Road Trip — Seacoast Scene — 08/10/23

fun with fungi

p. 13

August 10 – 16, 2023

p. 11

Road Trip

Your guide to a weekend of adventures on the coast

beachgoers answer important questions

august 10 - 16, 2023

vol 48 No 12

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This handsome man was brought to the NHSPCA as a stray and is very affectionate. He likes to be petted and will let you know when he is done simply by walking away. Louis is a little timid when he first meets you, but once he knows you are safe, he will warm right up to you. His histo ry with dogs or other cats is unknown, so he would need a nice slow intro duction to any future housemates. Do you think Louis is the purrrfect match for your family? Visit the NHSPCA Adoption Center (104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham), open every day except Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or email info@nhspca.org.

*Louis has 2 medical waivers.

cover story

4 Seacoast family road trip people & places

11 Hampton Beach Comedy Festival

food

13 Mushrooms

pop culture

16 Film and book reviews

Nite life

19 Hildaland

beach bum fuN

26 Puzzles, horoscopes and crazy news

RoadTrip

By Curt Mackail

The Seacoast is a road-tripper’s paradise, rich with places to go and things to do. You can easily explore many of our region’s most appealing places in just a couple of days. Some well-known, others obscure, they’re all interesting. So, if you’re looking for a family road-trip itinerary for the weekend (or any days of the week), away we go. Let’s start with a Friday evening warm-up for two day trips to follow.

friday night lights

If I had a visiting friend or relative who’s never been to the Seacoast, I’d want to get them on the water for a cruise.

Portsmouth Harbor Cruises offers a 90-minute sunset cruise, departing at 7:15 p.m., where you’ll see city lights and the setting sun. Board the 50-passenger M/V Heritage at the floating dock, 64 Ceres St. Reservations strongly suggested. Cruises go off rain or shine unless the captain decides to cancel because of dangerous weather. Fares are $22 to $25. Children 2 and younger ride free but must have a reservation. 603-436-8084, portsmouthharbor.com.

If a boat with a sail is more to your liking, check out the Gundalow Co.’s 70-foot replica of historic flat-bottomed barge like those plying local waters as far back as the 1600s. The company offers a two-hour sunset sail on the Piscataqua River that goes off rain or shine. You can join the crew in raising the single sail and take the helm yourself with the captain’s assistance. Board from the company’s dock at 60 Marcy St., within Prescott Park. Adults $38, kids age 8 to 15 $19, under age 8 $8. 603-433-9505, gundalow.org.

Start Saturday with breakfast and history in exeter

We begin our first day in Exeter. Let’s stoke up with some breakfast to begin.

For gourmet coffee and a locally sourced pastry or egg sandwich, two Exeter coffee shops are favorites. D² Java,155 Water St., is a small downtown Exeter cafe in a historic building. Single-origin coffees are brewed by the cup only and espresso creations are featured. Open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 603-583-5646, dsquaredjava.com.

Flamingos Coffee Bar, 56 Lincoln St., adjacent to the Exeter Amtrak platform, is a compact coffee shop with dozens of gourmet beans to choose from and breakfast sandwiches. Its outdoor seating area is convenient for children. Open every day year-round, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 603-418-7291, flamingoscoffeebar.com.

For an authentic diner-style full breakfast with the locals, the Trackside Cafe, 66 Lincoln St., is the real deal. Housed in Exeter’s old train station, this spot is fine for kids, who may go for the Mickey Pancake with chocolate chips. All the usual diner fare is also on the menu, served by cheery old-school waitresses. Wednesday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 603-580-4086.

With some caloric fuel in your tank, it’s time to take in a historic attraction or two.

The best place to start exploring Exeter history is the American Independence Museum, downtown at 1 Governors Lane. The museum is also called the Ladd-Gilman House, named for its first and second owners, dating to 1747. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Hundreds of artifacts and exhibits that recount New Hampshire’s role in the fight for independence are on display. Guided tours led by docents take you through important moments in our nation’s history from

the perspective of colonial New Hampshire. Guided tours Wednesday through Saturday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Also part of the American Independence Museum, the colonial-era Folsom Tavern is next door at 164 Water St. Built in 1775, restored in modern times, this simple two-story wood-frame building offers insights into life during the Revolutionary War era. Recommended for all ages. Guided tours Wednesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission to Folsom Tavern and the Ladd-Gilman House is $12, seniors $9, children under 12 free. 603-772-2622, independencemuseum.org.

Exeter has plenty of architecture that deserves a look too. The Victorian-era Town Hall at the intersection of Front and Water streets is a centerpiece. Across the street is the town’s jewel, Swasey Pavilion, known locally as the bandstand, designed by Lincoln Memorial architect Henry Bacon. Phillips Exeter Academy’s campus with its many old brick buildings and beautiful stone chapel is a few blocks west on Front Street. The campus is open for walkers. The Academy Library is famous architect Louis I. Kahn’s 1971 design.

Before you leave Exeter, kids of all ages will enjoy Whirlygigs Toy Shop, 107 Water St., downtown. A classic old-school toy store, it’s packed with loads of fun stuff. Consistently voted to New England and New Hampshire “best of” lists. Open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 603772-4923, whirlygigstoyshop.com.

A few blocks away, The Chocolatier, 27 Water St., beckons with its assortment of old-fashioned handmade sweets. Pick your own box of varied confections or choose from boxed assortments. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. 603-772-5253, the-chocolatier.com.

Lunch on the road to Amesbury

Time for lunch, and we’re heading first for nearby Kensington.

Depart Exeter on Court Street (Route 108 South) and in about 2 miles bear left onto Amesbury Road (Route 150). Within 4 miles you’ll find The Farm at Eastman’s Corner at the corner of Route 150 and South Road, Kensington. (For GPS use “244 Amesbury Rd. Kensington NH.”) It’s an ideal place for lunch and plenty more to interest everyone from kids to seniors.

Several large modern artworks signal you’ve found the right place. Black Hawk, an elaborate scrap metal plow horse created by John Lopez, looks over the farm store entrance. Inside is a market

The colonial era Ladd-Gilman house in Exeter is home to the American Independence Museum where you’ll find hundreds of artifacts and exhibits depicting life for Seacoast citizens on the eve of the American Revolution. Courtesy photo.

Your guide to a weekend of adventures on the coast

stocked with local vegetables, fruit, cheese, meats, eggs, milk and bread.

The farm kitchen turns out scratch-made soups, salads, sandwiches, healthy bowls, kids’ specials and sweet treats. There’s an upstairs dining room, outdoor porch and patio, and a gazebo for picnics. Funhouse mirrors, floor chimes for jumping on to make music, and a playground attract youngsters.

After a bite, head to the other side of the parking area to explore the animal barn, home to a herd of friendly Nigerian Dwarf goats and two Vietnamese potbellied pigs. Abutting is the aptly named Cluckingham Palace where a flock of New Hampshire Red laying hens strut around their pen and roost. Also part of the nonprofit company that launched The Farm at Eastman’s Corner is the nearby Alnoba, an upscale retreat offering a variety of leadership and team development workshops and events. The brainchild of late Kensington philanthropist and social progressive Alan Lewis and spouse Harriet, the retreat includes an impressive outdoor sculpture garden of more than 40 major works from the Lewis family collection. You can tour the expansive collection set in the woods and explore its walking trails from a parking area at 24 Cottage Road. Entrance fee $15. Check alnoba.org for times and details.

Next stop Amesbury

From the Farm at Eastman Corner, return to Route 150 South for a 10-minute ride to Amesbury, once an early American shipbuilding hub and later an Industrial Age mill town known for hat manufacture and carriage building.

Arriving at the center of Amesbury via Route 150, you’ll encounter an ageold traffic circle marking the hub of the community. Surrounding are brick mills repurposed as restaurants and cafes, galleries, boutiques and antique shops.

At Old Newbury Crafters they still make silverware the old way — and we mean old, like the colonial era. In the basement of the brick mill on the corner of Main Street and Mill Street is the venerable workshop where artisans hand-forge flatware from scratch, starting with bars of sterling silver. Not just a historical reenactment, this working smithy produces some 300 sets of exquisite tableware yearly. Open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 978-388-4026, oldnewburycrafterssilver.com.

From the city center you’ll find easy access to Amesbury Riverwalk, a scenic paved path through wooded areas along the lower Powwow River — ideal for walkers, bikers and kids in strollers. The downtown end of the 1.3-mile trail is in the Lower

Millyard parking lot on Water Street, a few blocks south of the traffic circle.

The extraordinary American poet and anti-slavery champion John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) spent most of his life in Amesbury. The John Greenleaf Whittier House and Museum, 86 Friend St., is one block west of City Hall. The home has barely been altered since he lived here, although the Amesbury Hat Museum has been added on the second floor. Open for tours on Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $6

adults, $5 seniors, veterans and children free. 978-388-1337, whittierhome.org.

A little farther up Friend Street, Amesbury Town Park is a recommended stop for kids and adults Operated by Amesbury’s recreation department at 140 Friend St., the park has a nice playground, splash pad spray park, disc golf courts, basketball, and a bandstand, among other features. Recreation department phone 978-3888137. See amesburyma.myrec.com.

On the way out of town heading toward

Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury originated the dory design and manufacture that became the mainstay of Gloucester fisherman 200 years ago. You can visit the boat shop and museum today where hand-built wooden boats are still constructed with time-tested methods originated there. Photo courtesy of Lowell’s Boat Shop.

