lights will be aware of this so they can help support these charities because they’re so desperately needed in our community,” LaBelle said.

“The goal of LaBelle Lights is to create an experience for our guests that will create beautiful family memories … with [their] loved ones and to have a great time [and] to kind of be an oasis from the crazy world and just have a good old-fashioned night together.”

Now through New Year’s Eve, New Hampshire Motor Speedway brings us the Gift of Lights, a two-and-a-half-mile route featuring more than 3 million lights along the New Hampshire Motor Speedway property in Loudon.

“The community of speedways across the country likes to not only celebrate the holidays, but do different things to raise funds for local charities,” said Scott Spradling, a representative of the Speedway. “There was a group that essentially spearheaded using the different NASCAR track facilities across the country to do this kind of effort, so we were approached several years ago to join

and offer this local, really neat way to celebrate the holidays, so we jumped in and this is Year 13.”

Assembling more than 520 displays and 80 scenes — including 12 Days of Christmas among others — takes the crew more than 650 work hours to complete. Other highlights include the 130-feet-long infield entrance and the exit tunnel with 25,000 lights. Once you come out, you will be able to roast marshmallows and make s’mores over open fire pits.

“It started off shorter with fewer lights,” Spradling said. ‘I … remember the first time around we were excited when we got to a million of the twinkling lights and now we’ve tripled that size, so it has grown precipitously over the years.”

The Gift of Lights is a way to celebrate the holidays while also giving back to the community. A portion of the proceeds from the Gift of Lights goes to the New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and since 2011 they’ve raised more than $400,000. Goods are collected for the Loudon food pantry — anyone who brings three or more non-perishable food items will get $5 off a single vehicle’s admission on weeknights.

“One thing that’s new this year is the company that’s running the Gift of Lights for

There’s No Place Like Gnomes for the Holiday Season Midnight Merriment Open until 11pm Friday, Dec 1st

LaBelle Lights at LaBelle Winery. Photo by Mya Blanchard.

us — a company called Winterland — [is] going to give $5 coupons to local schools and then donate a dollar per car that redeems their school code,” Spradling said. “The school that rallies the most cars and families to go attend the Gift of Lights will win $1,000 for their school to be able to spend on whatever school activity they would like, so there’s a fun little competition.”

Attendees can also save $5 by participating in the different theme nights, such as Christmas sweater night on Wednesday, Dec. 6. On Sunday, Dec. 10, is Yule Light

Up The Night, where you can run or walk the path.

“We’ll have thousands of families that will come and participate every single year,” Spradling said. “I think it harkens back to an innocent time … [of driving] around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights … [and] holiday traditions that many families can remember doing and so we like to think that it becomes not just a destination for seeing pretty lights but it becomes a really fun family tradition.”

Goldsmiths Gallery, LLC 2Capital Plaza | 57 N.Main St. Concord, NH 03301 | 603-224-2920 www.goldsmiths-gallery.com

Lights by the pros LaBelle Lights at LaBelle Winery Where: 14 Route 111, Derry When: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., through Sunday, Jan. 7.

Cost: Tickets range from $4 to $18 and are free for children 3 years old and younger.

More info: Visit labelle.com/lights.

Gift of Lights at NH Motor Speedway Where: 1122 Route 106, Loudon When: Hours are 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2; Thursday, Dec. 7, through Monday, Dec. 25; and Friday, Dec. 29, and Saturday, Dec. 30.; 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30; Monday, Dec. 4, through Wednesday, Dec. 6; Tuesday, Dec. 26, through Thursday, Dec. 28; and Sunday, Dec. 31.

Cost: Tickets are $35 per car load, $60 per bus, limousine or RV, and cost $2 in addition per person when there’s more than 15 guests.

More info: Visit nhms.com.

Charmingfare Farm Where: 774 High St., Candia What: Charmingfare illuminates the season with Santa’s Christmas, when the farm transforms into a festive wonderland with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through a trail adorned with holiday lights and 12 holiday scenes leading to the North Pole. Families can visit the Reindeer Barn, send Christmas letters and enjoy Mrs. Claus’ Bakery.

When: The event runs on Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3; Friday, Dec. 8, through

Sunday, Dec. 10; Friday, Dec. 15, through Sunday, Dec. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 20, through Saturday, Dec. 23. Pick a time when you buy tickets for either a four-person or a 10-person sleigh ride. The week post-Christmas, Charmingfare holds an Encore of the Lights event, where attendees can “climb aboard our horse-drawn ride and travel 30 minutes through our Christmas light displays and see the Reindeer at the North Pole,” according to the website. The event also includes Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, a visit to the barnyard, a campfire and more. And ring in 2024 with a New Year’s Eve Ride. This evening event features a fireside meal, music and a ride along the trail of holiday lights.

More Info: visitthefarm.com.

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9th annual Hollis Luminaria Stroll & Tree lighting Where: Monument Square, Hollis When: Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m.

Candlelight Stroll/Vintage Christmas at Strawbery Banke Where: 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth When: Fridays, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, and Saturdays, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Sundays, Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $32 for adults, $16 for children 5 to 17 years old and free for children under 5 years old.

More info: Visit strawberybanke.org.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023| Page 11

Festive brilliance

Holiday lights bring joy to local neighborhoods

By Renee Merchant The holiday season is marked by the glow of lights, and some people create bright, eye-catching displays. We talked with homeowners who do these lights to see what goes into creating an extravagant display.

Dan Jobin designs his residential light show, which he calls Jobin Christmas Lights, in Bedford. He has been doing displays since 1982.

“It just grows bigger every year,” he said.

“We’re over 100,000 lights now.”

Jobin didn’t acquire his collection of holiday decorations overnight; he said he picks up new pieces and more lights each year.

The most cost-effective way to build a collection, he said, is to buy discounted lights after the holidays.

“I try to pick up a standard type of light and then watch for those to go on sale so that [it’s] consistent,” he said.

Jobin’s light show has more to it than the visual aspect. It is synchronized to music that plays through speakers in the yard, beckon-

ing visitors to roll their windows down or step out of their cars to hear the music.

When the weather is nice, Jobin likes to stand outside to meet the visitors and pass out candy canes, and he collects monetary donations for a local chapter of Make-A-Wish.

“We have a donation bin out front,” he said. “We’ve given Make-A-Wish over $30,000 in the last seven years.”

Mark Mousseu, another holiday lights enthusiast, has been doing his light show in Hudson, called Hudson Christmas, for about 25 years.

Unlike some new types of lights that are computer-generated, like pixels and projections, Mousseu’s collection is mostly wire frames, which are shapes or figures made out of metal that have lights attached to them.

He said the process for setting up his display starts around Nov. 1, and his family helps out.

“Paul … my stepfather … sits down and goes through the pieces we have and figures out what we’re going to use that particular

year,” he said.

Once the display is planned out, Mousseu makes sure the wire frames are working properly.

“We check the lights, we check the figures, make sure everything’s all set … dig through the piles of stuff we have, bring them down and set them up,” he said. The lights are turned on each night from Thanksgiving until Christmas.

Jobin puts his lights up before Thanksgiving in the afternoons while the weather is nice.

“Generally, I start with things that are off the ground until the leaves are gone. So on the house, on the roof, on the bushes, on the trees — that typically gets done first,” he said. Once the leaves are cleaned up, Jobin will start putting out the ground displays. Like Mousseu, he lights his display on Thanksgiving night.

A few days after Christmas, Mousseu takes his lights down in one day.

“It’s one day, assuming we don’t have 2 feet of snow,” Mousseu said. “If we have 2

feet of snow, it’s probably a couple of days and it’s a little more difficult.”

When Mousseu takes the figures down, he sets them into two garages to thaw out before stacking them side-by-side in an attic until next season.

When Jobin takes his decorations down, he puts away the things on the ground first, like the arches over the driveway and the decorations along the street. Then he removes the lights from the trees before taking things off the house.

“Some of the stuff on the house stays up,” he said, “But for the most part we take as much as we can down as quickly as we can.”

Mousseu and Jobin both said that they host annual light shows because it gives them an opportunity to connect with the people in their communities. “[It’s] the joy of seeing people see it for the season,” Mousseu said.

“They were kids when their parents were bringing them,” Jobin said, “and now they’ve grown up … and they’re bringing their kids.”

Q&A with Justine Callaway of Callaway Christmas Light Show in Goffstown tened to that same song 200 times over and over again, but it basically is me sitting at a computer telling the software what to do so that it times to the lights every time I change an effect for one of the different parts of the show.

When did you start doing this and what inspired you to do so?

I’ve been doing it for about 11 years I would say. My son is almost 13 now and I saw that he enjoyed Christmas lights when he was born. It started a little small [with] a couple of Christmas lights [and] he seemed to really enjoy it and it just kept growing from there. Then I would say about nine or 10 years ago we started collecting money for charity and then it became an additional cause to keep doing it every year. … My son started it and then the charities kept it going.

How do you go about raising money for those charities?

We’ve always chosen a veterans-based charity and effectively we offer a QR code for people to be able to donate online and we also take donations through a little public service announcement in the middle of the show and people donate with cash in … a little donation bin beneath the mailbox.

People have donated a lot. I would say since we started raising money we’re a little over $60,000 in charitable donations that we’ve just passed right on to three different charities over the course of the last few years.

What are the names of those charities?

We started with the Wounded Warrior Project and then we did Homes For Our Troops and now we have a local charity called the Worker Bee Fund and that’s a Goffstown-based charity that does work for local veterans.

Callaway Christmas Lights. Courtesy photo.

What goes into preparing and assembling the light displays?

It’s lots of time out in the cold. … There’s a lot of time spent setting up the lights, probably seven or eight full days of time… . A lot of time … goes into writing the programs that make the music go with the lights and broadcast so people can catch it when they’re at the show.

How do you go about matching the lights with the music?

There’s a software package that I use that allows me to listen to the song and then create effects for each of the lights on the house as I go. So I have to listen to the song … in little five- to 10-second increments. I probably listen to each song that I program 200 times so … when I hear it in the show [it’s] a little less enjoyable since I’ve lis-

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 12

looking for something to do, [and] I think people were looking for that sort of display.

The best part is … you can hear … the kids screaming ‘There’s Santa!’ or singing along with the songs and that sort of thing. … A lot of people tell me we’ve been doing it long enough that it’s part of their family traditions Do you have a background in doing stuff around Thanksgiving or around Christmas like that or did you learn specifically for so it’s definitely become a high-pressure sitthis? uation to get it started on time.

No, I’m very bad at it, probably in reality. It may take other people less time than How many lights do you incorporate me. I do have an engineering degree but it every year? has nothing to do with this type of programWe use something called pixels, so each ming … I think I have seven networks that pixel can change the color … any time, and I have to run in my front yard and a num- we have about 35,000 pixels. … I also have ber of other things that I had to learn as I little blinking strobe lights, probably anothwent along, so it helped that I built it slowly er 10,000. because it was hard to get those things figured out easier.

How do you keep everything protected from the weather elements?

When did you start incorporating the They’re just laying out there in the grass music with it? and … they’re low voltage, most of them, so That was probably … 10 years ago so that they don’t end up shorting out when there’s second year I think I added music. It was water and moisture. very simple, I think I just had 10 windows that would change color with the music and How will the show be different this year? now there’s obviously a lot more in the yard This year we’ve added a couple of new as well. elements that I have yet to figure out so I’m reluctant to tell you, but we’re hoping to How do you feel it has grown in add something basically every year. This popularity? year we’re adding two little trees that will I think it’s been … pretty steady for sing along with the music so they’ve got eye the last three or four years. I think people motions and mouth motions … just to … tie loved it during Covid because they had to the music in a little bit better. stay separate from others … [and] were out — Mya Blanchard

Rockingham Ballroom Newmarket

DEC 2 Special Comedy Headliner W/ Motown Opener DEC 8 603 Line Dance Callaway Christmas Lights. Courtesy photo.

More local light shows

An Otterson Christmas is at 37 Otterson Road in Londonderry. Visit facebook.com/ ottersonchristmas.

Callaway Christmas Light Show is at 15 Pasture Drive in Goffstown. Visit facebook.com/goffstownchristmaslights.

Christmas in the Kings is at 3 King Edward Drive in Londonderry. Visit facebook.com/ChristmasInTheKings.

The Daly Family’s Festival of Lights is at 51 Pond Lane in Fremont. Visit facebook. com/Dalyfamilyfestivaloflights.

Holt Family Christmas is at 118 Marathon Way in Manchester. Visit facebook. com/holtchristmas.

Hudson Christmas is at 75 Pelham Road in Hudson. Visit facebook.com/ hudsonnhchristmas.

Jobin Christmas Lights is at 8 Stephen Drive in Bedford. Visit facebook.com/ JobinChristmasLights.

Lamprey Village Lights is at Lamprey

Village Drive in Epping. See “Lamprey Village Christmas Lights” on Facebook.

Lights on Legacy Drive is at 75 Legacy Drive in Manchester. Visit facebook.com/ lightsonlegacydrive.

The Southern NH Tour of Lights features addresses from 14 towns, coordinated by their Parks and Recreation Departments.

Put your address on the list by Dec. 4; a master list of addresses will be released Dec. 8, according to merrimackparksandrec.org/nh-tour-of-lights.

Participating towns include Amherst, Auburn, Bedford, Danville, Derry, Goffstown, Hampstead, Hudson, Litchfield, Londonderry, Merrimack, Nashua, Pelham, and Windham.

The Southwest NH Tour of Lights features the towns of Amherst, Milford, Troy, Fitzwilliam, Rindge, Greenfield, Swanzey, Antrim, Peterborough, Jaffrey and Keene.

Those Parks and Recreation departments will be taking locations through Dec. 3, with a viewing starting Dec. 9.

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Lights and energy Different lighting options can significantly impact both your energy bill and the environment. Doran Dal Pra, co-founder of The New England Holiday Light Co., a decorative lighting design and installation service based in Hooksett, shared some expert tips to help you ensure that your holiday lights shine brightly without putting extra strain on your wallet or the planet.

