In Season - 2024

Published by QOL Publications

195 McGregor St., Manchester, NH, 03101

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(First copy free; additional copies $1 each)

PUBLISHER

Jody Reese jreese@hippopress.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Amy Diaz adiaz@hippopress.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Michael Witthaus

COPY EDITED BY

Lisa Parsons

EDITORIAL DESIGN

Jennifer Gingras

Corinne Robinson

PRODUCTION

Jennifer Gingras

Corinne Robinson

REPORTED BY

Betty Gagne

Matt Ingersoll

Curt Mackail

Michael Witthaus

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Charlene Nichols

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Roxanne Macaig

Alyse Savage

SUPPORT STAFF

Tammie Boucher

Editor’s Note

Welcome to In Season 2024, your go-to guide for making the most of summer in the region. While you’re here, make sure to grab a copy of the weekly Seacoast Scene for stories and up-to-date event information about tastemakers, tasty places to dine and entertainment options. It’s free everywhere through Labor Day.

The live music scene is already in full swing at venues like Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, Portsmouth’s Music Hall and its intimate Lounge, and in Salisbury Beach at Blue Ocean Music Hall. Smell the salty air while enjoying national acts at the outdoor Bernie’s Beach Bar. Head to Word Barn in Exeter to take in an Americana act or hear America’s music at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth.

For more refined fun, take in an exhibit at one of the many art galleries in the area, or see a play like the all-ages Alice, A Whimsical Musical in Wonderland or Tony-winning fare like Spring Awakening or Rock of Ages. Finally, attend a film at The Music Hall, which offers a wide range of vintage movies and recent indie hits, or watch outdoors by the playground at Hampton Beach or in Portsmouth, as the Prescott Park Arts Festivals celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Grab a guffaw or two at a comedy show, whether it’s a big name like Pete Davidson (June 22, Casino Ballroom), rising star Pat McGann (four shows in June at Music Hall Lounge) or an aspiring standup at the Winner’s Circle in Salisbury, which hosts a weekly open mic. Or spend an entire week in August at the Hampton Beach Comedy Festival.

Want to make plans for deep sea fishing, whale watching or learning more

about the Seacoast’s flora, fauna and ocean life? We take a focused look at those and lists of where to go. Later on, we have details about how to book a lighthouse cruise, go on a garden tour or experience family-friendly nighttime nature activities at Rye’s Seacoast Science Center.

Find out where to buy specialty produce at the region’s niche farms, including exotic mushrooms, artisan garlic and microgreens. Celebrate amazing seafood at a chowder festival, or unleash your wandering gourmet at the Portsmouth Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival. Also, if the word “festival” sparks a smile, be sure to check out Page 26 of In Season!

Learn about the burgeoning artisan coffee scene, including a Rye roastery curated by a native Colombian and a Hampton Beach coffee bar offering flights, and recently expanded its reach with an Exeter shop. Hot days are great for cold brews; there’s information on that as well, including where to find canned versions to pack for the beach. Finally, there’s a big list of places serving the best coffee (and tea).

For a bit of Seacoast history, check out the fascinating story about a Depression Era landscape architect’s ambitious plan to transform Hampton Beach. Only part of it came to fruition; however, years later it inspired an effort that ultimately led to the Hampton Conservation Commission. After reading the piece, head to a local museum and find out more.

It all adds up to fun on the Seacoast, all summer long!

— Michael Witthaus, Managing Editor, In Season

Exploring Coffee on the coast

By Matt Ingersoll

When MacKenzie Logan introduced coffee “flights” to her Hampton Beach shop in 2021, she could not have predicted the amount of buzz and attention they would receive.

“We get people now who travel from surrounding states to come check out what we have for our coffee flights, and they’ll follow us on social media to see what the next ones will be,” said Logan, who owns and operates Flamingos Coffee Bar on the corner of B Street and Ashworth Avenue in Hampton. “We’ll switch out the flavors every month or [every] several weeks or so, and people will come back to try the latest one. … It’s really put us on the map, I feel like.”

Much like a coffee roaster may taste from several different selections of beans during a cupping, these multi-beverage tasting experiences can easily cater to adventurous and indecisive coffee drinkers alike. Coffee flights at Flamingos are often created with current events, holidays, seasons or other concepts of cultural significance in mind.