Hand Crafted European Breads & Pastries

Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday 7am-4pm

978-499-8839

175 Elm St. Rt.110, Salisbury MA

Annarosas.com

instagram.com/annarosasbakery

Newburyport, at 459 Main St., historic Lowell’s Boat Shop and Museum perches on the bank of the Merrimack River. At this National Historic Landmark, they’ve been building wooden dories and skiffs entirely by hand since 1793. These unique fishing dories were workhorses of the Gloucester fishing fleet going back two centuries. Today the boat shop hand-builds an impressive array of wooden watercraft designed for varied uses. Museum open for tours Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 978-834-0050, lowellsboatshop.com.

Continuing along Main Street going out of town (which becomes Evans Street after Main Street veers to the south) our choice route traverses the remarkable Chain Bridge. This historic structure joins Amesbury with Newburyport across Deer Island in the Merrimack River. The bridge, 225 feet long, suspended by chain, is the oldest of its type in the nation, tracing its lineage to 1810. (The bridge you cross today is a replacement replica of the original, built in 1910.)

After the bridge, keep driving straight toward Newburyport and take the first left turn onto Merrimac Street. Within a mile or so you’ll find a couple of hidden but special places where locals grab some distinguished grub.

Park Lunch, 181 Merrimac St., is a classic pine-paneled cozy dining room and bar known for delicious seafood. The pizza, burgers, steaks and other pub cuisine are also superior, served up by seasoned waitresses who still call patrons “honey.” Going back 60 years, this neighborhood hangout is festooned with college pennants and other ephemera that may take you back years. A children’s menu is available. Can be busy with considerable wait times and a full parking lot during peak periods. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Bar open until 1 a.m. 978-465-9817, parklunch.com.

Nearby at 164 Merrimac St. is a treasure of another sort, Nick’s Pizza, small, unique, unprepossessing, and a Pizza Hall of Fame member. You might drive by without even noticing the small sign hanging on what looks like an old residence. In fact, it is an old residence that was converted to a pizza parlor in 1953. Today operated by Frank Labarbra, son of founder Nick, and Frank’s spouse, Tiziana, Nick’s is in a class with other Hall of Famers like NYC’s Di Fara Pizza, Modern Pizza in New Haven, Patsy’s in East Harlem and Regina Pizzeria in Boston’s North End — all familiar names to pizza gourmands.

Nick’s is a no-frills joint with a menu consisting of just pizza and salads. The pizza is an original family recipe brought from Abruzzo, Italy, baked in large rectangular pizza pans. It’s rare that anyone wolfing down a slice from Nick’s doesn’t rave about it. Old-tim-

ers have been going there for years, usually for takeout. Open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. On-street parking may be tough to find during busy times. Municipal lots are close by. 978-4659853, nickspizzanewburyport.com.

Seacoast family road trip Day 2

Let’s get outside to start today. Stratham Hill Park, about 10 miles south of Portsmouth on Route 101, is a great place for a morning hike.

Stratham Hill is one of the highest points in this relatively flat region. On top is a decommissioned fire lookout tower open to the public to climb. You’ll gain some of the best aerial views of any place in the Seacoast. If the atmosphere is clear, see Great Bay to the northeast, the Atlantic ocean to the east, and the low-rolling Pawtuckaway mountains to the southwest. An easy trail of about a quarter mile leads from the left side of the main parking area fronting 270 Portsmouth Avenue (Route 33) to the tower clearing. Picnic tables there make a nice spot for a bite to eat. More than 30 other marked, easy hiking trails wind through the park’s 70 acres. Open dawn to dusk. Trail maps are available on site or online at strathamnh.gov.

Within a mile of the park is another day trip-worthy destination, the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 89 Depot Road, Greenland. This 2,000acre protected estuarine area is a national treasure by many accounts. The Great Bay Discovery Center is the reserve’s headquarters and the best place to begin exploring. Inside are interpretive exhibits about the estuary, salt marsh farming, plankton, tides, and research on the bay. At the Discovery Tank, children may touch estuarine animals such as horseshoe crabs,

oysters, mud snails and more.

Outside, an accessible interpretative boardwalk and trail takes you through hardwood forest, freshwater wetlands and salt marshes. Birders enjoy this area for the abundance of raptors, seashore birds and birds of the boreal forests. You can also stand on the deck of a gundalow replica from the 1800s, explore a re-created Native American camp or wander through native gardens. The entire trail network makes for an easy walk of about a mile. Lands and trails are open to the public every day, free, from dawn to dusk. Discovery Center Exhibit Room open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 603-778-0015, greatbay.org.

Let’s go to Po-town!

Returning to Route 33 East, turn left and head toward Portsmouth. In about 10 miles look for the traffic light intersection with Islington Street on your left. Islington Street takes you straight to the center of popular Portsmouth.

The city was a mostly working-class seaport through its history. Now it’s crammed with upscale real estate, high-end hotels, dozens of restaurants and bars, and retailers of all stripes (not to mention crowds of tourists.) There are far too many attractions to list here. But some of the long-time favorites remain worthy of mention for a family road trip.

Check out Albacore Park, where a 1950s research submarine used by the Navy to test top-secret design features lies in dry dock. After decommissioning in 1973, the USS Albacore was laboriously hauled through a manmade channel to 569 Submarine Way. Take a tour to walk through the shockingly cramped interior of the sub and learn how the crew lived, see engineering innovations, and take in some maritime history of the region. (The vessel was built across

At the Farm at Eastman Corner in Kensington, artist John Lopez stands by Black Hawk, his modernist scrap-metal sculpture that is impressive by anyone’s interpretation. The sculpture is one of many on view on the farm grounds and in the nearby Alnoba outdoor sculpture garden. Photo courtesy of alnoba.com

the river at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.) Tickets to Albacore Park include the submarine tour plus entrance to the adjoining maritime museum. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. Adult admission $11, children $5, veterans and seniors $8, family $25 (two adults, two children), active-duty military free. The submarine tour is not handicap accessible. 603436-3680, ussalbacore.org.

Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., across from Prescott Park, should be on every family’s list of fun, educational tourist attractions. The museum’s 10-acre grounds are home to dozens of original historic buildings spanning centuries. Costumed role players enact the experiences of those who lived and worked in the waterfront neighborhood once known as Puddle Dock. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults $23, seniors and students $21, children $10, under age 5 free. Family (two adults and children ages 17 and under) $56. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days. 603-433-1100, strawberybanke.org.

For a true taste of the old Portsmouth, a lunch spot that’s been around for decades stands out. Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop, on the back channel water at the intersection of Mechanic Street and Hunking Street, opened its doors in 1965. Within a few blocks of Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke, this family-owned casual eatery serves a lunch menu only Scratch-made chowders and stews, made-to-order lobster rolls with lobster fresh off Geno’s boats, and Maine crab are favorites in season. A host of sandwiches and sides rounds out the menu. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 603-427-2070, genoschowder.com.

Last stop kittery

Follow Portsmouth’s State Street (Route 1) north over Memorial Bridge, across Badger’s Island, and you enter Kittery. A few blocks north turn right on Government Street and the popular Kittery Foreside neighborhood is dead ahead. Diverse boutiques, galleries, restaurants, bars and cultural hotspots draw people in numbers.

For art, you might start with the artists’ cooperative at 156 State Road called Just Us Chickens. The gallery features more than 30 artists who work in a wide range of media. Paintings, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, mosaics, stained glass, fiber art (including woven alpaca clothing,) tapestry, handmade cards and candles are on display and for sale. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. justuschickens.org.

The Red Door Pottery Studio is nearby at 44 Government St. Hand-built and wheel-thrown creations by owner Elaine Xenelis Fuller are featured. The shop also offers prints, jewelry and other works for sale by local artists. Open daily “by chance or appointment.” Best to call ahead. 603502-1056, reddoorpottery.com.

If you tire of gallery-going, head for Fort McClary State Park, a few miles out of town on Pepperrell Road (Route 103) at Kittery Point. Placed to defend the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor, the fort’s granite block ramparts, powder house and lookout station remain to explore. The fort was staffed during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I. Perfect for terrific ocean views, birdwatching, sheltered picnic spots and grassy play areas. Open 10 a.m. to sunset daily. Non-resident $4, resident $3, children over 5 and seniors $1. 207-490-4079, apps.web.maine.gov.

A faithful reproduction of a colonial-era single-masted gundalow sails from its Prescott Park dock and museum headquarters in Portsmouth. These flat-bottom barges were once workhorses of the Seacoast commercial economy. Photo courtesy of Ralph Morang. Photo provided by the Gundalow Company.

What was the first job you ever had?

“ I worked as a bagger at the Nashua Hannaford. I wasn’t crazy about the job but it got me started on earning and saving money.”

— Meghan of n ashua

If you had a free ticket for Amtrak, where would you go?

“ Orlando. I’ve been there seven or eight times because I like Disney. Epcot is my favorite park and I love learning about the different cultures.”

— k evin of n ashua

What’s your favorite season?

“Fall. I love it because it’s sweater weather. You can have bonfires, and pick apples and pumpkins. Mostly because it’s too early for a coat but you can wear a sweatshirt.”

Describe your perfect salad.

“ I love a good Caesar salad with chicken, preferably with homemade dressing.”

— Mike of kensington

Would you prefer to sit in the front or the back of an airplane?