A critical aspect of setting up holiday lighting, according to Dal Pra, involves assessing the electrical load of the circuit used. “[For] a homeowner, knowing where things are plugged in and how everything is run is important,” he said.

Pairing holiday lights with outdoor outlets already powering high-energy appliances such as refrigerators and dryers can risk overloading circuits.

“Those can use a ton of energy, and you can trip something if the lights are on and you start those appliances,” Dal Pra said.

The choice of lighting type can also significantly affect energy consumption.

Though “incandescent lights look nice,” Dal Pra said, The New England Holiday Light Co. uses exclusively LED lights due to their lower energy usage.

“There’s a remarkable difference in the

amount of energy drawn by incandescents versus LEDs; LEDs draw a fraction of the power that incandescent lights do,” he said.

“You’ll see it on your electric bill; LEDs have a dramatically reduced impact on the end consumer.”

The enhanced efficiency of LED lights not only conserves energy but also enables the use of more lights per outlet “You can run a lot of lights off a single outlet with LEDs due to their lower power requirements — much more than incandescents,” Dal Pra said.

While LED lights were once thought to be less vibrant and colorful than incandescent lights, Dal Pra said, they have “come a long way” and include new technology that provides more decorating options.

“The range of products available now is enormous, and the level of customization and programmability is really cool,” he said.

“You can get standard colors, programmable colors, and do all sorts of effects.”

Finally, consider responsible disposal of your old or unwanted holiday lights.

“Instead of throwing them away, there are places that recycle holiday lights,” Dal Pra said. “Some places will even pay you for them because of the copper in the wires.”

— Angie Sykeny

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023| Page 13

ARTs

What Thanksgiving is all about Theatre Kapow presents The Thanksgiving Play

By Mya Blanchard

mblanchard@hippopress.com

We all know Thanksgiving for the turkey and pie and giving thanks, but what is at the real root of the holiday and how does that tie in with Native American heritage month and culture? This is the question four individuals face when trying to write an accurate and politically correct Thanksgiving play for elementary school children in The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse. Theatre Kapow’s production of the play will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage in Concord from Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3.

“It’s a group of four people who come together to write and produce a play

Theatre Kapow presents The Thanksgiving Play Where: Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord When: Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.

Cost: General admission tickets are $28 and $23 for students and seniors not including fees.

More info: Visit tkapow.com Art

Opening • WINTER MEMBERS SHOW The Two Villages Art Society will host its 2023 Winter Members Show and Sale from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23 at 846 Main St. in Contoocook. This show, part of Hopkinton’s town-wide Starry, Starry Weekend, will include an opening reception on Saturday, Dec. 2, from noon to 2 p.m. The show features works from more than 30 member artists, including paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and more. Gallery hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with extended hours of 10 to 4 p.m. during Starry, Starry Weekend (Dec. 1 to Dec. 3). Visit twovillagesart.org.

Events • WINTER ART SHOW & SALE The Greater Salem Art Association will hold its 2023 Winter Art Show & Sale through Saturday, Dec. 2, at Kelley Library (234 Main St. in Salem) featuring original works of fine art by local artists and a fine art raffle, according to a press release.

The show will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

in honor of Native American Heritage Month and they realize very quickly that it’s difficult for them to tell a story about Native American heritage without having any Native Americans among their company,” said director Matt Cahoon. “The whole play is them trying to struggle with the fact that they don’t know what to do.

They get very paralyzed by their own ‘wokeness’ for lack of a better word, and they [are] trying to do the right thing, and the right thing ultimately ends them up in several not right places.”

The four-person cast features longtime Theatre Kapow member Rachael Longo as high school teacher Logan, her onstage partner Jaxton played by Peter Josephson, Molly Litt as Alicia, and Joel Iwaskiewicz making his Theatre Kapow debut as Caden.

“I think one of the biggest challenges that we have is being OK with saying and doing some of the really awful and inappropriate things that they do,” Longo said.

“We perform these school pageants that have actually … been written and used by different public schools in our country, and so the playwright took the text from the actual pageants and put it in for the actors to perform.”

Admission is free. See gsaa-nh.com. 5 to 11 p.m. during Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment, at Craft fairs the Atrium at 7 Eagle Square. See • BEDFORD The Craftworkers’ concordartsmarket.net.

Guild in Bedford (5 Meetinghouse • MILFORD The Unitarian UniRoad in Bedford, the building at versalist Congregation of Milford the bottom of the library parking (20 Elm St. in Milford; uucm.org) lot; thecraftworkersguild.org) will hold a holiday fair on Saturwill open its annual Holiday Fair day, Dec. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 Shop through Wednesday, Dec. p.m. featuring handcrafted items, 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily as a bake shop and more, according well as online. to uucm.org/community/holi• CONTOOCOOK The Contoo- day-fair-2023. cook Artisans Holiday Fair will • NASHUA Arlington Street Unittake place Friday, Dec. 1, from ed Methodist Church (63 Arling10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. ton St., Nashua; asumc.org, 8822, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 4663) holds its Holly Town Fair Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the American Legion Post p.m. featuring vendors with handNo. 81 (E.R. Montgomery Event made items, crafts, candies, baked Center, 169 Bound Tree Road in goods and a cookie walk and Contoocook). Contact contoo- lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., cookartisansnh@gmail.com. according to the website.

• WILTON High Mowing School • AMHERST The Amherst Lions (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) holds Club holds its Craft Fair Saturday, its annual Pine Hill holiday fair Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at with an artisan market for adults Amherst Middle School (14 Cross on Friday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 to Road), according to e-clubhouse.

9:30 p.m. and family festivities on org/sites/amherstnh.

Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to • STRAFFORD The 34th annual 2 p.m. Visit pinehill.org.

Christmas in Strafford, an event • CONCORD The Winter Gifto- featuring 29 locations and more polis by the Concord Arts Market than 50 artists and craftspeople, will be on Friday, Dec. 1, from runs Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sun-

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 14

Peter Josephson, Molly Litt, Rachael Chapin Longo and Joel Iwaskiewicz in theatre Kapow’s The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse. Photo by Matthew Lomanno.

Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse wrote the comedy in 2015. It is the only one of her plays to go to Broadway, which Cahoon says is likely due to its relatability.

“I think people [will] very quickly recognize themselves in some of these characters,” he said. “This kind of innate need to do the right thing, to be politicalday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; see the map at christmasinstrafford.com.

• MANCHESTER The Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester; uumanchester.org) will hold its annual Holiday Gift Faire on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall.

• CONCORD The Concord Arts Market is hosting its annual Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St.). See concordartsmarket.net • SALEM Caya Reiki & Healing (caya-healing.square.site) will hold a Gingerbread Craft Market & Psychic Fair on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Derry-Salem Elks Lodge (39 Shadow Lake Road in Salem) featuring more than 30 vendors and artisans, according to the website.

• NASHUA New England Vendor Events will host a Nashua Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hunt Memorial Library in Nashua, according to a post at facebook. com/nevendorevents.

ly correct, to take care of each other and sometimes the ways in which we can tie ourselves in knots in an effort to do good.

There’s a lot of comedy that comes out of that idea, that difficult conversations are difficult for a reason, and I think we get to laugh at these characters as they try to navigate [that].”

• DERRY The Grinnell School PTA will hold a Holiday Craft Fair at Grinnell Elementary School (6 Grinnell Road in Derry) on Saturday, Dec. 2, from noon to 4 p.m., according to a PTA Facebook post.

• LONDONDERRY Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, will hold a holiday craft fair Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3, from noon to 4 p.m., featuring local vendors selling handmade crafts. See pipedreambrewingnh.com.

Exhibits • “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” at Creative Venture Gallery (411 Nashua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com, 672-2500). The show features work in a variety of media from more than 30 area artists and most pieces are smaller than 12 inches in diameter, according to a press release. The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday from noon to 6 p.m.; Friday from noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., according to the website.

• “SLEIGHBELL STUDIO” Twiggs Gallery (254 King St.,

Boscawen) presents the annual “Sleighbell Studio” holiday showcase through Saturday, Dec. 16, and will feature a diverse range of local fine art and crafts priced for gifting. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• POP-UP ART SHOW Artists Charlotte Thibault and Byron Carr will have a pop-up art show running through Dec. 29, according to an email. The show will feature New Hampshire landscape paintings and take place at the old CVS, 46 N. Main St. in Concord, the email said. See byroncarrfineart.com and charlottethibault. com. The show will feature paintings, prints and cards and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (open until 8 p.m. on Fridays).

Theater

Shows • A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) presents A Christmas Carol through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with an additional show on

arts Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $28 to $59.

• TWELFTH NIGHT The Pinkerton Players present Twelfth Night at Stockbridge Theatre (Pinkerton Academy, 5 Pinkerston St. in Derry; pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre, 437-5210) on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m; tickets cost $10 to $15.

• THE NUTCRACKER Safe Haven Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua) on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. and at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $45 for adults and $40 for students and seniors. Visit safehavenballet.org/events.

• THE THANKSGIVING PLAY Theatre Kapow presents The Thanksgiving Play on Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3, (7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. on Sunday) at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com).

• DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from Dec. 1 through Dec. 17, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30

p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Bedford Youth Performing Company presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Derryfield School Theatre (2108 River Road, Manchester) with performances on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. Ticket prices are $17.50 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Call 472-3894 or visit bypc.org.

• SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY SHOW Concord Dance Academy invites you to the Spectacular Holiday Show at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Performances are on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. The event also features a family baked goods sale, a holiday 50/50 raffle and a complimentary Santa photo.

Tickets are $25. Call 226-0200 or visit concorddanceacademy.com.

• THE NUTCRACKER The Bedford Dance Center presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). Tickets cost $25. Visit tickets.anselm.

edu to purchase tickets online.

• HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE The New Hampshire School of Ballet presents its Annual Holiday Performance at the DanaCenter (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). The event will feature students performing dances to festive seasonal songs on Sunday, Dec. 3, with shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $18. Call 641-7700 or visit anselm.edu/ dana-center-humanities

Classical

• HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT The Manchester Community Music School’s (2291 Elm St., Manchester) Holiday Pops Concert is on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $45, or reserve a table of 10 for $400.

Visit mcmusicschool.org or call 644-4548.

• HANDEL’s MESSIAH On Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. see the open rehearsal of Handel’s Messiah, and see the performance on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. — both at St. Paul’s Church in Concord at 22 Centre St. The performance will be conducted by Benjamin Greene and will include professional soloists and a community chorus, according to a press release. See walkerlecture.org.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 15

arts

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• Shop the artists: The Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua; pickerartists. com) will hold their annual holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the website for a list of the building’s resident artists, who will sell pieces including photography, mixed media, glassware, jewelry and more.

• Holly Jolly Folly: The first two of four holiday concerts by the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus will take place this weekend. Check out their “Holly, Jolly, Folly” show on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive in Nashua) as well as Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. at the Stratham Community Church UCC (6 Emery Lane in Stratham). You can also see them next Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey and on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. at Derryfield School (2108 River Road in Manchester). Tickets cost $25 (ages 12 and under get in free); see nhgmc.com.

• Virtual tour: See the works of Art 3 Gallery’s (44 W. Brook St. in Manchester; art3gallery.com, 668-6650) current exhibit “The Power of Art” online in video gallery tours as well as onsite Mondays through Fridays from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The exhibit features paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed media and more.

• Rat Knight: There are still a few days to see Brandon Cable’s exhibit “Rat Knight in Rochester,” which will hang at Carnegie Gallery of the Rochester Public Library (66 S. Main St. in Rochester) featuring the works of Cable, who self-published his first comic book, Rat Knight, described as a “tongue-in-cheek parody with its own unique twist on the thriller and superhero genres,” according to a press release. The exhibit runs through Saturday, Dec. 1, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays). See more of Cable’s art at brandoncableart.com. See rochestermfa. org for more on the exhibits of the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts.

• Here they come wassailing: The chorus Con Tutti will present a solstice concert, “Here We Come A’Wassailing,” on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at South Church (292 State St. in Portsmouth) featuring songs from Ireland, France,

New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus. Courtesy photo.

Ukraine, England, Wales, Italy and elsewhere, according to a press release.

Tickets cost $20 and are on sale at contutti.org; remaining tickets will be sold at the door (door opens 30 minutes before concert time), the release said.

• Paintings and sculptures: An exhibit featuring the contemporary paintings and original ceramic sculptures of Shaune McCarthy will be on display at the Art Center (1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover; theartcenteronlinegallery.com) through Friday, Dec. 30. “Shaune McCarthy gained initial recognition for her intricate figure sculptures showcased in galleries throughout New England. Her transition to painting has marked a distinctive chapter in her career, resulting in a harmonious blend of spontaneity, drama, and vivid patterns that define her contemporary works,” according to a press release.

The Art Center will also feature the works of more than 40 artists in its “Annual Contemporary | Abstract” exhibition, including paintings, collages, mixed media, printmaking, photography and sculptures, according to a press release. Featured artists include Tim Gilbert, Joe Flaherty, Beth Wittenberg, Dawn Boyer, Rebecca Klementovich, Maria “Pep” Manalang, Brian Wagoner (aka Bunkt_) and Brooke Lambert, the release said.

There will be a “Meet the Artist” event on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

• Music with their mouths: The a capella group Rockapella will perform Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com, 437-5210).

Tickets cost $35 to $40.

• Holiday with the Statesmen: The Granite Statesmen, an a capella group singing four-part harmony, will perform their Christmas Chorus on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. at Judd Gregg Hall (Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $20; see granitestatesmen.org.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 17

inside/outside

Car talk

The wheels of modern vehicles stay round (and round) But when you park the car, the tires cool down. And when that nylon later cools down, it can stiffen up a bit and retain its shape.

So, the part of the nylon band that’s under the contact patch will sometimes “set” in that flatter position.

This is more likely to happen when outside temperatures are cold or when you leave the car sitting for a long time.

That’s your flat spot, Robert.

The good news is that it’s not permanent. As that nylon layer heats up again, it will quickly re-form itself to the shape of the round tire.