It’s just one of many examples you can point to showing that the coffee craze on the Seacoast is alive and well. Logan admits that, since opening her first shop three years ago, she has significantly narrowed her menu’s focus in favor of specialty coffee flavor options. A second Flamingos Coffee Bar arrived in Exeter last year, further expanding Logan’s company footprint.

For many who get into the specialty coffee business, there is often one thing they have in common — a desire to ditch the mass-produced stuff in favor of a fresh, high-quality cup of coffee. Max Pruna of La Mulita Coffee Roastery in Rye is a prime example.

In 2015, Pruna attended a talk and coffee tasting given by George Howell, a veteran in the specialty coffee world and the owner of George Howell Coffee, based in Acton, Mass.

“I was attracted to the fact that the coffee was from Colombia, and when I sipped it, I was blown away,” said Pruna, who was born and raised in the Colombian city of Medellín. “I ended up introducing myself to George and then started attending his public coffee sessions in Boston. … He recommended books to me [and] I just started going down this rabbit hole of pursuing knowledge in specialty coffee. Since I was from Colombia, it just kind of clicked in my head to start learning more and more.”

Today, Pruna takes great pride in highlighting the multiple coffee growing regions of his home country. La Mulita, which opened in the fall of

2019 in Rye, gets its name from the translation to “little mule,” a symbol for the preferred animal used by coffee farmers in Colombia.

Over in Seabrook, NOBL Beverages is known for producing multiple lines of canned cold brew coffees and specialty lattes. The company got its start in 2015 when founder and CEO Connor Roelke, then a senior at the University of New Hampshire, decided to combine his passions of homebrewing and coffee by building a prototype nitro kegerator. He entered it into the school’s Holloway Competition for student entrepreneurs that year, ultimately placing third.

“A whole bunch of people came up to me after the fact and said, ‘You should really do this,’” Roelke said, “and so I ended up quitting my job that I had accepted for post-graduation and decided to try to make it a real business. And from there, we’ve just been growing.”

Nearly a decade later, the company has dozens of distribution accounts all over New England.

With these stories and others, coffee roasters and shop owners all over the Seacoast have found their own ways to go beyond the traditional cup of joe and offer something fresh and new to their customers, while still maintaining quality and community. Here’s a deeper look at what some have been able to accomplish.

Fun witH coFFee

Coffee flights at Flamingos come in four glasses per order, the equivalent of one large latte — and you never know what unique flavors Logan and her team may think of next.

“The intention, originally, was for them to be shared. But then we quickly learned that people don’t like to share their coffee,” Logan said with a laugh. “We definitely do have people who want their own but then also people who think it’s too much for themselves, so they share it with a friend. … What we find, oftentimes, is that people will order a flight, then they’ll kind of pick out their favorite flavor and get that as a regular-sized coffee to go.”

In the fall, Logan has offered flights consisting of pumpkin spice, Nutella and Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored coffees, while around the holidays you might find peppermint mocha, Christmas cookie or chai eggnog. A recent coffee flight served as a fundraiser for the Southern District YMCA’s Camp Lincoln Paddle Plunge — that one featured flavors like s’mores,

A fresh cup of coffee from Breakaway Cafe in Dover. Photo courtesy of Breakthrough Marketing Group

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blueberry pancakes, trail mix and ice cream sandwich, with $5 from every flight sold donated to send local kids to camp.

There is ample thought behind creating each flight flavor, Logan said, both in the syrups and in the toppings used.

“The trail mix latte, for example, has salted caramel, mocha and pistachio syrups mixed into the espresso,” she said. “Then we’ll also decorate it based on those flavors, so in that case there were M&Ms on top and then some crushed pretzels for that salty flavor.”

Logan and much of her team are self-proclaimed “Swifties,” or die-hard fans of music superstar Taylor Swift — so whenever Swift releases new music, you can bet that there will be a coffee flight created around it. Swift’s April 19 release of her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, has indeed inspired just that.

“We try to reflect what the tracklist names are or some kind of fun name or lyric that pops out to us and then sort of build a coffee flavor around that,” Logan said. “It’s a lot of fun and people go crazy for them.”