“

Being 6’3” I’ll sit anywhere where I have leg room. That means sitting in the emergency exit row or in business class.”

— Matt of Merri M ack

What’s your favorite restaurant?

“ Hart’s Turkey Farm in Meredith. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, so I can enjoy a turkey dinner without having to wait for Thanksgiving.”

— r ene LL e of n ashua

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Compiled by Betty Gagne at Hampton Beach.

female forward Mother of a comedy show

By Michael Witthaus

Like the Hampton Beach Comedy Festival, camaraderie is the guiding force for three women performing Mother of a Comedy Show , an occasional event happening Friday, Aug.18, at Nashua Center for the Arts and Saturday, Sept. 23, at Laconia’s Colonial Theatre. Its slate of standups ― Kelly MacFarland, Kerri Louise and Christine Hurley ― have equal star power; each is a headliner.

For the shows, MacFarland opens and Hurley closes, which suits Kerri Louise just fine.

“The middle spot is the sweet spot,” Louise said by phone recently. “Everybody’s warmed up, no one’s coming in late, they’re all set up. I hit it out of the park and then go home ... they’ve laughed for a whole hour nonstop and then Christine goes up, but she kills it. We’ve done it for so many years now and it’s just like clockwork.”

The fully female lineup is unique in the comedy world, she continued. “Usually, you don’t ever work with other women. I’m always the one woman on the show, the token woman, and when I get to go and work with these girls, it is so fun. We just bring energy and excitement; we’re like little kids.”

c omedy

Venues

Casino Ballroom

169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com

The Community Oven

845 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-6311, thecommunityoven.com

The Music Hall Lounge

131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org

Press Room

77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186, pressroomnh.com

Rochester Opera House

31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 335-1992, rochesteroperahouse.com

Stone Church

5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700, stonechurchrocks. com

Audiences do tend to be more female. “It depends on the market and what time of year we’re in,” Kerri Louise said. “In September, it’s mostly women. The kids get back in school, they’re out and about and they can come to shows.” Jokes lean in that direction as well; one of Kerri Louise’s best deals with something she calls a “period bump” being confused with early pregnancy.

The three don’t need a target audience for their material to land, though. There’s a frustratingly enduring notion that female comics aren’t as funny as men, but it’s more self-fulfilling prophecy than anything supported by data. In Kerri Louise’s view, the situation is improving, but the battle is far from over.

“We’re getting better, but we’re not past it,” she said. “I think there’s just not enough of us and that’s why. Bookers usually are men and they’re afraid to headline women because they feel the numbers aren’t going to be there, but men are so dumb. Women decide what they’re doing for the weekend, and they tell their husbands. ‘We’re going to go to a comedy show.’ Why not headline a woman?”

The success of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon’s popular show about a housewife stumbling into standup, may have a halo effect, she agreed, but

she offered a caveat. “They can’t be it if they can’t see it, so I think it helped for younger women to glorify being a comedian,” she said. “I love the show. I love the outfits. I love the ’50s. Here’s what I didn’t like about it ― it’s not easy. They make it look that way; I mean, she was a mother.”

Her husband is also a comedian. She and Tom Cotter have three sons, including a set of twins. One night she told a crowd that her twins were outside in the car while she did her set. “The reason why that’s a joke is it was true,” she said. “I didn’t have time to drop my kids off because I was in major traffic…. I did have someone in the car watching them, but I ran up on stage and I’m like, ‘Hey, how are you? I have twins in the car,’ and it got a huge laugh. I use it all the time, and now they’re 21.”

Another time, she played Atlantic City for a week. Through the casino she was working at, she hired an overpriced babysitter, who was unavailable at the last minute. “Then they got this crack addict,” she said. The show is minutes from starting and she’s telling her new care provider to please leave her sons in the bathroom in their pack-and-play for the 15 minutes she needs to open. She comes back and the kids are up and

jumping on the bed, watching a movie that the babysitter has purchased. Here’s the problem: Kerri Louise has another set to do, and for the moment this ne’er-do-well is her sole child care option.

“The only saving grace is I’m in a casino and there are cameras everywhere,” she continues. “I ran downstairs, and I said to the security guy, ‘If a woman comes with two babies, they are mine, stop her.’ I don’t know how I got through my set. I just put it on autopilot, ran back and said, ‘You’re fired.’ It wasn’t even her fault but whatever. I called the agency and then the next day I had to look for another babysitter situation. So that’s my real Marvelous Mrs. Maisel story.”

Events

• Hampton Beach Comedy Festival from Scamps Comedy Production McGuirk’s, Wednesday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m.

• Tim Dillon Casino Ballroom, Saturday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m.

• Jen Kober Music Hall Lounge, Sunday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.

• Pinky Patel Music Hall, Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.

• Bassem Youssef Music Hall Lounge Friday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.

• Michael Carbonaro Music Hall Lounge, Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.

• Howie Mandel Music Hall, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.

• David Koechner Music Hall

Lounge, Saturday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

• Ben Bailey Music Hall Lounge, Thursday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Venues

concerts

3S Artspace 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, 7663330, 3sarts.org

Casino Ballroom

169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com

Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

135 Congress St., Portsmouth, jimmysoncongress.com

The Music Hall 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 4362400, themusichall.org

The Music Hall Lounge

131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org

Press Room

77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 4315186, pressroomnh.com

The Strand 20 Third St., Dover, 343-1899, thestranddover.com

The Word Barn

66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 2440202, thewordbarn.com

Shows

• Legion of Skanks Thursday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Cindy Blackman Santana

Thursday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Joan Osborne Friday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Cormac McCarthy Friday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., 3S Artspace

• Styx Friday, Aug, 11, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• The Ammonium Maze Friday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m., Word Barn

• Brown-Eyed Women (Grateful Dead tribute) Friday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Paul Hodes & the Blue Buddha Band Friday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Morgan James Saturday, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Sharon Jones Saturday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• KC & the Sunshine Band Sunday, Aug. 13, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Steve Turre Sextet Sunday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• The Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Nikki Hill Band Wednesday, Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Blanco Wednesday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Elvin Bishop Thursday, Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Illiterate Light Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Joe Pug Thursday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Sam Robbins & Jesse Terry Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Marjorie Senet & the Broken Home Boys Friday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m., 3S Artspace

• Kat Wright Quartet Friday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• George Coleman Quartet

Saturday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.,

Jimmy’s

• Calexico Saturday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace

• Messer Chups/Los Tiki Phantoms Saturday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.,

Stone Church

• Pablo Cruise Sunday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Tommy Castro & the Pain-

killers Tuesday, Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Chrissi Poland Band Wednesday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• William Tyler & The Impossible Truth/Garcia

Peoples Wednesday, Aug. 23, 8 p.m., Press Room

• Ann Wilson & Tripsitter

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Ace Frehley Thursday, Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Tyler Hubbard Thursday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• The Joshua Tree One (U2 tribute) Thursday, Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• JP Soars & the Red Hots

Friday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Rose Alley: A Celebration of the Music of Jerry Garcia Friday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Gabby Barrett Friday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Josh Ritter Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace

• Get the Led Out Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• WASP Sunday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom continueD on Pg 22

Kerri Louise. Courtesy photo.

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N h Mushrooms

Finding the fun in foraging for fungi

By Mya Blanchard mblanchard@hippopress.com

While walking a trail in Goffstown, mushroom forager Christine Gagnon shared with me her No. 1 piece of advice for foraging beginners.

“Don’t eat anything until you can identify it yourself. [Not] until you’re 100 percent sure,” she said. “The only way to know if a mushroom is safe to eat is if you have learned to 100 percent, confidently, identify that mushroom on your own and you’ve researched edibility. … The only rule is to know your mushrooms before you eat them.”

With about 30,000 different species of mushrooms in New Hampshire, according to Gagnon, it’s no wonder that more and more Granite Staters are joining in on mushroom hobbies from observing, foraging and collecting, to cooking, eating and making dye.

“The interesting thing about the Northeast in general is that I think we have a greater variety of species than a lot of other parts [of the country], or at least the east in general,” she said. “So that kind of makes it exciting.”

Identifying

When you spot a mushroom, you will notice many characteristics, such as its size, the color of the stem, its cap, gills, and spores, and the location where it is found. Some mushrooms even have distinct scents, like candy caps, which Gagnon says smell like burned sugar or maple syrup. There are various factors to consider, making the identification process very tedious. While people often try to make generalizations on how to identify them, Gagnon says there is no one way to identify any mushroom. The description of one mushroom could match that of a totally different one.

“A lot of mushroom books have a key where you start by saying, ‘Does it have gills, pores, tubes or teeth?’” she said. “‘Does it have a stem or does it not have one? Are there decorations on it? ….’ There are so many things to look at when identifying and the rules aren’t across the board, so you really have to learn each mushroom or least genus of each mushroom.”

While it’s important to be confident in the identity of a mushroom, confidence can be a killer.

“Sometimes when people are new they start to get a little confident,” Gagnon said.

“Deadly mushrooms I think make up 0.2 percent of all the mushrooms in the world, so it sounds very small, but they occur a lot. They’re here all the time. There’s a mushroom called Galerina marginata, also called funeral bells or deadly Galerina, and it looks very much like some more edible mushrooms.”

Gagnon cited a time when someone posted a picture on social media announcing that she found what she thought was wild enoki and was going to cook with them for Thanksgiving. Come to find out, it was actually Galerina.