It may take 15 or 20 minutes of driving if the car has been sitting for a long time. And during that time, you may feel a mild vibration, as the flat spots come around and pass the ground.

But before long, it’ll take its normal shape again, and no permanent damage will be done to your tires.

If only the flat, shiny spot on the back of my head was so easy to get rid of, Robert.

Dear Car Talk: I hope you can help me finish a do-it-myself repair.

I took off an outer tie rod so I could replace it. Now the wheels won’t stay straight. The car pulls to the right.

What do you suggest I do now?

— Joseph Can you find a new route to work that only involves right turns, Joseph?

This isn’t an easy job to do on your own. Don’t beat yourself up over it.

We’ve learned a lot of tricks over the years.

One is that when we remove a tie rod, we always count the number of turns it takes to unscrew it. So, as we unscrew it, we’re counting each revolution. Let’s say it takes 13 turns before it comes out.

When we put the new tie rod in, we turn it 13 times and then stop.

It still won’t be perfectly aligned.

In fact, it could be pretty far off, since aligning the front wheels requires real precision. But it won’t be what you’ve got: Marty Feldman tires. Technically speaking, your “toe-in” is way off.

If we count the turns, we’ll get the

alignment close enough that we can drive the car to the alignment shop, then they’ll do the fine tuning and get the alignment perfect.

My guess is you just eye-balled it, Joseph. You may have screwed it in too far or not far enough. Now you’ve got to get it to an alignment shop to fix your work.

If it’s not drivable, you can do some more trial and error to see if you can line up the wheels. If you still have the old tie rod laying around, have a close look at it.

Sometimes you’ll see rust on the exposed part of the old tie rod, and by looking at how many threads are not rusty, you can see how far it was screwed in.

If you can’t figure it out, or you’ve had enough trial and error for one lifetime, you’ll just have to absorb the blow to your ego and have the car towed. But as long as you didn’t screw up anything else in the front end, the alignment shop should be able to get the wheels pointing in the same direction. And hopefully, that direction is straight ahead.

Visit Cartalk.com.

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Dear Car Talk: If I leave my car sitting for two or three months, do I need to do anything to protect my tires other than perhaps

By Ray Magliozzi inflate them to maximum recommended pressure?

Do modern tires develop flat spots?

Thanks. — Robert You don’t have to do anything to protect your tires, Robert. Inflating to the maximum allowable pressure, while not harmful, is not really going to help.

Modern tires can develop flat spots.

But they’re temporary and will correct themselves quickly.

Here’s what happens: Beneath the tread on modern tires is a layer of nylon.

When you drive, that nylon layer heats up along with the rest of the tire.

Then, when you park, there’s a spot where your tire meets the ground that is flatter than the rest of the tire. That’s known as the contact patch. Obviously, you need a substantial contact patch so you can steer and stop the car.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 18

inside/outside treasure hunt

So if in good clean condition I would say Dear Donna, Can you give me any information on the value is in the $100 range.

Thanks for sharing, Barbara. this Occupied Japan tea set?

Thank you.

Donna Barbara Donna Welch has spent more than 35 Dear Barbara, years in the antiques and collectibles Your set is moriage (which means field, appraising and instructing. Her hand painted with a raised enamel) drag- new location is an Antique Art Studio onware. Being marked hand painted in located in Dunbarton, NH where she is occupied Japan gives you the time frame still buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer it was made (mid 1940s).

They made lots of dragonware earli- Association. If you have questions about er and even up to date. The history is an an antique or collectible send a clear interesting one. photo and information to Donna at footHaving the tea set with teapot is better wdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550. than just cups and saucers. As with everything, you want no damage or scratching.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 19

inside/outside

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• Merrimack’s holiday parade and tree lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3, with the theme “Rock & Roll Holiday Thru Time.” The parade begins at 3 p.m. at the Commons Shopping Plaza (515 Daniel Webster Hwy.) and will end in the Town Hall parking lot (6 Baboosic Lake Road), where the tree lighting will take place. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

• Looking for more holiday excitement, including details on Manchester’s Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2, and Concord’s Midnight Merriment on Friday, Dec. 1? Check out the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo, our supersized Holiday Guide.

Find the e-edition at hippopress.com.

making s’mores and sipping hot chocolate or cider while mingling with friends and neighbors. The gathering will include singing Christmas carols and the official lighting of the Christmas tree. Santa will be present in the gazebo for the tree lighting at 4 p.m., and children are invited to visit with Santa afterward and bring an ornament from home to place on the town tree.

Toasty fire pits for roasting marshmallows will be available, with all the fixings for s’mores, hot chocolate and cider provided by the Recreation Department. In case of inclement weather, the backup date is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 3. Visit newbostonnh.gov.

Meet the big guy

At the Millyard Museum

• As part of Midnight Merriment, Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) will hold a Santa Storytime on Friday, Dec. 1, from 4:15 to 5 p.m. Catch new stories every 15 minutes, according to the website.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) kicks off Santa’s Christmas Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3 (the event runs Friday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 10; Friday, Dec. 15, through Sunday, Dec. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 20, through Saturday, Dec. 23). Pick a time when you buy tickets for either a four-person or a 10-person sleigh ride. The event also includes a stop at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, a visit to the barnyard, an opportunity to shop for Christmas trees, a campfire, a special mailbox for letters to Santa and the big man himself.

• Londonderry Access Center TV (281 Mammoth Road) will host Santa Live 2023 on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present in the studio for children to visit and will be broadcast live on television. The event is free of charge and does not require Facebook access for attendance. It operates on a first come, first served basis. Refreshments and coloring activities are provided for children while they wait. Each child will receive a gift and a candy cane. Parents are allowed to take pictures during the visit. Visit facebook.com/LondonderryAccessTV. • S’mores with Santa is returning to New Boston on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. Attendees can enjoy meeting Santa,

• The Millyard Museum’s (200 Bedford St., Manchester) holiday open house is on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include children’s holiday crafts, cookies and cider, old-fashioned board games, and a special visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Admission is free. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

• Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) is hosting an American Girl Doll Christmas Tea Party on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their dolls and join a tea party that includes refreshments and crafts, featuring portrayals of Manchester’s notable women from history as depicted by American Girl dolls. Santa Claus will be visiting. Tickets are $20 per person. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

Holiday performance

• Bedford Youth Performing Company presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Derryfield School Theatre (2108 River Road, Manchester) with performances on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. The play is an adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s holiday classic that tells the story of the Herdmans, the worst kids in the history of the world, who take over the annual Christmas pageant. Ticket prices are $17.50 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Call 472-3894 or visit bypc.org.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 21

opportunity to step in as owner at The Yoga & Fitness Loft.

Careers

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

Owning a yoga business is a little more than stretching and saying ‘Om’ on a yoga mat; it’s still running a business.

What kind of education or training did you need?

The education I received in dietetics is a bachelor of science that required both food service and clinical internWhat was the first job you ships. This has prepared me Beth Wallace. Courtesy ever had? for all the quick-thinking photo.

Kids’ martial arts instrucon-the-job training needed in tor and teen kickboxing fitness and business. instructor.

What is your typical at-work uniform or Beth Wallace is a dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer and the owner of The Yoga attire?

What’s the best piece of work-related & Fitness Loft in Amherst.

My work attire is the envy of corporate advice you’ve ever received?

Slow down and pause. We’re all just peomoms. The uniform literally starts with Explain your job and what it fitness and wellness industry since 1998. yoga pants topped with comfy sweatshirts ple. — Angie Sykeny entails. and tank tops. When I’m lecturing in perI help people feel safe in their What led you to this career field and son, I’ll pull out the heels and jewelry, but Five favorites bodies. My job starts with creat- your current job? for a Zoom lecture I’ll still discreetly be in As a teenager I loved teaching martial arts ing and maintaining an inviting space with Favorite book: I am always reading three my yoga pants. welcoming compassionate people, instruc- ... Exercise was my life until a broken ankle books at once: self-help, nutrition science tors and clients. I work with clients on shifted my focus on how to best honor my What is the most challenging thing about and something for fun. Currently it’s Ask individual postural assessments or nutrition body and best support those around me. A and It Is Given. your work, and how do you deal with it?

Favorite movie: What Dreams May intakes to help them better understand their degree in nutrition was followed by a job at The most challenging thing is consistently Come bodies and learn modifications to help them a hospital with long arduous hours that never not knowing what I don’t know and realiz- Favorite music: Country pop feel their best. I create reports on each client. resonated with my path. ... Collecting fitness ing it will take months to learn well enough Favorite food: Grapefruit or anything and yoga certifications became more than to apply, from bookkeeping to search engine spicy How long have you had this job? a hobby, and in addition to teaching classoptimization to learning and applying yoga Favorite thing about NH: The mountain I have owned The Yoga & Fitness Loft es I became the dietitian for New England mudras. views of every season since 2022 after being fully invested in the Gold’s Gyms in 2017. ... In 2022 I had the

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FOOD

German-inspired Christmas

Amherst market riffs on the European market tradition

By Mya Blanchard

mblanchard@hippopress.com News from the local food scene

By Mya Blanchard

mblanchard@hippopress.com

• Holiday wine class: Be sure to have a successful holiday from giving the perfect gift to serving the best flavor at Wine on Main’s (9 Main St., Concord) Winning The Holidays Wine Class on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Purchase tickets ($35) at wineonmainnh.com.

• Winter centerpiece workshop: Make your own winter farmhouse arrangement with Kara from Enchanted Vines at Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road, Londonderry) on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $94 and include all necessary materials and one beer. Purchase tickets at enchatedvines.com.

• Have breakfast with Santa: The Bedford Event Center (379 River Road, Bedford) hosts its first annual breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets ($85 for adults, $65 for children) include a hot chocolate station, a breakfast buffet, coffee, tea, juice, craft and coloring activities, the opportunity to meet and take your picture with Santa, a sing-along with Santa and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bedfordeventcenter.com.

• Calumet bourbon dinner: Enjoy a five-course dinner with five bourbon expressions on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (275 Rockingham Park Blvd., Salem).

The menu includes charred heirloom beets, blackened pan-seared salmon, chicken tiki masala and a berry tart. Tickets start at $125 and can be purchased via eventbrite.

Last year Lindsay Buchanan, with the help of a committee of volunteers, put together a German-inspired Christmas market at the Amherst Village Green. This year the Amherst German Christmas Market will be on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“The point was to create a Christmas event for my community that would appeal to all ages,” said Buchanan, who was raised in Amherst. “Amherst puts on a really great Fourth of July and Halloween, and I just felt that we could use something for Christmastime.”

With a love for traveling and experiencing other cultures, she landed on the German Christmas market theme. The original German Christmas markets, she said, started during the Middle Ages when people in Germany would go out to buy supplies for the winter. Buchanan stayed true to the outdoor setting and incorporated other European aspects with German goods sold by vendors.

“Our committee works very hard donating their time and we still have a long way to go before we reach our vision,” Buchanan said. “Every year we learn more and make adjustments. … We plan to add more authenticity as the event evolves.”

While shopping is the focus of this event (Buchanan stresses it is not specifically a food event), those looking for some German eats find offerings including German classics such as brats and sauerkraut, potato latkes, currywurst (fried sausage with a sauce with curry powder on top), glüwein (a spiced German wine), lebkuchen (a German gingerbread), and much more.

There will also be a biergarten, live

Amherst German Christmas Market walkway.

Photo by Lindsay Buchanan.

music including German tunes, popular music and Christmas classics, and an appearance from Santa Claus.

Find other food vendors listed on the event’s website, amherstchristmasmarket. org.

Other market items include New England-made crafts and German decor and imports such as star lanterns and nutcrackers. Some of the most popular items include candle bridges, ornaments and smokers.

“Last year we received 8,000 to 10,000 attendees and we designed the event with the expectation we would receive about a third of that, so it was shocking and bewildering to see these really big crowds,” Buchanan said. “A lot of people [reported] they drove in from out of state, so it was much bigger than we could have ever anticipated. … We’re trying to make adjustments with the anticipation of a big crowd again.”

While the word “German” is attached to the title of the event, Buchanan highlights that this event is an American-European hybrid event that is not a recreation of major city markets in Germany, but

Aerial view. Photo by Andrew Spieler.

is simply German-inspired, and that the Amherst German Christmas Market is an entirely volunteer-run nonprofit.

“It’s just so great that so many people want to see this event succeed and are helping to make it happen,” Buchanan said. “To go from just an idea to this huge thing, it’s hard for me to even comprehend. … We appreciate people’s patience and support. … The whole point is to have a good time.”

Amherst German Christmas Market Where: Amherst Village Green, 2 Main St., Amherst When: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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I’m not certain what’s been going on with my dreams lately.

I’m generally a heavy dreamer — most nights will have two or three — but I tend to have a particular menu: • The one where I’m late for something and it takes me a distressingly long time to pack my suitcase. The longer I look, the more laundry is spread across the floor, most of it mismatched socks.

• The one where I break into the house of somebody I used to know 20 years ago and look for someplace to take a nap.

• The restaurant with a dishwashing area the size of a warehouse, and they start turning the lights off before I’m done with the dishes.

• The one in the world’s largest hotel, with a fantastic view of the ocean.

But for the past week or so, I’ve been having a whopper at some point during the night that is unusually crisp and to the point. It’s almost like one of those TV shows where people accidentally have each other’s dreams.

Last Wednesday, apparently Dream Me got blackout drunk and behaved very badly. The whole dream was different friends and acquaintances filling me in on how much I had disgraced myself. Interestingly, my Dream Friends were not much more responsible than I was: “You let me DRIVE!!?”

“Well, we weren’t going to miss this!”

Normally I would probably be bothered by this and wonder what was going on with my subconscious, but the night before, I had led a revolution in Polynesia against a supernatural regime, armed with a bar of soap. Soap might not seem like a very effective tool for social change, but my followers were very inspired by it.