Similar experimentation with seasonal coffee varieties goes on at NOBL Beverages. Roelke just completed another successful cycle for his Snickerdoodle Latte, made with organic Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon and sugar, while springtime is peak season for his “Baklavatte,” a pistachio and baklava-flavored latte made with brewed whole pistachios, honey, brown sugar and cardamom.

“Everyone’s favorite seasonal [release] is the maple pumpkin lattes in the fall,” Roelke said. “Then our most recent addition will be a full-time yearround flavor, which will be our matcha latte, so it’s your traditional Japanese matcha product with oat milk.”

cultivating community

If all of that just sounds too fancy to you, that’s OK — in fact, there are plenty of options out there that appeal to traditional coffee drinkers, too.

“I think our biggest misconception about us, and I think it’s based on the fact that we do these flights, is that we also can’t cater to coffee snobs, which is just untrue,” Logan said. “We do have a fully equipped, state-of-the-art espresso machine. … We can and do offer traditional coffees quite well, so if you just want a cortado, a latte, a cappuccino, etc., we by all means have the ability to do that.”

Pruna, who recently returned from the Specialty Coffee Association’s annual expo (this year held in Chicago), has especially enjoyed introducing his customers to the many nuances of coffee. He has noticed a trend in the last few years of coffee drinkers gravitating to more medium or light roasts as a result of this education.

“It has been fun to watch because that allows us to bring more exotic coffees that are prevalent in Colombia … and create that community of

coffee drinkers,” he said.

In Dover, Breakaway Cafe has become a prime spot for many, not only for its coffee program but also for cultivating a strong sense of community. Barrington native and local area musician Ben Cole already had more than 15 years of service industry experience when he purchased Flight Coffee Co. of Dover from then-owners Kelly and Kristy Bower in 2022.

Despite the recent name change (Flight Coffee Co. of Dover officially became Breakaway Cafe in April 2024), Cole has continued to work with longtime employee and coffee guru Dan Demers on Breakaway’s coffee offerings. Demers, who himself also owns and operates D Squared Java in Exeter, has worked with coffee in several Seacoast establishments spanning years.

“As much as I love Flight Coffee Co. and what [founders Jim and Claudia Barrett] have done to support us throughout the years, I really did feel like we were starting to become our own entity,” Cole said of the name change, which he views as an evolution of the concept. “However, I will always be proud of the work that Kelly and I did and … [Flight] will always remain a huge part of the history of this space here in Dover.”

Today, Breakaway Cafe sources its beans from Brandywine Coffee Roasters, a Delaware company that had in the past been a guest roaster at Flight of Dover. Building on the success of Flight, the shop is also known in the community for its scratch-cooked food menu and regular schedule of live music featuring quality local acts.

“I was just really blown away by [Brandywine’s] Kevin [Aquino] and his ideas of how to run a business and get involved in your community,” Cole said. “It was kind of like looking in the mirror a little bit. … It was an immediate connection.”

Logan also happens to currently work with Flight Coffee Co., its flagship facility in Bedford, where the beans are roasted and delivered weekly. At Flamingos, the beans primarily hail from South American growing regions, although in the past they have also been known to source from other parts of the world.

“[Flight is] a huge inspiration for me, especially being a woman-founded company,” Logan said. “Claudia just knows so much about coffee. It’s really impressive and cool to have them as a sort of mentor to look up to. … We try to have ongoing educational efforts [with our staff] just so everyone is on the same page on all things coffee from the beans to the tasting notes.”

A summer camp-themed coffee sampling “flight” from Flamingos Coffee Bar of Hampton and Exeter, just one of several specialty rotating flight options. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bakos Photography.

A s’mores latte from Flamingos Coffee Bar of Hampton and Exeter. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bakos Photography.

get your SeacoaSt coFFee Fix

Here’s a list of coffee roasters, shops, cafes and bakeries offering some of the most high-quality cups of joe around. Know of any others? Tell us about them by emailing editor@seacoastscene.net.

Bearded Baking co.

580 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 6016878, beardedbaking.com

Building on the success of his first bakeshop in Manchester, Bearded Baking Co. owner Jon Buatti opened his second location in Hampton last year. In addition to its wide selection of freshly baked sweet treats, Bearded Baking Co. is among those known for putting cold brew coffee on the map locally.