“I [was] desperately trying to reach her and message her not to eat those,” Gagnon said.

Luckily she saw Gagnon’s message before it was too late.

c ommon edible mushrooms

According to Gagnon, some of the most common edible types in the state are chicken of the woods, hen of the woods, chanterelles and black trumpets. The following descriptions come from Michael Kuo at mushroomexpert.com.

• Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus and Laetiporus cincinnatus)

Characteristics: Perhaps the most obvious characteristic for this mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus) is its yellow and orange colors, but the suede-textured caps eventually become dull, sometimes almost white as they age. They can grow to be 90 centimeters across with overlapping clusters and no stem. Their flesh is thick, watery and soft when they are young, but becomes tougher with age.

Where they grow: Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is a saprobic mushroom found living on oak trees, dead or live ones, and sometimes on other hardwoods as well. Gagnon adds that Laetiporus cincinnatus has a white pore spore surface with rose and peach colors, and this mushroom appears to grow near hardwoods from the ground.

• Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa)

Characteristics: Hen of the woods has clusters of brown caps spanning 15 to 40 centimeters across and 10 to 30 centimeters high. Each individual cap is around 3 to 14 centimeters across, can be dark to a pale gray-brown and are usually fan-like in shape.

Where they grow: These mushrooms can be found near the base of oak and hardwood trees.

• Chanterelles

Characteristics: There is an unknown number of chanterelle species, and not all will match any given description. In general, they are usually recognized as being medium or large-sized mushrooms ranging from yellow to orange in color. They are known for their fruity aroma, similar to the smell of apricots.

Where they grow: Chanterelles do not tend to have any specific mycorrhizal relationships. They are usually found in hardwood forests.

• Black trumpets (Craterellus fallax)

Characteristics: The cap and stem of black trumpets are not as clearly defined as in other mushrooms. While they are black, their outer surfaces can turn yellow or orangeish as the spores mature. They stand about 3 to 9 centimeters high and 1 to 5 centimeters wide with smooth, sometimes slightly wrinkled outer surfaces and have thin, brittle flesh.

Where they grow: Black trumpets are mycorrhizal with oaks and possibly other hardwoods as well and are usually found in mossy areas.

According to Gagnon, they can also be found in dead oak leaves. She says they grow in small clusters or scattered loosely down embankments and slopes where water travels after rainfall.

c ommon toxic mushrooms

These descriptions also come from Michael Kuo at mushroomexpert.com.

• Jack O’Lanterns (Omphalotus illudens)

Characteristics: Jack O’Lanterns, often confused with chanterelles, are bright orange mushrooms with gills that run down the stem and spores that are white or pale yellow.

Where they grow: You will find these mushrooms often growing in large clusters on buried roots or stumps.

• Deadly Galerina or funeral bells (Galerina marginata)

Characteristics: Deadly Galerina are fairly small mushrooms with brown or tawny colored caps

Where they grow: They grow on rotting hardwoods and conifers.

Gagnon adds that they can also be found in mulch.

c ooking with mushrooms

From broth to tea, the possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking with mushrooms. Each mushroom has its own flavor, which is something you likely have not experienced if you’ve only ever had mushrooms from the grocery store.

“In the grocery store, if you buy a button mushroom, a baby bella or a portobello, those are all the exact same mushroom at different stages of growth, so they’re not going to taste much different,” Gagnon said. “If you don’t like mushrooms and that’s all you’ve ever had, I would always suggest trying wild mushrooms because … each mushroom has a completely different flavor.”

One of Gagnon’s favorite mushrooms to eat is chicken of the woods. When it’s young, she says, it has a moist, meaty texture with a hint of lemon flavor, and as the name suggests, can be prepared the same way you would prepare chicken for many dishes.

“Hen of the woods [is] very similar but they have the tendency to be more flaky,” said Corey Fletcher, owner and chef at Revival Kitchen & Bar in Concord, who often cooks with mushrooms. “They have more of a grain to them so you can almost shred them. Some people will make a pulled mushroom dish with them depending on the size. I’m simpler in my preparation of them [as] I just want the natural mushroom flavor, look and texture to be there, so I’ll just do a quick sauté with oil or butter, salt [and]

Chanterelles. Photo courtesy of Christine Gagnon.

maybe a little … garlic and let them speak for themselves.”

Gagnon adds that hen of the woods, which she says has an earthy umami flavor, is very versatile, makes for a great chicken marsala, and can be pickled and made into jerky.

Chanterelles, on the other hand, have a fruity aroma according to Kuo. Fletcher, who says their texture is soft and meaty, loves to pair them with corn as

Mushroom recipes

Recipes from New Hampshire Mushroom Co.’s forthcoming cookbook, Mycophile’s Kitchen: The Culinary Kingdom Fungi

Mushroom turnovers

6-8 servings. 30 minutes.

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed according to the package instructions

8 ounces black pearl oyster mushrooms, roughly chopped

1 Tablespoon butter

1 shallot, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons truffle oil

3 Tablespoons balsamic glaze

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Preheat your oven to the temperature indicated on the puff pastry package instructions.

Add the oyster mushrooms to the skillet and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and lightly browned. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme leaves. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the mushroom mixture cool slightly.

In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant.

On a lightly floured surface, unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet. Roll it out slight-

the earthiness of the mushroom pairs well with the sweetness of the corn. According to Fletcher, there are some classic Italian recipes that call for mushrooms. Black trumpets, which have a strong, sweet aroma and nutty, smoky taste according to Gagnon, are often the one of choice for risotto. Mushrooms also offer nutritional value, according to Milligan. He gives the example of king oyster mushrooms, which have five

ly to smooth the creases and create an even thickness. Cut the puff pastry sheet into squares or rectangles of your desired size.

Drizzle a little truffle oil and balsamic glaze over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top. Place a spoonful of the mushroom mixture a few inches apart.

Bake the mushroom puff pastries in the preheated oven according to the package instructions for the puff pastry, usually around 15 to 20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and flaky.

Once baked, remove the puff pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Blueberry and black trumpet mushroom upside-down cake

2 servings. 15 minutes.

Ingredients for the topping:

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup packed brown sugar

1 cup fresh blueberries

4 to 6 black trumpet mushrooms, sliced

Ingredients for the cake:

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup milk

zest of 1 lemon (optional)

grams of protein, fresh weight, and all 11 essential amino acids.

In order to reap the nutritional benefits, he says almost all mushrooms need to be cooked, as humans do not have enough of the necessary enzymes to break down the mushroom’s cell structure. In fact, some mushrooms are toxic if eaten raw. Button mushrooms, brown mushrooms, baby bellas and portobellos, which are all the same species, contain chemicals that do not flush out of your system but instead build up in your liver when consumed raw. Heat is required to cook these chemicals away.

Buying fresh mushrooms

Two mushroom varieties that you are likely to find at local farmers markets this season are chestnut mushrooms and black oyster mushrooms. These mushrooms are listed on Joyberry Farm’s website as seasonal mushrooms as well as on New Hampshire Mushroom Co.’s website as mushrooms that they cultivate. Joyberry Farms attends the Bedford, Nashua and Salem farmers

markets, and New Hampshire Mushroom Co.’s products can be found at the Concord farmers market.

Once you get them home, Fletcher says, it is best to keep them in a cool, dry place, ideally the refrigerator. As far as when to eat them, he says the fresher the better.

“You want to try to eat them as soon as possible because the quality of them is just going to diminish [and] you’re not going to get as much flavor out of them,” he said.

According to New Hampshire Mushroom Co., phoenix oyster mushrooms have a mild flavor that makes for a great addition in creamy soups, over pasta, with eggs or other lighter dishes. This fluffy, woodsy-flavored mushroom, as reported by Joyberry Farms, is very versatile and is also great when sautéed with butter or olive oil, onions and garlic.

Chestnut mushrooms have a nutty flavor that goes well in gravy, stuffing, stir-frys and roasted with chicken, according to New Hampshire Mushroom Co.

Preheat oven to 350℉ (175℃). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar until it dissolves.

Pour the butter and brown sugar mixture into the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle in blueberries and sliced black trumpet mushrooms.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.

Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Fold in the lemon zest, if using.

Spread the batter over the topping in the cake pan, ensuring it’s even.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, invert the cake onto a serving platter or plate.

Mushroom pâté

2 servings. 15 minutes.

8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced

8 ounces king oyster mushrooms, sliced

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup dry white wine

2 Tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

¼ cup walnuts, toasted

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Mushroom garlic salt to taste

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter. Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and king oyster mushrooms. Add the chopped onion, sautéing until it is fragrant.

Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have released their moisture and start to brown. Add the chopped garlic.

Pour in the white wine and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the alcohol to evaporate. Season with Smoky Mushroom Seasoning and pepper if necessary.

Stir in the fresh thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the mushroom mixture cool slightly.

In a food processor, combine the toasted walnuts, cooked mushroom mixture, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil. Pulse until the mixture has a smooth and spreadable consistency. If needed, add more olive oil.

Transfer the mushroom pâté to a serving bowl or small ramekins. Smooth the top with a spoon or spatula.

Cover the pâté with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Jack O’Lanterns. Photo courtesy of Christine Gagnon.

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Haunted Mansion (PG-13)

LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson and Tiffany Haddish all board Haunted Mansion, a particularly strong ride-to-movie translation.