Last night, I was involved in a competition between superhero colleges. Students from competing schools kept asking what my superpower was. I’d tell them to slap me as hard as they could, and they’d start to, but something huge and distracting would happen. Finally, one of the other students put together that my superpower was Dodging Fate.

Which is to say, the more I try to figure out what message my brain is trying to send me, the more I need a drink.

Here is a seasonal one that is delicious and fairly straightforward. I wrote a story a few years ago about a girl who was

Character Reference. Photo by John Fladd.

trying to scam her way into a Cranberry Queen beauty pageant. It is called:

The Character Reference

As we all know, character references are, by their nature, deceptive. So is this drink.

2 ounces vodka – this is a good job for Tito’s 1½ ounces triple sec 3 ounces unsweetened cranberry juice seltzer to top, ~3 ounces Shake the vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice with ice, and strain into a tall glass.

Top with seltzer, and stir gently.

Garnish with an orange wedge and a straw.

This is a lovely, light-tasting highball that, like most character references, neglects to tell you its whole story. Cranberry and orange are another classic combination. The vodka plays its part behind the scenes and will look over its shoulder saying, “Who? Me?” if you go looking for it. Keep in mind, though, that this has three and a half ounces of alcohol in it.

This is an excellent holiday party drink — it looks so lovely that other party guests are likely to ask for a sip, then ask for one of their own. After several people have had several of these, the conversations will get significantly more interesting.

As will your dreams.

John Fladd is a veteran Hippo writer, a father, writer and cocktail enthusiast, living in New Hampshire.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6 | Page 27

POP culture

PLAYLIST A seriously abridged compendium of recent and future CD releases

MUSIC, BOOKS, MOVIES AND MORE

CrowJane, Bound To Me (Kitten Robot Records)

I’d thought it’d happened a lot more recently, but it turns out I haven’t heard from this Los Angeles kook lady since the release of her Mater Dolorosa EP in October 2020, which I described using RIYL comparisons like Swans and Einstürzende Neubauten. In this new five-songer she’s aiming for Siouxsie Sioux’s brand of weirdness, or so it says on the thing in front of me, and that sort of ’80s-gothpop epicness is prominent in the works here, helped out by some pretty sweeping orchestral layers and Blue Man Groupish drum-thumping (I should probably also mention that it’s a really captivating, super-nice tune). Elsewhere we have “Ides Of March,” which is like Siousxsie in metal mode, just an outstanding wreck-stuff rockout that’s got a bit of KMGDM to it. I hadn’t detected such a high level of accessibility in her earlier EP, but this one is remarkably good, well worth checking out. A+ —Eric W. Saeger

Maddi Ryan, Growing Pains (self-released)

In this EP I’m hearing a cross between Amy Grant and [place random anti-diva like Lorde here] undergirding the voice of this Boston-area singer, who racked up Country Act of the Year nominations at count-’em-three New England Music Awards events. Enough Kellie Pickler/ Taylor Swift wannabes have dropped CDs on this desk that I’ve forgotten what real disappointment feels like, but stop the presses, this five-song EP is proof that this particular cowboy-booted Insta princess knows her way around a studio, or at least whom to seat at the mixing booth’s least rickety chair, whichever the case. “Wilderness” opens things with some Swift-in-Jewel-mode crooning atop an acoustic guitar line, her soprano aiming for the angsty, hormone-bending vibe that usually leads to a boring chorus, but instead she stays on top of it, adding a truly pleasing vocal harmony, then some floaty dobro and similar layerings as it eventually morphs into Norah Jonesish Americana. She’s a serious contender, I kid you not. A —Eric W. Saeger

• Friday, Dec. 1, is the next CD release day, ermagersh, where did the summer go, what are we even doing here, and now let’s riff on ancient legendary arena-rock band Genesis for a minute, because one of the new rock ’n’ roll CD releases you can buy this week is I/O, from original Genesis singing person Peter Gabriel, his first since, holy catfish, 2011! Like his Genesis-singing successor, Phil Collins, Gabriel is famous for writing dishwasher-safe AOR-pop for dentists’ offices and Dollar Tree stores, and he’s most famous for being the singing person in the song trenchcoat-wearing kickboxing-slacker John Cusack was playing on his boombox during the famous “why aren’t the cops grabbing that guy” scene in the 1989 movie Say Anything. That alone elevated his cred far higher than that of Popeye-The-Sailor-lookalike Phil Collins, whose 1980s hits were horrible enough, but in order to ensure his ”Worst Song Of All Time” achievement award — and most Xers and Boomers have subconsciously erased all this from memory — Collins participated in a duet with really bad singer Philip Bailey on the song “Easy Lover” from Bailey’s 1984 LP Chinese Wall. The only ’80s rock music fail that came anywhere close to unseating that tune as the, you know, Worst Song Of All Time, was Eddie Murphy’s hilariously hubristic fish-out-of-artistic-water laughingstock, “Party All The Time,” which saw the first time a record company ever called an emergency Auto-Tune guy to come in and clean up Murphy’s transparently off-key vocal, and let’s not forget the video for Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonight,” in which he pranced around a bedroom like a preteen girl overdosing on Flintstones vitamins, a cringe-gasm so explosive that Squier’s career instantly tanked faster than the Lusitania. But yes, Gabriel has always been borderline listenable in my book, like, “Games Without Frontiers” was OK, mostly because I, like everybody else, thought it was either Psychedelic Furs or Echo And The Bunnymen, who even knew, you know?

But anyway, whatever, “Turn It On Again” was a cool Genesis song, even though Peter Gabriel wasn’t there at the time, so here we go, let’s have a look at what’s on this new Peter Gabriel album, and wait a second, two remixed versions of the kickoff single song, “Panopticom,” have been released thus far: the “Bright Side Mix” (done by Mark “Spike” Stent), and the “Dark Side Mix” (mixed by Tchad Blake), both of which were released in January of this year. The Bright Side Mix is OK; the song is important-sounding in a first-world-problems sort of way, studious Gabriel nonsense that’s kind of a chore to listen to, same as always.

• Love Minus Zero is a new collaborative project between electro-revival producer Tiga and Scottish producer Hudson Mohawke, who was part of the “wonky” techno scene (think slo-mo dubstep with a lot of distorted, wobbly dance beats) until the end of the Aughts. L’Ecstasy is their forthcoming debut full-length, which spotlights “Love Minus Zero,” a track that’s a few years old, a really cool, hypnotic dance joint combining dubstep, trance and tribal, you’d probably like it.

• We Owe is the solo project of Swans’ Christopher Pravdica, whose new LP Major Inconvenience uses such things as autoharp and djembe to make off-kilter tunes like the new “Time Suck,” a woozy, discordant, Throbbing Lobster-ish experiment.

• Lastly we have yet another Bandcamp mess to decipher: When No Birds Sang, a joint-effort album between grindcore outfit Full Of Hell and heavy shoegaze dudes Nothing. “Spend The Grace” is a skronky, apocalyptic, blissed-out noise exercise, but other than that it’s probably fine for bouncy-house parties. — Eric W. Saeger

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POP CULTURE BOOKS Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind, by Molly McGhee (Astra House, 283 pages) Jonathan Abernathy is an unemployed college dropout, age 25, with no prospects for anything getting better — his “loans, IOUs, and bills so diverse ecologists would be within their jurisdiction to classify the collection as an ‘ecosystem.’”

He has a quarter of a million dollars in student loan debt (“with an APR so lethal it can kill within a week”) and inherited credit card debt from his parents “in the low six figures.”

Living in a basement apartment not much wider than the length of his body, Abernathy is so profoundly miserable that he is envious of his landlord going to work — “going somewhere where someone will tell her what to do. Then in exchange for this, they will give her money. Jonathan Abernathy would like to be told what to do in exchange for money.”

This is the set-up of Molly McGhee’s glorious debut novel, which paints a dystopian picture of what is commonly called late-stage capitalism and its effect on America’s underachieving young adults.

Other than the misery of young people saddled with soul-crushing debt, there is little realism here, however. Abernathy lives in a world in which “dream auditors” infiltrate the dreams of sleeping citizens, this being possible because it has been discovered that “humanity shares a consciousness while it sleeps.”

People who are chosen to be dream auditors don special clothes and wander about the dreams of troubled sleepers, cleaning out the nightmarish stuff so that the person can sleep better and therefore be more productive at work — all the better for the economy. The service is much in demand by companies whose workforces “seem depleted.”

In this strange world, Jonathan Abernathy is recruited for an auditing job — appropriately enough, during his sleep.

Author events

• LOCAL AUTHORS will be at Main Street BookEnds & Gallery on Saturday, Dec. 2, as part of the Warner Home Holiday celebration. David Elliott (At The Poles) will be there from 10 a.m. to noon; Jack Noon (New Hampshire Fish & Game, A History) will be there from noon to 2 p.m., and Matt Forrest Esenwine (The Thing to Remember About Stargazing) will be there from 2 to 4 p.m.

• ALIZA ELIAZAROV, author of The Best Dog: Hilarious to Heartwarming Portraits of the Pups We Love, will be at Water Street Bookstore (125 Water St., Exeter, 7789731, waterstreetbooks.com) on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 3 to 5 p.m. for a talk, book signing and doggie photo

He’s desperate for the job because the alternative is selling hot dogs off a food truck, and this new job promises $20 a night (though, sadly, no health care) plus incremental student loan forgiveness and a temporary freeze on collections while he is employed.

So he’s grateful to have work, even if it’s strange and his co-worker/mentor, Kai, is even stranger. She is one of three women who populate Abernathy’s life, the others being his landlord, Kelly, and his neighbor, Rhoda, a single mother who always smells of pine and is in desperate circumstances of her own and, astonishingly, seems interested in him. Their relationship deepens as Jonathan becomes more entrenched in his job and continues with it despite troubling signs that everything might not turn out OK in the end, for anyone involved.

That is not a spoiler — the book begins even more ominously, with the line “Though it will take three years, from this moment, for death to act, Jonathan Abernathy will never live a life unmarked again.

Death will be tethered to him as a shadow.”

There are also some Jacob Marley-esque apparitions on the book’s cover.

Why read something that’s such a downer, especially during the holiday season?

It’s a fair question, but in a world saturated with formulaic books, this is not one. Poor doomed Jonathan Abernathy, who earnestly recites affirmations to keep his spirits up (Jonathan Abernathy, you are strong! Jonathan Abernathy, you are brave! Jonathan Abernathy, there is nothing in life not meant for you!) gets our sympathy in part because McGhee convincingly paints him as a helpless pawn in the cold capitalist machine,

shoot. Bring your pup and get a professional photo taken of them.

• CATHY STEFANEC ORGEN author of Pew!: The Stinky and LegenDairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, a children’s book about the big wheel of cheese given to President Andrew Jackson, and TABATHA JEAN D’AGATA author of More Wishes, a children’s book about making wishes, will be at Balin Books (375 Amherst Road, Somerset Plaza, in Nashua; balinbooks.com, 417-7981) on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. for a storytime and craft.

• MATT TAVARES, author of children’s picture book Dasher Can’t

and also because he is an orphan, both parents having died by suicide.

These are odds not just stacked against him, but malevolently working to ruin him, as his new employer also seems to be.

At the same time, Abernathy has a sweet optimism that exists because of his willful oblivion. He wants to be a good person; he wants to be a good worker; he wants to be needed at work. (“He anticipates the feeling of being needed with the same fervor that he looks forward to arriving at a destination with air-conditioning after a long heat-soaked walk.”) But as it turns out, you can’t affirm yourself out of terrible things that have happened in the past, both your own, and that of people you know. And we keep reading, because we care about Jonathan Abernathy, and honestly, just want to know what happens to him.

Closure matters.

This is McGhee’s first novel; she was working in a publishing house as she wrote it, and as such, the novel is polished in a way that some debut efforts aren’t. You can tell when someone spends their days immersed in words. You can also tell when someone is disillusioned with capitalism, as McGhee, like many of her generation, appears to be. She equates work with dreams, writing, “To work and to dream is to forget.” In this world, work is the merciless maw that consumes our hours, leaving precious little of the meaningful stuff. Is it preachy at times, and a bit too single-minded in insisting that Abernathy is a victim, devoid of any agency in his life? Of course.

Is it also a book you will think about long after you’ve lent it to friends? That, too. B+ —Jennifer Graham

Wait for Christmas, will be at Water Street Bookstore (125 Water St., Exeter, 778-9731, waterstreetbooks.com) on Friday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. for a talk, book signing and drawing demo, along with hot cocoa, giveaways, and a visit from

Santa.

• LLOYD I. SEDERER, M.D., author of Caught in the Crosshairs of American Healthcare, will be at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m. for a talk and book signing.

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with book publisher representatives and refreshments at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 2240562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m.

History, stories & lectures • THE BOSTON TEA PARTY – 250 YEARS LATER presented

by Debra Dudek and Claire Evans via Zoom hosted by Nashua Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. To watch from home, register via nashualibrary.libcal.com. Or watch the live Zoom program together in the library theater; tea and cookies will be available and there is no need to register. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for socializing; the program runs from 2 to 3 p.m.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6 | | Page 29

POP CULTURE film reviews by amy diaz

Wish (PG)

A girl wishes upon a star and the star comes down to hang out in Wish, an underbaked mush of a fairy tale about the eternal struggle between security and liberty that also has the feel of a half-hearted Disney IP origin story.

Asha (voice of Ariana DeBose) is a 17-year-old living back in the once upon a time on the Mediterranean-y island of Rosas, which is ruled by King Magnifico (voice of Chris Pine), who founded the city-state years earlier with his wife Queen Amaya (Angelique Cabral). King Magnifico is a good sorcerer and he designed Rosas as a land where people of all backgrounds could come and live together in peace and safety under his rule — so right away you know he’s a villain. But this would be a real short movie if everyone else realized it, so the people of Rosas just think of him as a benevolent ruler who grants wishes. Every citizen gives Magnifico their wishes when they turn 18 — wishes being represented by a sort of glowy bubble — and he keeps them safe. Regularly, he picks one citizen to have their wish come true, which he accomplishes with his magic. In the meantime, the adult populace is not burdened by these wishes, the content of which they forget.