Beatnix coFFee Station

7A Sumner Drive, Dover, find them on Facebook @beatnixcoffeestation

You’ll find this drive-thru coffee station on Sumner Drive in western Dover, just off Knox Marsh Road. Beatnix serves specialty coffees, teas and other delicious drinks, in addition to a rotating selection of locally baked goods.

Blue HarBor coFFee roaStery & caFe

446 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-

8802; 333 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach (known as Blue Harbor Sunrise Cafe); blueharborcoffee.com

Coskun Yazgan, whose family has been roasting their own coffee beans for more than three decades at Caffe Kilim in Portsmouth, opened his own space in downtown Hampton in 2019. A second location, known as Blue Harbor Sunrise Cafe, arrived on the beach earlier this year. Both spots feature full offerings of hot and cold coffee and espresso drinks.

Breakaway caFe

478 Central Ave., Dover, 842-5325, breakawaydover.com (formerly Flight Coffee Co.)

Formerly known as Flight Coffee Co. of Dover, this downtown shop officially rebranded as Breakaway Cafe in April 2024. Barrington native and longtime musician Ben Cole already had more than 15 years of experience in the service industry when he purchased Flight Coffee Co. of Dover in 2022. Breakaway Cafe prides itself on being a spot for cultivating community, with a quality coffee program overseen by longtime employee and coffee guru Dan Demers (who also owns and operates D Squared Java in Exeter),

tHe cold Brew craze

You’ve probably seen cold brew coffee pop up on the menus of more and more shops and cafes lately. have you wondered what it is and what makes it unique?

cold brew coffee is exactly what it sounds like — coffee that is extracted using only cold water, typically for up to 12 to 16 hours or more, creating a bolder-tasting cup with a higher caffeine content. further variations of the technique include nitro cold brew, or the practice of introducing nitrogen gas to aid in creating an even smoother, creamier flavor profile in the finished product.

“it’s two-fold,” max Pruna of La mulita coffee roastery in rye said when asked about the appeal of cold brew coffee. “one is the higher intensity of caffeine, which gives folks a huge boost for their morning or afternoon … and two, because it’s extracted in cold water, it’s less acidic. hot water introduces different acids into the coffee that cold water does not.”

La mulita introduced cold brew about a year into opening, Pruna estimates, after he noticed his customer base had been looking for it.

“cold brew is definitely a trend within the new generation,” he said.

in addition to its canned nitro cold brew coffee, seabrookbased company noBL Beverages offers a lineup of canned oat

a scratch-cooked food menu and a regular schedule of live music featuring quality local acts.

caFe Blue dream

86 Main St., Amesbury, Mass., 978834-6513, cafebluedream.com

A joint botanical apothecary and cafe, this spot in Amesbury, Mass., opened in 2019. Cafe Blue Dream offers nitro and cold brew coffee on tap, as well as hot coffee from a local roaster and a full line of other specialty beverages like cappuccinos, dirty chais and more.

caFFe kilim and market

163 Islington St., Portsmouth, 4367330, caffekilim.com

Caffe Kilim is a combination espresso bar and ethnic market, offering quality coffees roasted and brewed in house, in addition to fresh baked goods, specialty Mediterranean food options and hand-woven kilims, or rugs.

cHanging tideS caFe

92 Pleasant St., Newburyport, Mass., 978-572-1284, changingtidescafe.com

In March 2019, best friends Dawn Pantano and Sharon Pozzi-Thomas opened this cozy neighborhood cafe in Newburyport, Mass., where you’ll find specialty coffees, loose-leaf teas and baked

goods, including hand-cut doughnuts available every Friday.

coaStal moon caFe

68 Haverhill Road, Amesbury, Mass., 978-792-5720, coastalmooncafe.com

Coffees, pastries and sandwiches are the stars of the menu at this Amesbury, Mass., cafe. Coffees are sourced from Atomic Coffee Roasters of Peabody and are roasted to order, ensuring their freshness and quality.

coFFee Break caFe

23 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, hamptonbeachcoffee.com

Coffee Break Cafe is among one of the prime spots to get your morning cup of joe while on the beach. Locally sourced since 2007, coffees are available alongside a food menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, paninis and more.