This is basically the ride — all wacky paintings and expanding rooms and floating candelabras — with the story serving as the car on a track that takes us from the murderous ghost bride to the head (Jamie Lee Curtis) in the crystal ball.

Doctor Gabbie (Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon) move to an old house outside of New Orleans to make a fresh start after some unspecified difficulty in New York. Sure, the house is a fixer-way-upper, but, Gabbie tries to reassure Travis as spooky things happen behind her, a vanilla-scented Yankee Candle and a little work and this mansion will feel like home. And then a spooky thing appears behind Travis and Gabbie says oh heck no, grabs him and runs out of the house.

When Father Kent (Wilson), an alleged priest with a real “surfside cabana bartender” vibe (i.e. an Owen Wilson vibe) seeks out New Orleans tour guide Ben (Stanfield), we pretty quickly figure out that just running out of the house did not solve Travis and Gabbie’s issues with ghosts. Before he was the depressed leader of a historic walking tour, Ben was an astrophysicist working on a camera that could capture “ghost particles,” which for the purposes of this movie pretty much just means “ghosts.” Kent offers Ben a nice payday to go to Gabbie’s house and photograph the spooky stuff floating through her would-be bed and breakfast. Ben thinks this whole endeavor is goofy — so goofy that he goes ahead with it, making “click” noises at the appropriate time, even though his camera is out of batteries — but he shows up and takes the money. And then he leaves and puts it all behind him.

So he thinks.

up at the house, making for a Scooby Gang that decides to investigate the house’s history in an attempt to rid it of its most malevolent of spirits.

Along the way, there’s some stuff about grief, there are some indications that some ghosts are more well-intentioned than others and there are a fair amount of “ghosts do the darnedest things” visual gags that are more ghosty visual cleverness and/or jump scares than actual horrors. Which is probably why my 11-year-old was adequately entertained and not scared by the movie (though she wasn’t a fan of the more “feelings”-centered moments).

“Adequately entertaining” is probably the most accurate way to describe this movie overall. It is staffed with talented people (including writer Katie Dippold, who also did 2013’s buddy comedy The Heat and 2016’s “ Ghostbusters but ladies” — which I enjoyed and which this feels a lot like, tonally). Stanfield brings way more to this movie than it probably deserves but he does help make this movie overall not a chore to watch. Haddish and DeVito sort of sprinkle on their individual brands of funny — the movie isn’t a laugh riot but no one element becomes so “Johnny Depp in later Pirates of the Caribbean movies” that it’s tiresome. It’s light, enough fun to complement the air conditioning that would be the main reason to see this in a theater and many-ages enough that you could entertain a tweens-and-up audience. B-

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As Gabbie and Father Kent know and Ben quickly learns, the house’s ghosts are, as Gabbie describes, like bedbugs — once you step in the house they cling to you and you can’t get rid of them. Ben, having actually captured a photo of a ghost in his own living room, decides to take photographing them seriously. Eventually psychic medium Harriet (Haddish) and historian Bruce (Danny DeVito) also end

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and scary action, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Justin Simien with a screenplay by Katie Dippold, Haunted Mansion is two hours and two minutes long and distributed in theaters by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Haunted Mansion.

The Heat Will Kill You First , by Jeff Goodell (Little, Brown and Co., 385 pages )

The effects of a warming planet seem less obvious in New England than in, say, Phoenix, Arizona, where it is 115 degrees Fahrenheit as I write. Except, of course, for the recently flooded towns in Vermont. And the hazy smoke that keeps drifting down here from Canada.

We can argue until the cows come home about whether we sit on the precipice of weather-driven, man-made calamity, but Jeff Goodell’s mind is made up. Heat, he says, is “an extinction force that takes the universe back to its messy beginnings. Before there was light, there was heat. It is the origin of all things and the end of all things.” And he is 100 percent certain about what is driving recent extreme weather: “250 years of hell-bent fuel consumption, which has filled the atmosphere with heat-trapping carbon dioxide.”

Goodell is a journalist who has been writing about climate for more than a decade. The cover of his 2017 book The Water Will Come looks like a still from a dystopian movie, with a trio of skyscrapers nearly submerged in seawater. Now Goodell is back with the equally alarming title The Heat Will Kill You First. His timing is impeccable.

Smart people on either side of the debate can disagree about whether recent record-setting heat waves are blips in time or a uniquely dangerous threat to humankind. But there’s no disputing that Goodell is an engaging writer at the top of his game. He’s like the love child of Ed Yong and James Patterson, with a little bit of Rachel Carson thrown in, which is to say he writes science-based, dystopian thrillers.

He acknowledges that small changes in global temperatures in recent centuries (overall, we’re up 2.2 degrees) don’t seem particularly scary. “Who can tell the dif-

ference between a 77-degree day and an 81-degree day?” he asks. … “Even the phrase ‘global warming’ sounds gentle and soothing, as if the most notable impact of burning fossil fuels will be better beach weather.”

But heat is deadlier than most of us think, he says. The human body is generally a well-regulated heat-generating machine,butitdoesn’t take a whole lot of excess heat to kill us. Internally, there’s less than 10 degrees difference between our normal, everything’s-fine temperature of 98 degrees and the catastrophic cell death and organ failure that can occur at 107 degrees. And tragically, we get new examples of this almost every year when another fit athlete dies from heat stroke that occurs during a run or a football practice.

To drive this point home, Goodell recounts the story of the California couple who died with their baby and dog on an otherwise unremarkable day hike close to their home. The deaths, which made national news because they were originally so puzzling, were eventually determined to be from hyperthermia and dehydration. It had been in the 70s when they started the hike going downhill, but temperatures exceeded 100 on their way back up, and all appeared to have died of heat stroke.

“Just being alive generates heat. But if your body gets too hot too fast — it doesn’t matter if that heat comes from the outside on a hot day or the inside from a

S B R O W N

raging fever — you are in big trouble,” he writes. As our internal temperature rises past 103 degrees, blood pressure falls and people pass out. Interestingly, “This is in fact an involuntary survival mechanism, a way for your brain to get your body horizontal and get some blood to your head. At this point, if you get help and can cool down quickly, you can recover with little permanent damage.” But if you fall in a hot place and there is no one to help, you may never wake up.

Of course, people freeze to death when they fall unintended in cold places; falling and extreme temperatures are bad generally. But heat, Goodell says, is an “extinction force” and “the engine of planetary chaos, the invisible force that melts the ice sheets that will flood coastal cities around the world. It dries out the soil and sucks the moisture out of trees until they are ready to ignite. It revs up the bugs that eat the crops and thaws the permafrost that contains bacteria from the last ice age.” The next pandemic, he predicts, may come from some recently thawed ancient bacteria.

It’s not just humans at risk in extremely hot temperatures; others struggle in ways we normally wouldn’t think about. In the heat wave that hit Portland in 2021, for example, people were finding an unusually high number of injured baby birds on the ground. They weren’t dehydrated. They were leaving their hot, crowded nests before they were old enough to fly.

And yes, dogs pant in heat since they can’t sweat like humans or plants, but some dogs fare better in heat than others, and not just because of differences in their fur. “Dogs with flat faces and wide skulls, such as English bulldogs, are twice as likely to succumb to heat as beagles, border collies and other breeds with more pronounced snouts.”

There is hardly a page without an odd, memorable fact like that, and a beautifully crafted paragraph that, as an added bonus, kindles a vapor of fear. Goodell, a longtime writer for Rolling Stone, is a pro at the dialogue-rich narrative style that keeps readers turning pages. Also, he’s really, really worried about us. From the sea creatures dying in warming oceans to deliverymen and farm workers passing out from heat stroke, he sounds the alarm on every page: you don’t know what is coming, you don’t know what is here. In air-conditioned offices and homes, it can seem a bit overwrought, but, as he points out, there is a big divide between “the cool and the damned.” The affluent have central air conditioning while the poor swelter in homes without AC, or with old, inefficient units they can hardly afford to turn on. The disparity is worse in poorer countries. “Two hundred and twenty million people live in Pakistan, but there are fewer than a million air conditioners in the country,” Goodell writes. Economic inequality will be manifest in a “thermal gap,” he said, in which some people will fare better than others. Goodell seems doubtful that things will improve; he notes that, were carbon emissions to cease today, carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, but also acknowledges that human beings are adaptable and are already coming up with new ways to live; some cities, for example, are painting streets white to deflect heat. In other words, most of us can probably survive this — if the heat doesn’t kill us first. A — Jennifer

Graham

enchanting melodies

Hildaland plays The Dance Hall

By Curt Mackail

The Dance Hall in Kittery, Maine, presents the string duo Hildaland in concert on Friday, Aug. 11.

Hildaland, which means Hidden Lands, is a mythical Scottish Orkney island home to the equally mythic Finfolk. The performing duo Hildaland is Louise Bichan, a native of Orkney, and American mandolinist Ethan Setiawan.

Bichan is primarily a fiddle player but doubles on banjo and sings. Setiawan also chips in work on guitar and other string instruments. Together they serve up a wide-ranging repertoire from the worlds of traditional Scottish music, old-timey tunes and Scandinavian-inspired songs. The duo also mixes in jazz, bluegrass, classical themes and original compositions.

“Our material is fun. We craft sets that draw from our backgrounds. It’s an engaging collection of music, I think,” Setiawan told Seacoast Scene.