Asha is interviewing to be his apprentice and help him with his magic-ing. Perhaps she’s a little hopeful that doing this will help her 100-year-old grandfather Sabino (voice of Victor Garber) and her mother Sakina (voice of Natasha Rothwell) get their wishes granted. But when she sees her grandfather’s wish bubble floating around Magnifico’s wish bubble arboretum and asks Magnifico to grant it, he basically says “no job for you” explaining that her grandfather’s vague desire to create something that inspires future generations could lead to revolution or violence.

A dejected Asha later sings a song about wanting more for her people than All Of This and poof, a star appears. The star is a cute little blob of a thing that squeaks around and sprinkles glitter dust, giving animals, like Asha’s pet goat Valentino (voice of Alan Tudyk), the ability to talk and sing another song about how we are all made of star dust. Asha becomes determined to retrieve her family’s wishes — and eventually everybody’s wishes — so people can have the chance to make them come true on their own. As Asha’s friends observe of their 18-year-old buddy Simon (voice of Evan Peters), giving up their wish makes people a little less themselves, less whole.

Meanwhile, the magical light show caused when the star came to Earth has Magnifico worried that someone else is using magic and challenging his rule. He can’t figure

Wish

out what’s going on with his own good-guy magic so he turns to a book of dark magic and also asking people to fink on each other to try to find this Threat to Rosas. He goes from being a basically benign dictator who is maybe a little too impressed with his own handsomeness to being a megalomaniac who won’t tolerate any dissent because one teen girl asked him a question.

Also, Asha maybe invents animation using the tiny-drawing-on-a-page-corner flipbook method?

We get a lot of information about the Wish — how it makes people feel to give it to Magnifico, how he cares for them, what he does with them when he gets his dark magic, why he is such a helicopter mom about people’s hopes and dreams. There is a general “Magnifico lost his birth family in a land riven with strife,” which is what pushed him to make a cheery dystopia. But there is a sense of “oh and also this” when it comes to story elements rather than a clear, streamlined story with clear motivations for Magnifico. Similarly, the movie is filled with general Disney Easter Eggs that often play as in-jokes and almost appear to maybe sort of build up to something — “and that’s how A became B” — but also don’t really.

All the nods to Peter Pan and Bambi etc. (and all the visuals that feel like “remember that cottage from Sleeping Beauty? This isn’t that but hey made you think of it didn’t we?”) feel more like a fast food “100 years of Disney” promotional meal package than a real story. There’s a world in which Disney just creates a montage of discussion of wishes and dreams with clips from its movie library and achieves the same thing (that thing I think being the centrality of wishes and dreams to Disney stories) with more genuine emotion and brevity.

Wish feels like a movie that had some general ideas of what it wanted to do and where it wanted to go but had no clear idea how to get there and so it just filled in the gaps with “default Disney story” stuff. Likewise, the

Hippo | November 30 - December 6 | | Page 30

music feels very much like someone shoved Frozen and Moana into a food processor and this is the texture-less paste that came out.

The songs here read as extremely first-drafty and forgettable.

All that said, my kids and other kids in a very full theater seemed to be mostly hanging in with this movie — perking up the most when Valentino the goat was in on the action (the line, which also appears in the trailers, that involves him saying he found a secret door with his butt got a big laugh).

The talking animals do provide some nice moments of weirdness and I wish (ha) the movie had gone more in on that kind of goofiness than on creating something that feels more like a commemorative coin than a lively new story. C+ Rated PG for thematic elements and mild action, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn with a screenplay by Jennifer Lee & Allison Moore, Wish is an hour and 35 minutes long and distributed in theaters

by Walt Disney Studios.

Trolls Band Together

Poppy, Branch and the crew reunite for a caper winding them through the music of pop boy bands of the last 30+ years in Trolls Band Together, a perfectly cromulent hour and a half of kid entertainment.

Poppy (voice of Anna Kendrick), queen of the Trolls, and Branch (voice of Justin Timberlake), her frequently grumpy boyfriend, prepare for the marriage of Poppy’s good friend Bridget (voice of Zooey Deschanel) and Gristle (voice of Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Bridget and Gristle are both Bergens, who are larger and more monstery than Trolls and used to eat Trolls but now everybody parties together. As Bridget and Gristle say their I-dos, the ceremony is interrupted by John Dory (voice of Eric Andre), Branch’s long-estranged brother. Branch and his four brothers were once members of

the boy band BroZone together but broke up after a concert went wrong when they tried to achieve the perfect family harmony. John Dory wants the group back together to give perfection another try as he thinks it will be the only thing that can break the diamond bottle their brother Floyd (voice of Troye Sivan) is being held in. Floyd was trollnapped by Velvet (voice of Amy Schumer) and Veneer (voice of Andrew Rannells), a brother-sister pop duo of plasticy-looking creatures. They are personally talentless but have devised a way of draining Floyd of his talent to make them seem like the superstar vocalists they pretended to be.

As Floyd was Branch’s kindest brother, he decides to join John Dory on his quest, eventually scooping up other brothers Spruce (Daveed Diggs), who now calls himself Bruce and runs a resort with his wife and many children, and Clay (voice of Kid Cudi) to rescue Floyd. Along the way, the gang comes across an old Bergen putt-putt course that is now home to a band of Trolls left behind in Bergen Town all those years ago when Poppy and her father, then-King Peppy (voice of Walt Dohrn), escaped. As has already been spoiled in some of the trailers, one of those Trolls is a fast-talking, quickhair-braiding, high-energy Troll named Viva (voice of Camila Cabello), Poppy’s longlost sister. Viva is excited to see Poppy again but does not know about or believe the news that Trolls and Bergens are now friends.

As with other entries in this jukebox sugarfest series, Trolls Band Together pastes together bits of boy band song elements — reaching back to Boyz II Men and New Kids on the Block as well as Timberlake’s own NSYNC, which delivers a new original song for this movie and all the moms seeing it who remember a boy band fandom of their youth. It’s cute, as the music always is in these movies, though this one doesn’t feel quite as tune-packed as previous entries. This movie also feels less about Poppy than previous entries, which focused on Poppy’s leadership or Poppy’s friendship with Branch. Here, she feels more along for the ride.

And that’s all fine. These movies aren’t Pixar-in-its-prime levels of story-telling and visual delight. But they are fast-moving, upbeat, silly and occasionally weird in a way that provides a nice little tart element to all this cotton candy. They are kid-friendly without being actively adult off-putting. BRated PG for some mild rude and suggestive humor, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz with a screenplay by Elizabeth Tippet, Trolls Band Together is an hour and 31 minutes long and distributed in theaters by Universal Studios.

Shop Unique Handmade Gifts from Local Creators

Smitty’s Cinema 630 W. Main St., Tilton, 2863275, smittyscinema.com Wilton Town Hall Theatre 40 Main St., Wilton, wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456 How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Cinemark Rockingham Park • Napoleon (R, 2023) will 12 screen at Red River Theatres in 15 Mall Road, Salem Concord on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 3:30 and 6:45 p.m.; Friday, Fathom Events Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. Fathomevents.com 3, at 12:15, 3:30 and 6:45 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 4, through ThursThe Flying Monkey 39 Main St., Plymouth, 536- day, Dec. 7, at 3:30 & 6:45 p.m.

• The Holdovers (R, 2023) will 2551, flyingmonkeynh.com screen at Red River Theatres in Concord on Thursday, Nov. 30, The Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, at 4 & 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3, at 1, 4 436-2400, themusichall.org & 7 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 4, and O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday, Dec. 7, at 4 & 7 p.m.

Square 24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679- • The Magic Flute, recorded live in 2006 at the Metropolitan 3529, oneilcinemas.com Opera, will screen on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 12:55 p.m. at Regal Park Theatre 19 Main St., Jaffrey, theparkthe- Fox Run in Newington. See fathomevents.com. atre.org • How The Grinch Stole Christmas (PG, 2000), the Jim Carrey Red River Theatres 11 S. Main St., Concord, 224- version, will screen on Sunday, Dec. 3, at AMC Londonderry (1 4600, redrivertheatres.org and 7 p.m.), Cinemark Rockingham Park (1 p.m.), O’neil CineRex Theatre 23 Amherst St., Manchester, mas (1 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run (1 and 7 p.m.); and on Wednes668-5588, palacetheatre.org

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day, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at AMC Londonderry, Cinemark Rockingham Park and Regal Fox Run. See fathomevents.com.

• Max Lucado’s Because of Bethlehem, music and story based on the faith-based book, will screen on Tuesday, Dec. 5; Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday Dec. 7, mostly at 7 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park, Regal Concord and Regal Fox Run (the movie starts at 7:10 p.m. at Cinemark on Dec. 6 and 7:15 on Dec. 7). See fathomevents.com.

• Waitress: The Musical, a filmed presentation of the Broadway musical starring Sara Bareilles, is screening Thursday, Dec. 7, through Monday, Dec. 11, at AMC Londonderry (3:30 and 7 p.m.), Cinemark Rockingham Park (3:25 and 7:10, every day except Dec. 11, when it’s 3:55 and 7 p.m.), Regal Fox Run (2:30 and 7 p.m.) and O’neil Cinemas (2:30 and 7 p.m.). See fathomevents.com.

Nova Art Studios features individual studios for artists and makers, as well as event, gallery, and teaching space. Works from dozens of artists, makers, and artisans ranging from jewelry, to pottery, to stationary, to soap as well as fine art and home décor.

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6 | | Page 31

NITE

Hometown son Local music news & events

Drew Dunn headlines Nashua Center

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Christmas nuts: The Heather Pierson Trio is again playing Vince Guaraldi’s music from A Charlie Brown Christmas throughout the region, including an intimate show at a Lakes Region winery preceded by a complimentary tasting. Pierson’s performance includes other Guaraldi selections and holiday favorites. Thursday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, $25 and up at eventbrite.com, more dates at heatherpierson.com.

• Roots night: Fronted by a self-proclaimed reformed punk, Matt Charette & the Truer Sound rock across a range of genres. A good example is “Swinging,” a can-do love song that Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers fans should love, one of many gems from their latest long-player, Lo-Fi High Hopes. Also appearing are June Star, a Baltimore duo that features pedal steel guitar on many of their songs, and the twangy Girls on Grass. Friday, Dec. 1, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., facebook. com/junestarband.

• Rhythm & whoops: Standup comedy is paired with soulful music as Steve Bjork and Sean Sullivan co-headline with support from Ken Murphy and Sean Tracey. The laughs are preceded by a set from Finesse, a Detroit-based singer whose blend of R&B and gospel has been called “uplifting and inspiring.” Saturday, Dec. 2, 6:30 pm., Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket, $25 at rockinghamballroom.club.

• Home-grown: The latest NH Music Collective Sunday Sessions show has Ryan Williamson along with the hArt of Sound, two area musicians performing original compositions. Williamson is a wizard at looping his way to a full band sound. Colin Hart cites influences from Radiohead to Muse to Nine Inch Nails, calling has project a “surreal alternative electronic rock brainchild.” Sunday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m., Bank of NH Stage (Cantin Room), 16 S Main St., Concord, $15 at ccanh.com.

• Country kid: Lee Biddle is a singer-songwriter with hardscrabble songs like “Lonesome Whistle Blues.” He inhabits the spirit of a Depression era ex-soldier on “Risky Whisky” but pays respect to his roots with “New England,” calling the region “my home, where I belong.” Wednesday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m., Saddle Up Saloon, 92 Route 125, Kingston, see facebook.com/leebiddlemusic.

While it was being built, Drew Dunn would drive by the Nashua Center for the Arts and think about performing there one day. On Dec. 2, the 2010 Nashua High School South graduate will headline, the latest milestone in a comedy career that was quick out of the gate when it started 10 years ago and continues to rise.

“Nashua is my hometown,” Dunn said by phone recently. “I’ve lived in a lot of places, but it’s cool to be able to do this.”

Dunn’s easy-going demeanor and razorsharp instincts combine with innate humor for a comedic style loved by both fans and fellow comics. The latest example of the latter is Dane Cook, who saw Dunn open for him in West Hollywood a few months back and was impressed enough to invite him on tour.

Connecting with the Boston comic was, Dunn said, “kind of super random.”

Cook streams video games on Twitch, Drew Dunn. Courtesy photo. and Dunn’s dad follows him on the popular website. When Drew posted about the that I’ve had, and it’s inspiring. It makes it show on his social media, Dad messaged feel a little bit more attainable.”

Cook. “He told him we’ve been big fans Such glamorous highs are the result of for a long time, we’re both from the New an arduous journey.

England area…. That got Dane to watch a “I’ve done everything from campfew minutes of my set.” ground shows talking to people sitting in The comic’s career has seen a steady their golf carts in the middle of the day, checklist of successes. Playing the John- to random breweries and stuff like that,” ny Carson Great he said. ThroughAmerican Comout, “I’ve learned edy Festival in comedy is a marCarson’s homeathon….

Hard town of Norfolk, I’ve learned comedy is a marawork adds up over Nebraska, was an time to be able to thon…. Hard work adds up over early triumph, “the create moments first time I got on like [the Nashtime to be able to create moments a plane and did ua show], which standup.”

Dunn makes it worthlike [the Nashua show], which won the Boston while. Building Comedy Festival makes it worthwhile. something and in 2017; later he then sharing it, went to the Pacific continuing to go Drew Dunn from there, it’s Northwest, where he lived in grade a never-ending school, and took road, this whole standup game. I’m just top honors at the month-long Seattle Inter- happy to be on it.” national Comedy Competition.

Dunn acknowledged other comics who The biggest highlight since then has helped him along the way, including earbeen hitting the road with Cook, which ly mentor Corey Rodrigues. “He always will continue next year. It included a stop seemed a step or two ahead of me, so any at the Wilbur Theatre, which Dunn called time I’d be running into something new, “one of the last major venues in Boston he’d be a guy I’d hit up.” on my checklist.” Overall, the tour is “the Manchester comic Paul Landwehr, first taste of the next level of this business who’ll open in Nashua, is another. Dunn

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 32

recalled working the door with him at Dick Doherty’s Comedy Den in Boston when both were starting out.