tHe coFFee Factory

56 State St., Newburyport, Mass., 978-358-7539, mycoffeefactory.net

Established in 2008 in Derry, this family-owned coffee roastery and cafe would later expand to a second location in Newburyport, Mass. Hot and iced coffees, in addition to a full line of espresso drinks, are available here.

milk-based cold brew lattes and even cold brew teas. “it’s just an option for a different-tasting product that we believe is superior to the iced coffee alternative,” founder and ceo connor roelke said of canned cold brew. “it falls more into like the chocolatey-type notes people want from a cold coffee beverage, versus traditional iced coffee, which is brighter in flavor and a little more acidic.”

Max Pruna of La Mulita Coffee Roastery in Rye specializes in highlighting multiple coffee growing regions across his home country of Colombia. Courtesy photo.

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cup oF Joe caFe & Bar

31 Market St., Portsmouth, 2949404, cupofjoenh.com

This downtown Portsmouth shop opened in March 2018. You’ll find drip coffee available hot or iced, as well as cold brew coffee steeped for more than 12 hours in-house and a full line of espresso drinks. Sandwiches and baked goods round out the cafe’s food menu.

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d Squared Java

155 Water St., Exeter, 583-5646, dsquaredjava.com

D Squared Java, a specialty coffeehouse on Water Street in downtown Exeter, brews single-origin coffees by the cup, with beans sourced from several specialty local roasters.

elation coFFee roaSterS

Portsmouth, elationcoffeeroasters.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram

You can get single-origin coffee beans roasted to order from this Portsmouth-based small batch roaster. Join their mailing list online to receive updates on the availability of new roasts, as well as information on pop-ups and general news.

FlamingoS coFFee Bar

27 B St., Hampton Beach, 910-5647; 56 Lincoln St., Exeter, 418-7291; flamingoscoffeebar.com

Flamingos Coffee Bar opened its first location just steps away from the beach during Memorial Day weekend of 2021. Owner and founder MacKenzie Logan expanded the Flamingos brand to a second

location in Exeter nearly two years to the day later. Coffees are available both hot or iced, with beans sourced from South America and roasted at Flight Coffee Co. in Bedford. The shop is especially known for creating a buzz on social media with its specialty coffee flights, with flavors that rotate out every few weeks.

tHe green room

142 Ashworth Ave., Hampton Beach, 945-5495; 41 Vaughan Mall, Portsmouth, 404-7336; greenroomnh.com

Brought to you by The Fleury Group, which also operates Hampton favorites Bernie’s Beach Bar, The Goat Bar and Grill and Wally’s Restaurant & Entertainment Venue, The Green Room is a spot known for its line of a dozen brewed iced coffee flavors on tap, in addition to smoothies, bowls, juices and salads.

groundSwell SurF caFe

210 Ocean Blvd., Seabrook, 9187773; 25 Broadway, Salisbury, Mass., 978-255-1456; groundswellsurfcafe. com

With two locations on Seabrook Harbor and Salisbury Beach, GroundSwell is a prime go-to spot in its respective areas for coffees, breakfasts, smoothies, acai bowls and frappes.

kaFFee vonSolln

79 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 3730570, kaffeevonsolln.com

This family-owned cafe and coffee roastery has been offering

Seacoast coffee guru Dan Demers splits his time between D Squared Java in Exeter and Breakaway Cafe in Dover, where he is preparing a few drinks here. Photo courtesy of Breakthrough Marketing Group.

its own roasted beans since 2010, alongside a food menu of fine German pastries.

kaHa coFFee roaSterS Amesbury, Mass., kahacoffee.com, find them on Facebook

KAHA Coffee Roasters, based in Amesbury, Mass., specializes in hand-crafted small-batch coffee with a focus on high-quality beans sourced from around the world. In addition to its core blends, there are single-origin offerings that rotate throughout the year and are based on seasonality.

la mulita coFFee

15 Sagamore Road, Rye, 858-1019, lamulitacoffee.com

A specialty coffee bar and roastery highlighting the multiple growing regions in Colombia, La Mulita is the brainchild of Max Pruna, who himself was born and raised in the Colombian city of Medellín. La Mulita, which opened in the fall of 2019 in Rye, gets its name from the translation to “little mule,” a symbol for the preferred animal used by coffee farmers in Colombia. In addition to serving specialty Colombian coffees and espresso drinks, La Mulita offers a limited selection of pastries.

laney & lu

26 Water St., No. 6, Exeter; 360 Route 1 Bypass, No. 104, Portsmouth; 580-4952, laneyandlu.com

Among Laney & Lu’s core menu staples are small-batch, locally roasted organic fair trade coffees. You’ll find them at both locations

alongside organic teas, smoothies, hearty rice and quinoa bowls, wraps, sandwiches and other items available on the go.

new HampSHire coFFee

roaSting co.