Melding fiddle and mandolin in myriad ways

Growing up in the remote but culturally rich Orkney islands off the northeastern tip of Scotland, where playing music together is a centuries-old social tradition, Bichan took up the fiddle at age 7. She developed her fiddle chops as a teen, becoming a prominent part of Glasgow’s illustrious traditional music scene.

Awarded a 2015 Berklee College of Music scholarship, Bichan soon established herself here as a preeminent contemporary fiddle player. At Berklee she met Setiawan, who was also studying music there.

Indiana native Setiawan played cello as a youngster, later switching to mandolin.

Now based in Portland, Maine, he won the 2014 National Mandolin Championship and the 2017 Telluride RockyGrass Mandolin Championship. Setiawan’s credits include sharing the stage and recording studio with other top-echelon pickers and fiddle players like Tony Trischka, Julian Lage, Darrell Scott, Bryan Sutton, Darol Anger, Casey Driessen, the Steel Wheels, Don Stiernberg, Matt Flinner and Jacob Jolliff.

“I started out going to old-time jams and learning lots of tunes by ear. Eventually that led me to bluegrass, improvising, jazz … the list goes on,” Setiawan said. Similar to his bandmate Louise, Ethan’s personal repertoire wends its way through traditional bluegrass, classical chamber music, jazz and old-time music.

Improvisation at the forefront

“Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly,” the Kittery Dance Hall said in its description of Hildaland.

Setiawan said, “I love all the space that a duo affords. For musicians with big open ears, a duo is one of the most fun formats to play in. I love the conversation that can happen with a small ensemble. But a duo is difficult in that each musician is very exposed and carries a lot of weight musically, which is a beautiful problem to have.”

Bichan added, “It’s really fun to be able to have room to try out ideas and I think we are good at communicating and going with those ideas as they happen. Ethan writes really interesting and often challenging melodies, and I appreciate that challenge and being pushed outside my comfort zone.”

Bichan also is a prolific composer. Her compositions blend traditional and classical arrangements, described by one reviewer as thoughtful, complex, curious and playful. Bichan says she favors stories of connection — to people, nature, the past, and the possibilities of the future. She released her first solo album, Out of My Own Light, in 2016.

“I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My teacher always encouraged that and I’m grateful he did. I often find the tunes come spilling out when I’m not trying,” Bichan said. She studied with Douglas Montgomery, the esteemed Orkney fiddler.

“Louise is such a great composer that it’s always fun to work up a tune of hers, and she’s also good at sniffing out old traditional tunes that we have a good time playing,” Setiawan said.

Dance h all show to feature new material

“We’re working on a new record, and in Kittery you’ll hear a lot of those tunes, a sneak peek of sorts,” Setiawan said.

“We run the gamut stylistically. … The audience will hear a very diverse set.”

As for the Dance Hall itself, it was the Kittery Grange meeting house, built in 1928. During 2010, Portsmouth tap dancer and choreographer Drika Overton founded a nonprofit company that bought the building and converted it to a space for dance and other classes during the week and performances on weekends. The hall’s configuration remains faithful to its original design, rich with old-school vibe. The low stage brings the audience within arm’s reach of performers, and a pristine maple dance floor extends wall to wall.

h ildaland

Where: The Dance Hall, 78 Walker St., Kittery, Maine. Parking is street-side.

When: Friday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets: $17 in advance, $22 on the day of the show. Seating is open. Beer and wine are available. More info: Visit thedancehallkittery. org.

The eclectic sounds of Hildaland come to the Kittery Dance Hall, Friday, Aug. 1. Fiddler Louise Louise Bichan, a native of Orkney, and American mandolinist Ethan Setiawan comprise the group that performs an eclectic mix of traditional Scottish tunes, jazz, bluegrass and classically influenced music. Courtesy photo.

Public Events

at

Kids Summer Golf Camp (Mon-Thurs.) AUG 7TH - AUG 1OTH DERRY

Decorative Focaccia Bread: Teen Cooking Techniques Class

Lawn and Disorder Comedy Show 1OTH - DERRY

- AMHERST No Shoes Nation Band: Kenny Chesney Tribute Concert

Yoga at the Vineyard

Yoga at the Vineyard

‘Walks in the Vineyard’ Outdoor Wine Class

Kids Summer Golf Camp

Cooking with Wine Class: BBQ Recipes 16TH - DERRY

New Moon: Guided Outdoor Meditation Class

Accidentally on PurposeImprov Troupe Comedy Show 17TH - DERRY

and

Crush: A Tribute to the Dave Matthews Band

Presented By:

thursday, Aug. 10

Exeter

Swasey Parkway: 4EverFab, 6 p.m.

Hampton

Bogie’s: live music, 7 p.m.

CR’s: Greg DeCoteau, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Taylor Hughes, 8 p.m.

L Street: Jake Bartolin, 2:30 p.m.; Chris Powers, 7 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Clint Lapointe, 1 p.m.; Lewis Goodwin, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: Nashville Line Dance, 6 p.m.; Houston Bernard, 7 p.m.

Smuttynose: Mike & John Duo, 6:30 p.m.

Wally’s: The LACS, 7 p.m.

Whym: music bingo, 6 p.m.

Portsmouth

Earth Eagle: Beats & Words, 7 p.m.

Gas Light: Bella Perrotta, 2 p.m.; Dapper Gents Duo, 7 p.m.

The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Seabrook

Backyard Burgers: Jennifer Mitchell, 6 p.m.

Red’s: Rich Amorin, 8 p.m.

friday, Aug. 11

Hampton

Bernie’s: 7 Day Weekend, 8 p.m.

Bogie’s: live music, 7 p.m.

CR’s: Steve Sibulkin, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

L Street: Bob Tirelli, 3:30 p.m.;

Carl Chloros, 8 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Sam Hammerman, 1 p.m.; Ray Zerkle, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: Brandy Band, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 3 p.m.

Whym: Lou Antonucci, 6:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

Cisco: Reckless Sunset, 4 p.m.

Gas Light: Pete Peterson, 2 p.m.;

Amanda Dane Band, 7 p.m.;

KOHA, 9:30 p.m.

The Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

Mojo’s: live music, 7 p.m.

Seabrook

Chop Shop: Bulletproof, 7:30 p.m.

Red’s: Max Sullivan Trio, 9 p.m.

Brewing 105 Towle Farm Road

Wally’s Pub 144 Ashworth Ave. 926-6954

Saturday, Aug. 12

Exeter

Shooters: Chad Verbeck’s Alligator Wine, 6 p.m

Hampton

Bernie’s: MB Padfield, 1 p.m.;

Sugah Rush, 8 p.m.

Bogie’s: live music, 7 p.m.

L Street: Carl Chloros, 3:30 p.m.; Dave Clark, 8 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Clint Lapointe, 1 p.m.; Ryan Williamson, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: Neurotic Gumbo, 7 p.m.

Smuttynose: Jim Devlin Band, 6:30 p.m.

Whym: Tom Rousseau, 6:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

Cisco: Alex Rohan, noon; The Regular Gents, 4 p.m.

Gas Light: Sam Hammerman, 2 p.m.; Sumx4 Band, 7 p.m.; Jamie Hughes, 9:30 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 9 p.m.

Salisbury

Black Bear: Paul Warnick, 2 p.m.

Still alive

Singer-songwriter Cormac McCarthy grew up in a former mill town in rural New England and worked as a construction worker and a truck driver. His evocative, plainspoken folk music depicts the lives and experiences of those on the fringes of society. He returns to 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, 766-3330, 3sarts. org) on Friday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $12 to $35, plus fees.

Courtesy photo.

WHYM 853 Lafayette Road 601-2801

newmarket Schanda Park off Creighton Street

Stone Church 5 Granite St. 659-7700

north hampton Locals Restaurant & Pub 215 Lafayette Road 379-2729

Portsmouth Clipper Tavern 75 Pleasant St., 501-0109

The Gas Light 64 Market St., 430-9122

Seabrook

Chop Shop: AD/HD, 8:30 p.m.

Red’s: Squire of Soul, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 13

Hampton

Bogie’s: live music, 7 p.m.

The Goat: Justin Jordan, 1 p.m.

L Street: 2-4 Road, 2:30 p.m.; Chris Powers, 8 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Ray Zerkle, 1 p.m.; Alex Roy, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: Polka Festival, 3 p.m.

Smuttynose: Jonny Friday, 1 p.m.

Whym: MB Padfield, 2 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Travis Rollo, 2 p.m.; Redemption Band, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Rob Pagnano, 9 p.m.

Seabrook Beach Deck: Chris

Michaels, 4 p.m.

Red’s: Lauen Mahoney, 8 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 14

Dover

Cara Irish Pub: open mic, 8 p.m.

Hampton

The Goat: Caylin Costello, 9 p.m.

L Street: Carl Chloros, 2:30 p.m.; Keith Crocker, 7 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Ray Zerkle, 1 p.m.; Alex Roy, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: Mark 209, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: Brooks Hubbard, 2 p.m.

Gibb’s Garage Bar 3612 Lafayette Road

The Goat 142 Congress St. 590-4628

Grill 28 Pease Golf Course 766-6466

Herbert’s Restaurant 1500 Lafayette Road 431-5882

The Statey Bar & Grill 238 Deer St. 431-4357

Summer in the Streets Pleasant Street to Porter Street to Market Square

Tuscan

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Chris Perkins, 2 p.m.; Tim Theriault, 7:30 p.m.