Amiability is key to Dunn’s success.

“My business model when it comes to this whole thing is to just be funny and nice to everybody, because it’s more fun that way.

So many comics get in this competitive mindset of trying to one-up each other — ‘Why is he getting an opportunity and not me?’ or ‘Why is she winning and not me?’

For me it’s always been us comics versus the crowd. If more people are seeing standup comedy, that’s a win for all of us.”

Dunn sees a rising tide in the regional scene.

“I think comedy in general, and particularly in Boston, is probably in a better state than it’s ever been,” he said. “I wasn’t alive in the ’80s and that boom, but comedy in general now, there’s more people watching and listening and going to live shows as far as standup goes than ever before in the history of time. To be a part of that … is just infinitely exciting.”

Drew Dunn w/ Paul Landwehr and Will Mars When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Where: Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua Tickets: $29 at etix.com

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Cabin Pub Alton Bay 285 Old Candia Road, Dockside Restaurant 6 East Side Drive, 855- 483-4888 2222 Concord Hermanos Cocina Foster’s Tavern 403 Main St., 875-1234 Mexicana 11 Hills Ave., 224-5669 Auburn Lithermans Auburn Pitts 167 Rockingham Road, 126 Hall St., Unit B 622-6564 Tandy’s Pub & Grille 1 Eagle Square, 856Bedford 7614 Copper Door

20 L St., 601-6928 Dover Auspicious Brew 1 Washington St., 953- L Street Tavern 603 17 L St., 967-4777 7240 Epping Holy Grail 64 Main St., 679-9559

Wally’s Pub Telly’s Restaurant & 144 Ashworth 926-6954 Pizzeria 235 Calef Hwy., 6798225

Epsom Hill Top Pizzeria Uno Pizzeria 1724 Dover Road, 736Carriage 15 Fort Eddy Road, 0027 226-8667

15 Leavy Dr., 488-2677

Murphy’s House 393 Route 101, 488Contoocook 5875 Contoocook Farmers Market Bow 896 Main St., 746-3018 Chen Yang Li

520 S. Bow St., 228Gould Hill Farm & 8508 Contoocook Cider Co. 656 Gould Hill Road, Brookline The Alamo Texas Bar- 746-3811 becue & Tequila Bar 99 Route 13, 721-5000

Shane’s Texas Pit 61 High St., 601-7091

Gilford Patrick’s 18 Weirs Road, 2930841 Goffstown Village Trestle 25 Main St., 497-8230 Hampton CR’s The Restaurant 287 Exeter Road, 9297972

Derry Fody’s Tavern 187 Rockingham Road, Candia The Goat The Barnyard / Town 404-6946

Thursday, Nov. 30 Epping Alton Bay Telly’s: Lewis Goodwin, 7 p.m.

Dockside: Johnny Friday, 6 p.m.

Ave., Londonderry Coach Stop Restaurant & Tavern Whym Craft Pub & 176 Mammoth Road, 437-2022 Brewery 853 Lafayette Road, Pipe Dream Brewing 601-2801 49 Harvey Road, 4040751 Hudson The Bar Stumble Inn 2B Burnham Road 20 Rockingham Road, 432-3210 Luk’s Bar & Grill 142 Lowell Road, 889Manchester 9900 Backyard Brewery 1211 S. Mammoth Lynn’s 102 Tavern 76 Derry Road, 943- Road, 623-3545 7832 Bonfire 950 Elm St., 663-7678 Jaffrey Park Theatre 19 Main St., 532-9300 Currier Museum of Art 150 Ash St., 669-6144 Kingston Saddle Up Saloon

Concord Hermanos: Brian Booth, 6:30 p.m.

Lithermans: Sam Hammerman, 5:30 p.m.

Derry Fody’s: music bingo, 8 p.m.

Hudson Luk’s: Chris Cyrus of Slack Tide, 7 p.m.

Lynn’s 102: karaoke w/George Bisson, 8 p.m.

Meredith Giuseppe’s: Joel Cage, 5:45 p.m.

Merrimack Homestead: Doug Thompson, 5:30 p.m.

Kingston Saddle Up Saloon: karaoke w/ Tortilla Flat: Ralph Allen, 6 DJ Jason, 7 p.m. p.m.

Music, live and in person These listings for live music are compiled from press releases, restaurants’ websites and social media and artists’ websites and social media. Call the venue to check on special rules and reservation instructions. Get your gigs listed by sending information to adiaz@hippopress.com.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 34

Great North Aleworks 1050 Holt Ave., 8585789 KC’s Rib Shack 837 Second St., 627RIBS Olympus Pizza 506 Valley St., 6445559 Salona Bar & Grill 128 Maple St., 6244020

Milford Pasta Loft: music bingo, 6:30 p.m.

Riley’s Place: open mic, 7 p.m.

Nashua Casey Magee’s: open mic, 7:30 p.m.

Strange Brew worth Hwy., 476-5485 88 Market St., 666-4292 Nashua Casey Magee’s Irish Wild Rover Pub 21 Kosciuszko St., 669- 8 Temple St., 484-7400 7722 Fody’s Tavern Meredith 9 Clinton St., 577-9015 Giuseppe’s 312 Daniel Webster Shorty’s Mexican Hwy., 279-3313 Roadhouse 48 Gusabel Ave., 882Twin Barns Brewing 4070 194 Daniel Webster Hwy., 279-0876 New Boston Molly’s Tavern & Merrimack Restaurant Homestead 35 Mont Vernon Road, 641 Daniel Webster 487-1362 Hwy., 429-2022 Northfield Tortilla Flat Boonedoxz Pub 595 Daniel Webster 95 Park St., 717-8267 Hwy., 424-4479 Northwood Milford Northwoods Brewing The Pasta Loft Co. 241 Union Square, 672- 1334 First NH Tpk., 2270 942-6400

Riley’s Place Penacook 29 Mont Vernon St., American Legion Post 380-3480 31 11 Charles St., 753South Side Tavern Stonecutters Pub 9372 1279 S. Willow St., 63 Union Square, 213935-9947 5979 Pittsfield Over the Moon Stark Brewing Co. Moultonborough 1253 Upper City Road, 500 Commercial St., Buckey’s 216-2162 625-4444 240 Governor WentShaskeen Pub 909 Elm St., 625-0246

Fody’s: DJ Rich Karaoke, 9:30 Laconia Fratello’s: Duke Snyder, 5:30 p.m.

Shorty’s: Freddie Catalfo, 6 p.m. p.m.

Epsom Hill Top: music bingo w/ Jenni- Londonderry Stumble Inn: Mugsy Trio, 7 fer Mitchell, 7 p.m. p.m.

Bedford Goffstown Copper Door: Justin Jordan, 7 Village Trestle: Jennifer Mitch- Manchester p.m. ell, 6 p.m.

Currier: Kate Dobbins, 5 p.m.

Foundry: Joel Begin, 5 p.m.

Brookline Fratello’s: Chris Taylor, 5:30 Hampton Alamo: open mic with Travis CR’s: Just The Two of Us, 6 p.m.

Rollo, 6 p.m.

Goat: Cox Karaoke, 8 p.m. p.m.

Strange Brew: Lisa Marie, 8 L Street: karaoke, 9 p.m.

Candia Whym: music bingo, 6:30 p.m. p.m.

Town Cabin: Dani Sven, 6 p.m.

Auburn Auburn Pitts: open jam, 7 p.m.

Country 92 Route 125, 369-6962 Derryfield Club 625 Mammoth Road, Laconia Defiant Records & 623-2880 Craft Beer 609 Main St., 527-8310 The Foundry 50 Commercial St., 836-1925 Fratello’s 799 Union Ave., 528Fratello’s 2022 155 Dow St., 624-2022 Tower Hill Tavern 264 Lakeside Ave., 366- The Goat 50 Old Granite St. 9100

6 p.m.

Seabrook Backyard Burgers: Jennifer Bedford Mitchell, 6 p.m.

Murphy’s: Tyler Levs, 6 p.m.

Red’s: Mica Peterson, 8 p.m.

Brookline Northwood Somersworth Northwoods Brewing: Timbear Earth Eagle: open mic w/Dave Alamo: Matt Bergeron, 6 p.m.

Music, 5:30 p.m.

Ogden, 6 p.m.

Concord Hermanos: State Street Combo, Pittsfield Windham Over the Moon: open mic, 6 Common Man: Malcolm Salls, 6:30 p.m. p.m.

6 p.m.

Contoocook Cider Co.: Brad Myrick, 1 p.m.

Salem Friday, Dec. 1 Copper Door: Chris Lester, 7 Alton Bay Dover p.m.

Dockside: music bingo, 7 p.m.

Auspicious Brew: Hello Shark T-Bones: Bella Perrotta, 5 p.m.

Foster’s Tavern: Pete Peterson,

NEW HAMPSHIRE’S GOT COMEDY Over the past 18 seasons, America’s Got Talent has introduced some hilarious comedians to a national audience. Eric Ditterman, Tom Cotter and Dan Naturman are among those whose careers have received a boost from the popular TV series. They stop by the Flying Monkey (39 Main St., Plymouth, 5362551, flyingmonkeynh.com) on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $115, plus fees.

NITE MUSIC THIS WEEK 311 South Broadway, Portsmouth Rochester 893-3444 The Gas Light Porter’s 64 Market St., 430- 19 Hanson St., 330Seabrook 9122 1964 Backyard Burgers & Wings The Goat Salem 5 Provident Way, 760142 Congress St., 590- Copper Door 4628 41 S. Broadway, 458- 2581

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Windham Common Man 2033 Chop Shop Pub 88 Range Road, 898Thirsty Moose Tap920 Lafayette Road, 0088 house Luna Bistro 21 Congress St., 427- 254 N. Broadway, 458- 760-7706 2162 8645 Red’s Kitchen + Tavern T-Bones 530 Lafayette Road, / Tiger Saw / Eastern Mountain Londonderry Time, 8 p.m.

Coach Stop: Dave Zangri, 6 p.m.

Epping Pipe Dream: Jonagold, 6 p.m.

Holy Grail: Karen Grenier, 7 Stumble Inn: Hell on Heel’s, 8 p.m. p.m.

Telly’s: Johnny Friday Duo, 8 p.m.

Manchester Epsom Hill Top: Jennifer Mitchell, 7 p.m.

Goffstown Village Trestle: Charlie Chronopoulos, 5 p.m.

Hampton CR’s: Bob Tirelli, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 9 p.m.

L Street: Keith Crocker, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: Colt Ford, 9 p.m.

Hudson Luk’s: Jowdee Frawlee, 7 p.m.

Lynn’s 102: karaoke w/George Bisson, 8 p.m.

karaoke, 9 p.m.

Moultonborough Buckey’s: White Steer, 6:30 p.m.

Nashua Casey Magee’s: karaoke, 9:30 Backyard Brewery: Mikey G, p.m.

6 p.m.

New Boston Bonfire: Maddi Ryan, 9 p.m.

Derryfield: Last Kid Picked, 8 Molly’s: live music, 6:30 p.m. p.m.

Foundry: Sam Hammerson, 6 Northfield Boonedoxz Pub: karaoke night, p.m.

Fratello’s: Sean Coleman, 6 7 p.m. p.m.

Great North Aleworks: open Penacook American Legion Post 31: Jenmic, 6 p.m.

Olympus Pizza: Chris Taylor, nifer Mitchell, 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Shaskeen: Baltimore June Star, Portsmouth Gas Light: Lewis Goodwin, 9 p.m.

South Side Tavern: Cox Kara- 9:30 p.m.

The Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m. oke, 9 p.m.

Strange Brew: live music, 9 Press Room: DJ Ladi Dre, 10 p.m. p.m.

Thirsty Moose: Sweep the Leg, 9 p.m.

Meredith

Jaffrey Twin Barns: Andrea Paquin, 5 Park Theatre: Kota, 6 p.m.; p.m.

Frost Heaves Christmas, 7:30 p.m.

Merrimack Homestead: Dave Clark, 6 p.m.

Laconia Defiant Records: Mike Lough- Milford lin, 6 p.m.

Pasta Loft: Jamdemic Band, Fratello’s: Kyle Dumais, 5:30 8:30 p.m. p.m.

Riley’s: Glitter and Camo, 5 Tower Hill Tavern: 12 Oz Soul, p.m.

8 p.m.

Stonecutters Pub: DJ Dave O

Salem Luna Bistro: Chad LaMarsh, 7 p.m.

Smuttynose: music bingo, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Alton Bay Foster’s Tavern: Paquin, 6 p.m.

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WELCOME TO FROST HEAVES If you’ve celebrated the holiday season in New England, you’ll appreciate the yankee humor of A Frost Heaves Christmas, a comedy and variety Christmas show. The residents of “the most underappreciated town in New Hampshire” drop into the Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey, 532-9300, theparktheatre.org) on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20, plus fees.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 35

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Fratello’s: David Corson, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Musical Brunch with Brooks Hubbard, 10 a.m.

Bow Chen Yang Li: Josh Foster, 7 Great North Aleworks: Paul Driscoll, 4 p.m. p.m.

Shaskeen: Skrizzly Adams, Paul Jarvis, 9 p.m.

Brookline Wild Rover: Ralph Allen, 5 Alamo: Justin Cohn, 6 p.m. p.m.

Bedford Murphy’s: Colin Hart, 6 p.m.

Concord Downtown Farmers Market: Meredith Twin Barns: Old Tom, 5 p.m.

Hank Osborne, 9 a.m.

Hermanos: live music, 6:30 Merrimack p.m.

Homestead: Paul Gormley, 6 p.m.

Contoocook

Cider Co.: April Cushman, 1 Milford p.m.

Pasta Loft: Billy & The Jets, 8:30 p.m. (hits of Billy Joel & Epping Holy Grail: Jackie Lee, 6:30 Elton John) Riley’s: Down By Ten, 8 p.m. p.m.