The Goat: Good Thomas’s musical bingo, 7 p.m.; Alex Anthony, 9 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: music bingo, 7 p.m.

tuesday, Aug. 15

Hampton

Bernie’s: Chris Toler, 7 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 9 p.m.

L Street: Chris Powers, 2:30 p.m.; Dave Clark, 7 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Clint Lapointe, 1 p.m.; Mike Mazola, 8:30

p.m.

Sea Shell: Dwayne Haggins, 7 p.m.

Shane’s: music bingo, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: Mike Forgette, 3 p.m.; musical bingo, 7 p.m.

Portsmouth Gas Light: Johnny Angel, 2 p.m.; Justin Cohn, 7:30 p.m.

The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Seabrook

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

Red’s: Steve Dennis, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 16

Hampton

Bernie’s: Luffkid Trio, 7 p.m.

Bogie’s: open mic, 7 p.m.

The Goat: Justin Jordan, 8 p.m.

L Street: Jake Bartolin, 2:30 p.m.; Craig Lagrassa, 7 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Clint Lapointe, 1 p.m.; Jodee Frawlee, 8:30 p.m.

Sea Shell: The Reminisants, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: Jonny Friday Duo, 3 p.m.; live band karaoke, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth Gas Light: Halley Neal, 2 p.m.; Sean Coleman, 7:30 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 9 p.m.

Press Room: open mic, 5:30 p.m.

MB Padfield. Courtesy photo.

A First Class Beach Dining Experience is Waiting for You!

continueD fRoM Pg 11

• Dumpstaphunk Wednesday, Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow Aug. 31, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Seth Glier Thursday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Joss Stone Thursday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Robert Cray Band Friday, Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• One Night of Queen Friday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Kassi Valazza Saturday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Sway Wild Sunday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Joe Louis Walker Wednesday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Ruthie Foster Thursday, Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Damien Jurado Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m., Press Room

• George Thorogood and the Destroyers Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• The Soul Rebels Friday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

Seaside DINING Sunset VIEWS Tasty SEAFOOD

HOME OF THE KING SHAKE & A CANDY KINGDOM TO EXPLORE

• Damien Jurado w/Lilly Miller Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Guy Davis Friday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Larry Carlton: Greatest Hits & Steely Dan Saturday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Son of a Gun (Guns N’ Roses tribute) Saturday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House

• Lucy Kaplansky Saturday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Southern Avenue Sunday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Nolan Taylor Sunday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Los Lobos Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Music Hall

• Kimaya Diggs Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Press Room

• The Samples Thursday, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• PROGJECT: The Ultimate Prog Rock Musical Experience Thursday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Mindi Abair Friday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• LoveSexy (Prince tribute)

Friday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Niko Moon Friday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Jerron Paxton & Dennis

Lichtman Saturday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Queens (female pop singer tribute) Saturday, Sept. 16, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Amy Speace Saturday, Sept.

16, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Killer Queen Tuesday, Sept.

19, 7 p.m., Music Hall

• Bonerama Wednesday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Yo-Yo Ma Wednesday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Black Veil Brides & VV

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• The Wolff Sisters Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Word Barn

• Vanessa Collier Thursday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Pam Tillis Friday, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Skerryvore Friday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House

• Angelina Jordan Friday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• WailOn (Waylon Jennings/ Highwaymen tribute) Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m., Rochester

Opera House

• Blue October Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Stanley Jordan Sunday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Oteil & Friends Sunday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Hot Tuna Electric Monday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Music Hall

• Ben Folds Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• John Primer Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Ana Popovic Thursday, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Beth Hart Thursday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Stayin Alive: One Night with the Bee Gees Friday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House

• Englebert Humperdinck Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Rod Stewart Tribute Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., Strand

• Dirty Deeds: The ACDC Experience Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House

• Drew Holcolmb & the Neighbors Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Jonatha Brooke Sunday, Oct. 1, 5:30 p.m. & 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Walter Trout Sunday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Will Oldham Monday, Oct. 2, 8 p.m., Press Room

• Oz Noy/Dennis Chambers/ Jimmy Haslip Wednesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Amythyst Kiah Wednesday, Oct. 4, 8:30 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Ben Harper Wednesday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom

• Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke Thursday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Harper and Midwest Kind Friday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Lilli Lewis Saturday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• Dancing Dream (ABBA tribute) Saturday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House

• Mandy Patinkin Saturday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Yacht Rock Schooner Sunday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Acoustic Alchemy Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• North Mississippi All-Stars Thursday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Antje Duvekot Thursday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall Lounge

• The Weight Band (The Band tribute) Friday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Nicole Zuraitis Friday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• The Brubeck Brothers Saturday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s

• Natalie McMaster & Donnell Leahy Friday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Joan at Jimmy’S

Joan Osborne has scaled the heights of the Billboard Hot 100 with her single “One of Us,” fronted Dead & Co., and duetted with Luciano Pavarotti and Bob Dylan. The Grammynominated singer touches down at Jimmy’s (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603JAZZ, jimmysoncongress.com) on Friday, Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $75, plus fees.

Courtesy photo.

Route 1 Antiques

3 Great Shops in One Seacoast NH Destination!

3 Great Shops in One Seacoast NH Destination!

Route

Route

Come visit our historic properties filled with a wide variety of antiques, art, and collectibles. Our eclectic shops feature over 100 dealers offering buyers a true shopping destination. Dealers

Route 1

-

The

Is it a scam or an

Dear Car Talk:

Love your column and read it every week.

My son’s car has tires inflated with nitrogen. I’m curious about the pros and cons of that option. I hadn’t heard of this before and wonder if it is going to become commonplace.

They’ll also tell you that nitrogen-filled tires don’t change pressure as much as airfilled tires when your tires heat up and cool down. This is true, but it hardly matters. The normal range of pressure variance while driving is of no consequence to most people. If you’re driving a Boeing 777, yes. But not a Nissan Versa.

By Ray Magliozzi

Also, is there a big cost differential vs. air inflation? – Gregory

I don’t want to go so far as to call this a scam, Gregory, because scam is a very strong word. But it’s really close.So, let’s go with “unnecessary upsell.”

There are some tire shops these days that are charging people to fill their tires with nitrogen rather than “air.” But keep in mind, air is 80% nitrogen.

Now, they cite some reasonable sounding arguments for why you might want to use 100% nitrogen rather than 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen -- known as air. For instance, they say if your car catches fire and your tire explodes, nitrogen -- an inert gas --won’t feed the fire. What they fail to mention is that there’s an infinite amount of oxygen all around the tires, in the air. So that’s nonsense.

Some customers have been told that nitrogen-filled tires will leak less than air-filled tires because nitrogen molecules are larger and can’t get through the rubber as easily.

Well, very little air (or nitrogen) ever seeps through the rubber. When you have a leak, it’s usually due to a puncture, a bad valve or a rim issue. And both air and nitrogen will leak out if you have “a leak.”

And finally, one pitch for nitrogen says that it’s less likely to degrade the inside of the tire the way oxygen can. OK, fine. But what about the outside of the tire? The part that’s constantly surrounded by air that’s 20% oxygen?

So, if you add it all up, unless you’re landing a plane or driving an F1 race car, it’s hard to come up with a scenario in which it’s worth paying extra to have your tires filled with nitrogen.

Maybe try helium. Then at least you can entertain the kids at their next birthday party.

Dear Car Talk:

My daughter’s 2018 Honda Pilot LX’s warning light came on, so she took it to the dealer. They said there were metal shavings in her transmission fluid so they flushed it. Then they said she needs a new transmission for $7,500 or they can sell her a new car, because her transmission could seize up at any time.

They also said she needed new tires. All four were just replaced a year ago. The car has 86,000 miles. Does this sound reasonable? Her car has had no performance issues, just the warning light. – Cheryl

You need a second opinion, Cheryl.

The fact that they tried to sell you a transmission, four new tires a year after they were replaced, and a new car, suggests that their first priority may not have been trying to save you money.

The metal shavings don’t necessarily mean your transmission is toast. All transmissions have small amounts of metal shavings in them from years of gear meshing. So, unless they removed enough shavings to open an aluminum foundry, that doesn’t give me a lot of information.

And you say the car has no performance issues. There have been transmissions failures on Honda Pilots and Odysseys of this

era (there’s even a class action suit), but those transmissions tended to exhibit drivability issues, like “juddering” on acceleration or slow shifting.

It’s possible that you do have a bad transmission, but I’d start by getting a second opinion. If a second mechanic you trust agrees, then the next step is to go back to Honda and ask them for some help.

It’s true, your car is out of warranty. But hopefully, they would agree that a Honda transmission shouldn’t fail on a car that’s 5 years old and has only 86,000 miles on it. Tell them you’ve been a good customer, and given the car’s age and mileage, you’d like to request that Honda “participate” in this repair with you. Tell them if they help you out, you’ll even agree to buy the four tires you don’t need. They might offer you a discount. Or they might invite you to buy a Toyota next time. But while you’re waiting for their answer, you can shop around and get some other estimates. If your transmission is failing, you may be able to get it repaired or replaced for less than what the dealer quoted -- at Honda or somewhere else -- and then, hopefully, drive it for another 86,000 miles. Good luck.