Telly’s: Rob & Jody, 8 p.m.

Goffstown Village Trestle: Off Angels Band, 6 p.m.

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Milford Riley’s Place: blues jam, 1 p.m.

Northfield Boonedoxz Pub: open mic, 4 p.m.

Portsmouth Gas Light: DJ KoKo P, 9 p.m.

Press Room: The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow & Jamie McLean Band, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 4

Dover Portsmouth Cara Irish Pub: open mic, 8 Gas Light Pub: Johnny Angel, p.m.

9:30 p.m.

Press Room: The Thing, 9 p.m.

Gilford Hopkinton Patrick’s Pub: open mic with Salem Contoocook Farmers Market: John McArthur, 6 p.m.

Luna Bistro: Dan Fallon, 7 p.m.

Paul Driscoll, 9 a.m.

Hampton Sunday, Dec. 3 Jaffrey L Street: Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Park Theatre: Bernie & Louise Bedford Watson, 5:30 p.m.; Frost Heaves Copper Door: Nate Comp, 11 Hudson a.m.

Christmas, 7:30 p.m.

The Bar: karaoke with Phil, 7 p.m.

Brookline Laconia Fratello’s: Richard Cumming, Alamo: Austin McGarthy, 4 Jaffrey p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Park Theatre: open mic, 6:30 p.m.

Contoocook Londonderry Coach Stop: Dave Clark, 6 p.m. Cider Co.: Justin Cohen, 1 p.m. Laconia Stumble Inn: Whatsername, 8 Fratello’s: Richard Cumming, Goffstown p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Village Trestle: Bob Pratte, 3:30 p.m.

Manchester Londonderry Backyard Brewery: Kimayo, Stumble Inn: Lisa Guyer, 7 Hampton 6 p.m. p.m.

Bonfire: Whiskey Horse, 9 p.m. L Street: karaoke, 9 p.m.

Derryfield: Emily’s Garage Wally’s: The Million Watts, Manchester 7:30 p.m.

Band, 8 p.m.

Fratello’s: Phil Jacques, 5:30 Foundry: Scott King, 6 p.m. p.m.

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140528

Let us help you achieve a full, happy, and confident smile!

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 36

Manchester Bonfire: free line dancing, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 10 a.m.

Strange Brew: One Big Soul Jam, 7 p.m.

Nashua Casey Magee’s: classic rock, 8 Salem Duty p.m.

Copper Door: Rob Dumais, 11 a.m.

New Boston Molly’s: live music, 7 p.m.

Hampton The Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

L Street: karaoke, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: Rosie, 9 p.m.

Whym: Pete Pappas, 6:30 p.m.

Visit our website

Laconia Fratello’s: Kyle Dumais, 5:30 p.m.

Do you like your big band with a side of yacht rock? The Scott Spradling Band’s annual Rockin’ Big Band Christmas Show spikes their set with holiday classics and soft-rock favorites by artists like Billy Joel and Chicago.

They return to the Rex (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29, plus fees.

The Goat: Musical Bingo Nation, 7 p.m.

Salona: music bingo with Jennifer Mitchell, 6 p.m.

KC’s Rib Shack: Paul & Nate open mic, 7 p.m.

Strange Brew: David Rousseau, 8 p.m.

Jaffrey Park Theatre: Sophia & Kate, 5:30 p.m.; Granite State Ringers, 7 p.m.

Merrimack Homestead: Jodee Frawlee, 5:30 p.m.

Merrimack Homestead: Lewis Goodwin, 5:30 p.m.

Kingston Saddle Up Saloon: Musical Bingo Nation, 7 p.m.

Nashua Fody’s: karaoke night, 9:30 p.m.

Portsmouth The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 8 p.m.

Press Room: Jazz Jam, 6 p.m.

Laconia Fratello’s: Richard Cumming, 5:30 p.m.

Portsmouth Gas Light: DJ KoKo, 9 p.m.

The Goat: Musical Bingo Nation, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 5

Concord Hermanos: live music, 6:30 p.m.

Tandy’s: open mic, 8 p.m.

Hampton L Street: karaoke, 9 p.m.

Shane’s: music bingo, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: musical bingo, 7 p.m.

Laconia Fratello’s: Duke Snyder, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester Fratello’s: Jodee Frawlee, 5:30 p.m.

The Goat: karaoke with George Cox, 8 p.m.

Rochester Porter’s: karaoke, 6:30 p.m.

Seabrook Backyard Burgers: music bingo with Jennifer Mitchell, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 6

Concord Hermanos: live music, 6:30 p.m.

Tandy’s: karaoke, 8 p.m.

Uno Pizzeria: Andrea Paquin, 6 p.m.

Derry Fody’s: karaoke, 7 p.m.

Dover Auspicious Brew: open mic with Palana, 7 p.m.

Manchester Fratello’s: Dave Zangri, 5:30 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 10 p.m.

Stark Brewing: Cox karaoke, 8 p.m.

Strange Brew: open mic w/ Will Bemiss, 8 p.m.

141910

NITE MUSIC THIS WEEK

Merrimack Homestead: Joanie Cicatelli, 5:30 p.m.

Milford Riley’s: karaoke, 7 p.m.

Stonecutters Pub: open mic, 8 p.m.

Seabrook Chop Shop: DJ Manny karaoke, 7:30 p.m.

Hampton L Street: karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY THIS WEEK and beyond

Venues Nashua Center for the Arts 201 Amato Center for the Perform- Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, ing Arts 56 Mont Vernon, Mil- nashuacenterforthearts.com ford, 672-1002, amatocenter.org Palace Theatre 80 Hanover St., Chunky’s 707 Huse Road, Man- Manchester, 668-5588, palacetchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., heatre.org Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham; chunkys.com Park Theatre 19 Main St., Jaffrey, 532-9300, theparktheatre.org Colonial Theatre 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, colo- Rex Theatre 23 Amherst St., niallaconia.com Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org The Flying Monkey 39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flying- Ruby Room Comedy Shaskeen, monkeynh.com 909 Elm St., Manchester, 4910720, rubyroomcomedy.com Headliners Comedy Club DoubleTree By Hilton, 700 Elm St., Tupelo Music Hall 10 A St., Manchester, headlinerscomedy- Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusiclub.com chall.com Kathleen’s Irish Pub 90 Lake Events St., Bristol, 744-6336, kathleen- • Bob Marley Amato Center, sirishpub.com Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.

• America’s Got Comedy FlyThe Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., ing Monkey, Friday, Dec. 1, Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusi- 7:30 p.m. chall.org • A Frost Heaves Christmas Park Theatre, Friday, Dec. 1, The Music Hall Lounge 131 and Saturday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.

Congress St., Portsmouth, 436- • Phillip Anthony Chunky’s 2400, themusichall.org Manchester, Friday, Dec. 1, 8:30 p.m.

Mark Riley • Dave Ross & Ismael Loutfi Music Hall Lounge, Saturday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

• Pete Andrews and Cottage Comedy Kathleen’s Irish Pub, Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

• Drew Dunn Nashua Center for the Arts, Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

• Dan Crohn Headliners, Saturday, Dec. 2, 8:30 p.m.

• Mark Riley Chunky’s Nashua, Saturday, Dec. 2, 8:30 p.m.

• Queen City Improv Holiday Show Rex, Saturday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.

• A Tribute to Robin Williams Rex, Sunday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

• Brad Upton Colonial, Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

• Brad Upton Nashua Center for the Arts, Saturday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 37

NITE MUSIC & EVENTS Trivia

Events • ‘90s Music 21+ trivia night Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com).

• Home Alone all-ages trivia night Sunday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com).

• Elf 21+ trivia night Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com).

Weekly • Thursday trivia with Game Time Trivia at Mitchell BBQ (50 N. Main St., Rochester, 3322537, mitchellhillbbq.com) at 6 p.m.

• Thursday trivia at Station 101 (193 Union Sq., Milford, 249-

5416) at 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday music trivia at Day of the Dead Taqueria (454 Charles Bancroft Hwy. in Litchfield, 377-7664) at 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday trivia at Great North Aleworks (1050 Holt Ave., Manchester, 858-5789, greatnorthaleworks.com) from 7 to 8 p.m.

• Thursday trivia with Game Time Trivia at Hart’s Turkey Farm (223 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-6212, hartsturkeyfarm.com) from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

• Thursday trivia at Yankee Lanes (216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656, yankeelanesentertainment.com) at 7 p.m.

• Thursday Opinionation by Sporcle trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill (15 Fort Eddy Road in Concord; 226-8667) at 7 p.m.

• Thursday Kings trivia at Game Changer Sports Bar (4 Orchard View Dr., Londonderry; 2169336, jewelmusicvenue.com

Concerts

Venues Angel City Music Hall 179 Elm St. in Manchester, 9313654, angelcitymusichall.com Bank of NH Stage in Concord 16 S. Main St., Concord, 2251111, banknhstage.com Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com Cisco Brewers 35 Corporate Dr., Portsmouth, ciscobrewersportsmouth.com Colonial Theatre 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-6578774, coloniallaconia.com Concord City Auditorium 2 Prince St., Concord, theaudi.org The Flying Monkey 39 Main St., Plymouth, 5362551, flyingmonkeynh.com Jewel Music Venue 61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-

Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603-JAZZ, jimmysoncongress.com Lakeport Opera House 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 5197506, lakeportopera.com The Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org The Music Hall Lounge 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org Nashua Center for the Arts 201 Main St., Nashua, 800-6578774, nashuacenterforthearts.com The Orchard Chapel 143 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 244-0202, thewordbarn.com Palace Theatre 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org

TLC 1396, gamechangersportsbar. com) from 8 to 10 p.m.

• First Thursday of every month trivia at Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua; fodystavern.com) at 8 p.m.

• Friday Team Trivia at Cheers (17 Depot St., Concord, 2280180, cheersnh.com) from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the lounge.

• Friday trivia at Gibb’s Garage Bar (3612 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, gibbsgaragebar.com) from 8 to 10 p.m.

• Monday Trivia at the Tavern

Nov. 30, 7 p.m., Word Barn Park Theatre 19 Main St., Jaffrey, 532-9300, • Vienna Boys Choir Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Centheparktheatre.org ter for the Arts • Grace Kelly Thursday, Nov. Rex Theatre 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 30, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s • Keller Williams Thursday, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org Nov. 30, 8 p.m., Tupelo • Wellfleet Friday, Dec. 1, 4 Stone Church 5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659- p.m., Cisco Brewers • A Cape Breton Christmas 7700, stonechurchrocks.com with Coig Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Word Barn The Strand 20 Third St., Dover, 343-1899, • Copperheads Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Stone Church thestranddover.com • Bywater Call Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Stripe Nine Brewing Co. 8 Somersworth Plaza, Somer- • Mattie & the Penders Friday, sworth, 841-7175, stripenine- Dec. 1, 8 p.m., Stripe Nine • Carbon Leaf Friday, Dec. 1, 8 brewing.com p.m., Tupelo Tupelo Music Hall • Truffle Saturday, Dec. 2, noon, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, Cisco Brewers • The Scott Spradling Band: tupelomusichall.com Rockin’ Big Band Christmas The Word Barn Saturday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Rex 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 244- • Indigo Girls Saturday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Chubb Theatre 0202, thewordbarn.com • Gary Hoey Ho! Ho! Hoey Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m., Tupelo Shows • Mike Block Trio Thursday, • Apathy & Celph Titled with N.M.E The Illest, Stryfe, Ape the Grim, LB, Joe Grizzly Sat-

INDIGO GIRLS

It’s easy to take Indigo Girls for granted. The duo have released a string of consistently excellent albums, collaborated with artists like Pink, sold out their concert tours and even been the subject of a jukebox musical. When their signature song “Closer to Fine” was used in a pivotal scene in this summer’s blockbuster Barbie, it introduced the Indigo Girls to a new audience. Don’t miss their upcoming appearance at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $64.75 to $91.75, plus fees.

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 38

at Red’s (530 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-0030, redskitchenandtavern.com), signup at 8:30 p.m., from 9 to 11 p.m. Hosted by DJ Zati.

• Tuesday trivia at Reed’s North (2 E. Main St. in Warner, 4562143, reedsnorth.com) from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Tuesday trivia at Fody’s (187 Rockingham Road, Derry, 4046946, fodystavern.com) at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday trivia at Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832, lynns102.com), at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday Geeks Who Drink trivia at Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com), from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at Community Oven (845 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-6311, thecommunityoven.com) at 6 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at Smuttynose (105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton, 436-4026, smuttynose. com) at 6 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at Spyglass Brewing Co. (306 Innovative Way, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com) at 6 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at Main Street Grill and Bar (32 Main St., Pittsfield; 435-0005, mainstreetgrillandbar.com) at 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at Popovers (11 Brickyard Sq., Epping, 7344724, popoversonthesquare.com) from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

• Wednesday The Greatest Trivia in the World at Revolution Taproom and Grill (61 N. Main St., Rochester, 244-3042, revolutiontaproomandgrill.com/upcoming-events) at 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday Kings Trivia at KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.

Carbon Leaf urday, Dec. 2, at 9 p.m., Jewel • Glenn Miller Orchestra Sunday, Dec. 3, noon and 4 p.m., Tupelo • Compaq Big Band Christmas Show Sunday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m., Rex • Enchanted Characters Christmas Sunday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m., Lakeport Opera House • Ryan Williamson & The hArt of Sound Sunday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m., Cantin Room at Bank of NH Stage • Ellis Paul Sunday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Music Hall Lounge • Rock My Soul Sunday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Tupelo • Kenny G Sunday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts • Clay Cook Sunday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m., Lakeport • John Scofield Trio Sunday,

net), sponsored by Mi Campo, in Manchester 7 to 9 p.m..

• Wednesday trivia at Millyard Brewery (125 E. Otterson St., Nashua; 722-0104, millyardbrewery.com) at 7 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia with Game Time Trivia at The Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St., Portsmouth, 427-8645, thirstymoosetaphouse. com) at 7 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at The Bar (2b Burnham Road, Hudson, 943-5250) at 7 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at City Hall Pub (8 Hanover St.; Manchester, 232-3751, snhhg.com) at 7 p.m.