Visit Cartalk.com

BeAch BUM fUN HOROSCOPES

All quotes are from Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions, by Steve Martin, born Aug. 14, 1945.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) At a test screening … [All of Me] played well. … Afterward, as the audience exited, a couple spotted me. They approached and the wife said, ‘I loved this movie. And my husband loved it, and he hates you!’ Give a movie a chance.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) I lost interest in movies at exactly the same time the movies lost interest in me. Things work out.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) Most actors will do five or six takes, and one or two will be ‘the one.’ But Diane [Keaton] would do five or six takes and all of them would be ‘the one.’ So much to choose from!

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) Young banjo players often ask me for advice on how to get people to listen to their music, and I always tell them, ‘Be very creative and already be famous.’ Come for the laughs, stay for the banjo.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) If you think I’m being too sensitive, try watching a film of yourself for two hours in close-up and come out unscathed. Don’t watch that.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) Mike Nichols … once evaluated my movie career perfectly … he said, ‘You always aim high at something low.’ How’s your productivity?

Last Week’s Answers:

Aquarius (Jan.

I assumed I could easily transition to film acting. The assumption was shattered on my first day on a film set when I had to sit in a chair and put down a glass, and I was stumped. How do you sit down? Do you grab the chair arm or just plop down? How do you put down a glass? I thought. First sit, then think.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) David Mamet was great to work with. He writes as people speak, with all the ums and ahs, and I had to work hard to get them exactly right. Ah.

Aries (March 21 – April 19) I wondered if I could become a comedian in movies. ‘If I could do movies,’ I thought, ‘I could perform a scene again and again until I got it right.’Up to a point.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) I have a maxim about the film business I have kept in my head for my whole career. ‘You don’t know if a film is any good until at least ten years after its release.’ Some things take a while.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) We shot [Parenthood] in Orlando, Florida, home of Disney World. Among my theme-park adventures there, the highlight was petting the baby stingrays at Seaworld … who looked like lovable shmoos saying with their eyes, ‘Take me home.’ Don’t, though. Cancer (June 21 – July 22) I tried to find a screenwriter [for Roxanne]. Nobody in Hollywood wanted to do it. I thought, ‘What if I wrote it myself?’ What if.

h ow was your summer vacation?

I bet it was better than this couple’s. Alan Stevens, 50, of Hull, England, booked a surprise 17-day trip for his wife’s birthday to the Dominican Republic for late June. When they arrived, however, it was clear the resort’s “fivestar” rating was a mistake. Hull Live reported that while at the resort, Stevens and his wife observed a variety of alarming behaviors. “When we went out to the pool for the first time, we saw guests smoking weed in the pool, people having sex in the pool ... one woman being sick all over herself in the pool, and another guest actually defecate in the pool -- it was disgusting,” Stevens said. “We were approached by people offering us drugs about 10 times in the 17 days we were there. A woman fell from a balcony while we were there, and we walked past and saw her body hidden under a sheet. ... We had no idea what was going on.” He continued: “When we were out one day, I saw a man knocked clean off his motorbike. I just burst out crying because on top of everything else that had happened, it was such a shock.” The travel company Stevens worked with offered 200 pounds in vouchers and counseling credits, which Stevens called “a joke. This was 100% the worst holiday we’ve ever been on.”

the aristocrats

Maryland’s Kimberly “Kimycola” Winter has eructed her way into history with a Guinness World Record, United Press International reported on Aug. 2. Winter broke the previous record for loudest burp (female) with a 107.3-decibel growler. That’s louder than a blender, an electric hand-held drill and even some motorcycles. She prepared for the event with breakfast, coffee and beer. Winter said to achieve the big belch, she takes a deep breath and tries to “manipulate that into something monstrous and magical.” She admitted she loves to shock strangers with her burps. “I love to be loud and proud!”

Molehill, meet mountain

Cedar Point Shores Waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio, was the scene of what might have been a routine dust-up between patrons on July 27. But, as The Smoking Gun reported, it developed into much more. Cops responded after a woman allegedly called a child a “brat” and “fat ass” and pushed him off a floating toy. She identified herself as Jennifer Lee Miller, 67, and said she was a “Christian woman, a grandmother, and she wouldn’t do such a thing,” police said. After officers gave her a warning and left the scene, they determined that the woman had given them a false name; she is really Janet Nale of Taylor, Michigan, and she was arrested for obstruction. “She lied about all her information and had no reason for doing so,” one officer said.

Suspicions confirmed

The Hangzhou Zoo in eastern China has gotten a big bump in visitor numbers this week -- 30% more, to 20,000 a day! -- since Angela the Malayan sun bear went viral. Reuters reported that Angela captured social media attention when she stood up on her hind legs and stretched her neck out to look at visitors. In fact, her behavior was so humanlike that people thought maybe the zoo had dressed a worker up in a bear suit. “After we saw the video on the internet, we specially took the high-speed train from Suzhou to come over to see the bear,” Qiang Ming said. “If this is fake it deserves an Oscar for special effects,” said one commenter. But no! Angela is “definitely not a human. Our zoo is government-run, so that kind of situation would not happen,” the zoo responded.

Unconventional weapon

Jennifer Colandrea, 42, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was charged with domestic battery after an incident on July 31, The Smoking Gun reported. As her ex-husband, Brian Drummond, 42, slept in the home they share, Colandrea allegedly violently ripped his CPAP machine off his face, causing a cut on his lower lip, and started arguing with him. The two divorced in 2009 but have been sharing a home. Colandrea was released on her own recognizance and ordered to stay away from Drummond.

Sporting news

During a friendly soccer match on July 21 between Gateshead and Dunston in England, players and spectators were astonished as men wearing balaclavas drove a hearse onto the pitch, the Independent reported. Just before 8:20 p.m., the funeral car and a Subaru made their way onto the field, where they spun around in circles as their occupants threw leaflets from the cars. The drivers of the hearse left that vehicle on the pitch and hopped in the other car, which drove away. Officials were forced to call off the match. Northumbria Police said four men had been arrested and remained in police custody. “Disorder will not be tolerated in the community,” police said. “Enquiries continue.”

r ude

British Columbia real estate agent Mike Rose is out on his ear in Kamloops after he was caught on video swigging milk straight from the bottle at a home he was showing. Canoe reported on July 28 that Rose was waiting for his clients to arrive for a showing; after slaking his thirst, he returned the milk jug to the refrigerator. Rose apologized, saying his behavior was out of character and he was “unusually dehydrated,” but his clients replaced him and he was ordered to pay a $22,500 fine.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Answers will appear in next week’s paper.

Puzzle A from 8/03

Puzzle B from 8/03

Puzzle B

Puzzle A

BeAch BUM fUN JONESIN’ CROSSWORDS BY MATT JONES “

that can Be Arranged”--there’s a time and place.

Across

1. Anti-apartheid org.

4. Originated

9. Fabric (which is underneath the grid, in this puzzle)

14. Fan noise?

15. Concert venue

16. Repeated cry in the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”

17. Goal of some start-ups

18. Poker player’s wear, maybe

20. “Rubber Capital of the World”

22. Pad kee mao cuisine

23. “Cats” monogram

24. Stoller’s musical partner

26. Stir-fry vegetable

29. “Make love” follower

31. Diner shout

33. Graphic often including insets of AK and HI

35.

Dog of Hagar the Horrible

36. “The X-Files” sightings

39. Armadillo feature

42. “Me and Bobby McGee” writer Kristofferson

43. Maroon 5’s “___ Like Jagger”

45. “Werewolves of London” singer Warren

47. Install beforehand, as software

50. Philosophy of oneness

53. Inert gaseous element

55. Delay

57. Caltech degs.

58. Just ___ (minimal amount)

60. “I Will Be” singer Lewis

61. Uncaging (also, kinda the opposite of what this puzzle is)

65. Spheroid

66. “Buy U a Drank” rapper

67. Chopin composition

68. 1970s Cambodian leader Lon

69. To this point

70. Royal ___ (butter cookie brand with those reusable blue tins)

71. “What’d I tell ya?”

Down

1. Helvetica alternative

2. Laptop item (which should go underneath the circled answer in the same column)

3. Dance design, informally

4. It may be presented first

5. “It’s the end of an ___!”

6. Columbia Sportswear president

Boyle who starred in their “One Tough Mother” ads

7. Goth necklace designs

8. 1998 Olympics city

9. One-third of a three-step

10. Primus singer/bassist Claypool

11. Someone who gathers and sells shellfish

12. Reference books that can expand your vocabulary, quaintly

13. Garden equipment

19. One of two guards in a classic logic problem, e.g.

21. With a not-too-bright approach

25. Interstate access

27. Law enforcement orgs.

28. Whittling tool

30. N.C. capital, for short

32. Quart divs.

34. 1990 Literature Nobelist Octavio ___

36. Diamond expert

37. How serious players play

38. Wear out, as a welcome

40. President pro ___

41. Acronym popularized by Rachael Ray

44. Absorb, with “up”

46. Like the eyebrows in a 2014 viral video

48. “Pictures ___ Exhibition” (Mussorgsky work)

49. Completely avoided

51. Finite units of energy during the day, in a coping mechanism theory

52. Randall ___, creator of XKCD

54. ‘90s treaty acronym

56. Postpone indefinitely (or where you’d see what this puzzle represents)

57. This one, in Spain

59. Brown, in Bordeaux

62. 50-50, for instance

63. 1099-___ (bank tax form)

64. Mag staffers

© 2023 Matt Jones