• Wednesday World Tavern Trivia at Fody’s Tavern (9 Clinton St. in Nashua, fodystavern. com, 577-9015) at 8 p.m.

• Wednesday trivia at the Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey; 532-9300, theparktheatre.org) at 8 p.m.

Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s • Jane Monheit Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s • Not Fade Away (Grateful Dead tribute) Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Angel City • Granite State Ringers Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Park Theatre • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts • The Cartells Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Concord City Auditorium • U.D.O. The Voice of Accept Thursday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m., Angel City • Donna the Buffalo Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s • Postmodern Jukebox Thursday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre • Aaron Lewis Thursday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Chubb Theatre • O-Town/LFO Friday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., Angel City • Thanks to Gravity Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge • Nicholas Burns Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Park Theatre

ROCK THE HOLIDAYS Gary Hoey may be known for his energetic, blues-driven slant on classic rock, but he’s always held the holidays close to his heart.

His Ho! Ho! Hoey! Shows feature unbelievably rocked-out versions of Christmas favorites like “Linus and Lucy” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Don’t miss his annual appearance at Tupelo (10 A St., Derry, 4375100, tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40 plus fees.

Jonesin’ crossword by matt jones

“Bar Numb”— I must’ve heard it differently

44. Woodchuck cousins 45. Shapeless masses 49. Do a grand jury’s job 52. “Kia ora” language 53. Madison Ave. figure 55. Turkey’s neighbor 56. “Major” constellation 57. “Worst ... episode ... ___” 58. Chocolate bar full of bubbles

59. Pre-law exam 60. “Young Sheldon” network 61. Rueful laugh 62. Carte lead-in © 2023 Matt Jones

Last Week’s Answers:

1-28-23

● Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

● The numbers within the heavily

outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of KenKen Puzzle LLC. ©2023 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication. www.kenken.com

Across 1. Self-descriptive shortening followed by a period 5. Pack firmly 9. Study late 13. Indie pop duo Tegan and ___ 14. Word flashed on “The Circle” when news comes through 16. Baltic Sea capital 17. It may be adjusted by using a different head 19. Tippy-top 20. Game show for graveyard enthusiasts?

22. Cyndi Lauper hit “___ Bop” 23. Buckwheat noodles 24. Lionel Messi’s home, for short 27. Having an outside pier 31. Shellfish that’s shucked 33. Actress Thurman of “Red, White & Royal Blue” 34. Water container fastened to a mountaineer’s belt?

37. A smattering 39. “Do the Right Thing” pizzeria owner 40. Artist Mondrian 41. Hair styler used while waiting to move on the freeway?

46. Wolf Blitzer’s channel 47. Actress Robbie 48. Flockhart of “Ally McBeal” 50. Prefix with center 51. “Rendezvous With ___” (Arthur C. Clarke novel) 54. “Anchorman” first name 55. “Don’t agree to that! You’re being cheated”?

60. Grill residue

Down 1. Pt. of PGA 2. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” group ___ Men 3. “Sleepy Hollow” antagonist ___ Bones 4. Least refined 5. North Carolina resident 6. ___ Romeo (Italian sports car) 7. Certain sandwiches 8. Prefix with “plasm” or “type” 9. ___ Rangoon 10. Tear (apart) 11. Questionnaire question 12. Highest limit 15. Trifling amount, in British slang 18. Belief system 21. It may be held in a deli 24. Lofty stories 25. Give in 26. ___ Green (Scottish eloping destination) 27. “Is it ___, or ...”

28. Sullen subgenre for Kid Cudi 29. Japanese soy sauce variety 30. DVD player insert 32. Longtime NASCAR sponsor 63. Damaging substances 35. ___ salad (side dish in some 64. Banjoist Fleck Hawaiian restaurants) 65. “Give it ___!”

66. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” star 36. Alliance of countries 38. Queue after D Michael 67. Shortening for a really tall NBA 42. It may be made from logs or pillows star 43. Lake that’s the source of the Mis68. Bitter bar brews sissippi River 69. Turkey ___ (November race)

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 39

Rock and roll Crosswords by todd santos

She was a fast machine Across 1. Penthouse star hotel room 6. ‘Piece Of Me’ __ Row 10. ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ Perkins 14. Nebraska locale of Saddle Creek records 15. Steve Porcaro ‘Rosanna’ band 16. AC/DC “You’re a toy for __ (damnation)” 17. Old timey girls at shows 18. Like songs in same genre 19. ‘91 Gang Of Four album you hear in an indoor shopping center?

20. Zwan album ‘Mary __’ 23. ‘00 Queens Of The Stone Age album for 17+ moviegoers

25. Sounds you make during best jams 26. The Bob __ came before ‘Till It Shines’ 30. “Stars wrapped in your hair, __” Cult 31. Tori Amos album ‘Boys For __’ 32. Japanese metalers for a smartphone card 35. Blues Traveler will think or do this ‘Over’ 36. Buddy Moss ‘Oh __ Mama’ 38. Drifters/solo soul singer __ King 39. Chicago ‘What Kind Of Man Would __’ 40. Larkin Poe ‘Might As Well __’

41. “Bag it, tag it, sell it to the butcher in the store” Phish 42. ‘97 Ben Folds album ‘Whatever __’ 46. Sing/songer Lisa that did ‘Stay’ 49. Savage Garden ‘I Knew __ You’ 50. Living Colour ‘93 hit for not touching something 54. Female jazz icon James 55. AC/DC “So, don’t you __ around, I’m gonna pull it..pull the trigger 56. Beatles “All the people that come __, stop and say hello” 60. Rapper that gives us the writing on the wall?

61. Dido “__ angel, but does that mean that I won’t fly” 62. R&B’s ‘Spirit’ Lewis 63. Punk rock singer/guitarist Mike 64. American Graffiti song ‘__ Angel’ 65. Overshadow, as friend’s skill Down 1. ‘Speak English Or Die’ band (abbr)

2. Actress Thurman Fall Out Boy likes 3. “I can’t explain you would not understand, this is not how __” 4. ‘00 Pantera album ‘Reinventing __’ 5. ‘Amazing Grace’ is sung on this holiday 6. Like the night on Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’ 7. Iconic female blues singer Taylor 8. The 1975 ‘Love __ We Made It’ 9. Journey ‘__ Stop Believin’ 10. ‘Word Up!’ R&Bsters 11. Embarrass ex-member with shameful story or do this 12. Leaders might handle different musical ones 13. ‘Mirrors The Sky’ Foy 21. They are put in papers to sell gear 22. Blind Melon ‘Tones Of __’ 23. To recopy audio 24. Like Peter Criss’ cat persona?

26. Third Eye Blind ‘__-Charmed Life’ 27. Psychedelic pop band Polyphonic __

R&R answer from pg 56 of 11/23

Jonesin’ answer from pg 55 of 11/23

28. ‘Need You Bad’ Nugent 29. Country rockin’ Texan Joe 32. The Who ‘__, Feel Me’ 33. Squeeze ‘Black Coffee __’ 34. Sister 7 ‘Know What You __’ 36. Iconic ‘You Want It Darker’ sing/songer Cohen (abbr) 37. 80s ‘Sugar Tax’ synth-band (abbr) 38. Iron Maiden ‘__ World’ 40. ‘I’m Gonna Leave You’ said Led Zep to her 43. Regina Spektor ‘The Prayer Of Francois __ (Molitva)’ 44. Jeff Lynne ‘Do Ya’ band (abbr) 45. Bon Scott’s real first name 46. AC/DC ‘__ Put My Love Into You’ 47. ‘Sara Smile’ Hall & __ 48. Country singer Sara 50. ‘Use Somebody’ Kings Of __ 51. Sheryl Crow ‘__ Makes You Happy’ 52. ‘You Mean The World __’ Toni Braxton 53. Like first-class jam 57. Foo Fighter song for not making it to the hospital 58. Izzy Stradlin band (abbr) 59. Big Wreck ‘The __ (My Luck Is Wasted)’ © 2023 Todd Santos Todd’s new book Rock and Roll Crosswords Vol. 1 is available now on Amazon.

NITE SUDOKU

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. See last week's puzzle answers on pg 41.

Puzzle A

Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 40

Puzzle B

Puzzle C

signs of life All quotes are from For Every One, Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) Maybe you

by Jason Reynolds, born Dec. 6, 1983. are a dancer moving to the sound of your own future; or a musician banging Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) When strumming bowing plucking…. Or mayI started writing this, I didn’t know be you aren’t an artist at all. Or maybe what it was. A poem in form only, a let- you are an artist of spreadsheets and ter written in parts, an offering that I’ve accounting. now been working on for years. A thing.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) This letJust do a thing. ter isn’t for any specific kind of dream. It Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) One isn’t intended for a certain genre, medithing I am now certain of is that this um, trade, or denomination. First the road less traveled has in fact been trav- general, then the specifics. eled by more suckers than you think.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) At twenAnd that makes no difference. ty-five I moved back in with my mother Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) Now and found out she loved to teach little I’m making up what making it means as kids, and bake, and help the needy — I go. That makes it easier. her passion made plain…. It’s not hard Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) Dreams to see aren’t reserved for the creatives. You Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) Dreams can have all the dreams you want. don’t have timelines, deadlines, and Aries (March 21 – April 19) Tomor- aren’t always in straight lines. Walking row you could wake up and read this in circles still gives you exercise. letter on a billboard. Or you could wake up and have forgotten who wrote it. Or both.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) The truth is our dreams could be as far away as forever or as close as lunchtime. Who knows?!

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Nobody really knows what it depends on, but everybody knows it depends. And so does the thing it depends on.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) So I went out and bought all the books on all the ways to make dreams come true … written by experts and dream catchers who swear that I can one plus one and right foot left foot my way into fulfillment…. Maybe it’s two plus three and wax on wax off.

Last Week’s Answers:

Sudoku Answers from pg 56 of 11/23 Puzzle A

Puzzle B

Puzzle C

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Hippo | November 30 - December 6, 2023 | Page 41

NEWS OF THE WEIRD by Andrews mcmeel syndication

Wait, What?

The Saucon Valley School District in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, and The Satanic Temple have come to an agreement, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Earlier in 2023, the district had banned the temple from using its facilities at Saucon Valley Middle School to host the After School Satan Club (motto: Educatin’ With Satan).

But on Nov. 16, the district agreed to cover the temple’s attorney fees and give the club the same access to facilities as “comparable groups.” However, The Satanic Temple noted that they do not run the clubs in districts where there are no Christian-based religious programs; since the district’s Good News Club appears to be defunct this year, the After School Satan Club will be on hold.

Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 17.

Let This Be a Warning to You

Angela Presti of Parma, Ohio, was so excited to bring home her first real Christmas tree and decorate it with her daughter, WKYC-TV reported. But a few hours later, she noticed her face was swollen and “My cheek was hot and itchy,” she said. “My tongue, I felt like I could swallow it, except I couldn’t swallow and my throat started closing and my breathing was wheezy.” Presti called her dad, who rushed her to the emer-

gency room. She said medical staff weren’t surprised that it might be the tree; about 7% of the population suffers from Christmas Tree Syndrome, caused not so much by the tree itself as the mold that grows on it in the sales lot. Presti’s doctor suggested she go back to an artificial tree. WKYC, Nov. 20

Supernatural

According to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, a number of “witch bottles,” created to deter evil spirits, are washing up along Gulf Coast beaches, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Nov. 20. The bottles are part of old-school spell casting; they contain objects including iron nails, rusty pins, hair and urine.

Jace Tunnell of the institute thinks the bottles originate in the Caribbean and South America. “I’ve found around eight of these bottles and never opened one. I have five of them on my fence in the backyard since my wife won’t let me bring them inside,” he said. Tunnell said the bottles are intended to “draw in and trap harmful intentions directed at their owners.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Nov. 20

accidentally locking themselves in a city jail known as the Workhouse, KSDK-TV reported. The Workhouse, a medium-security lockup, has been empty for more than a year; the trespassers had to call 911 after getting themselves trapped inside. After being sprung, they were arrested for property damage, burglary and stealing. KSDK, Nov. 17

Mystery Solved

Metro News, Nov. 19

Awesome!

At an adoption event on Nov. 11, the Anti-Cruelty Society, a Chicago animal shelter, had just one dog left: Elvis, a “3-year-old meatball,” People reported. So the ACS took to Facebook to appeal for Elvis’ placement: “Elvis was the only dog that didn’t find a home during our Fall in Love adoption week. He met a lot of potential adopters ... Help us find Elvis a family to love!” Three days later, Elvis’ dreams came true in a serendipitous way: Loren Michael Agron — who used to work as an Elvis Presley impersonator — and Drew Wilhelm took Elvis home. “Elvis has LEFT the building,” the ACS announced. “We couldn’t be happier for Elvis, who finally got his happily ever after!” The couple report that the canine king of rock has settled in nicely: “His personality is shining through so much.” He may be nothin’ but a “Hound Dog,” but Elvis is not “Lonesome Tonight.” People, Nov. 19

Residents of Tees Valley in Northeast England have been flummoxed by about 1,000 small blue balls that have washed up on their beaches since mid-November, Metro News reported. The bright blue orbs are made of a rubberlike substance, and many people believe the appearance has to do with storms and strong currents disturbing a deposit of balls on the seabed. As it turns out, the balls are called Taprogge balls, after their manufacturer, and they’re used to clean the local power station’s pipes. Sometimes they get released into the sea, but station officials say there’s been no release lately.

“They do this every week, they go through with the balls. It’s a closed system and the balls shouldn’t escape,” said Jacky Watson Sources according to uexpress.com. From from the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. “They the editors at Andrews McMeel Syndication. are natural and will biodegrade but are still See uexpress.com/contact Least Competent Criminals Three unnamed men were taken into cus- a hazard. We put the word out locally if peotody in St. Louis, Missouri, on Nov. 16 after ple found the balls, they could let us know.”

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