7 Sumner Drive, Dover, 740-4200, nhcoffee.com

This Dover-based small-batch coffee roaster sources its beans from all around the world; they are roasted, ground and bagged in house. You’ll find their coffees in a variety of area restaurants and specialty stores, in addition to online and at the company’s factory outlet.

noa caFe

86 Congress St., Portsmouth, 3738132, noacafenh.com

NOA is a cafe and surf shop that sources its coffee beans from Bard Coffee of Portland, Maine. In addition to its coffees, you’ll find bowls, salads and sourdough “toasties” on its food menu.

noBl BeverageS

Seabrook, 395-9077, noblbeverages. com

NOBL Beverages was born in 2015 when founder and CEO Connor Roelke, then a senior at the University of New Hampshire, placed third in the school’s Holloway Competition for student entrepreneurs with his prototype nitro cold brew kegerator. Today NOBL operates out of a 35,000-square-foot facility in Seabrook, where the company produces its lines of canned cold brew coffees, lattes and teas. NOBL

also partners with coffee roasters throughout New England and beyond to offer a diverse lineup of nitro-infused cold brew coffees on tap, available both hot and cold depending on where you go.

olive’S coFFee & BakeHouSe

341 High St., Newburyport, Mass., 978-961-7411

Established in 2020, this coffee shop and bakehouse is named after owner and Newburyport, Mass., resident Debra Ball’s beloved English bulldog, according to its website. Ball has more than 15 years of industry experience, sourcing her baked goods and other food items locally in addition to offering freshly brewed coffees.

plum iSland coFFee

14 Market Square, Newburyport, Mass., 978-465-1523, plumislandcoffee.com

Formerly known as Souffles, this Newburyport, Mass., shop has been a go-to destination for locals and visitors for more than two decades, offering organic fair trade roasted coffees in addition to freshly baked goods.

port city coFFee roaSterS

801 Islington St., Portsmouth, 4333011, portcitycoffee.com

Port City Roasters has been an integral part of the Seacoast coffee culture since 1992. Freshly roasted coffee beans are available by the pound, while the shop’s menu features hot and iced drip coffees, teas and a full line of espresso drinks.

Stroll caFe

15 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, 3736001, stroll.cafe

“Stroll” down to this Portwalk Place all-day cafe in Portsmouth to enjoy locally roasted coffees, pastries, sandwiches, soups and grab-and-go foods, as well as beers, wines and aperitifs.

teatotaller caFe

3 Hale St., Dover, 457-2080, teatotallercafe.com

Somersworth native Emmett

Soldati opened the first Teatotaller Cafe in his hometown in 2011. A few years after opening a second location in downtown Concord,

Soldati returned to the Seacoast, this time in Dover, where the newest Teatotaller was born (his original location has since closed). Teatotaller features everything from coffees, espresso drinks and house tea blends to a food menu of scratch-made sandwiches, salads and more.

two BeeS caFe + patiSSerie

100 First St., Dover, 343-2286, twobeespatisserie.com

This casual French-inspired cafe in Dover is known for its sweet treats and sandwiches, in addition to coffees and espresso drinks sourced from Counter Culture Coffee of Somerville, Mass.

wHite Heron tea & coFFee

601 Islington St., Portsmouth, 2940270, whiteherontea.com

Hand-blended teas and freshly roasted coffees are the stars of the menu at White Heron, a staple of Islington Street in Portsmouth for nearly two decades.

wiSe HouSe coFFee roaSterS

15 Friend St., Amesbury, Mass., wisehousecoffee.com

This veteran-owned coffee purveyor and full-service cafe roasts and brews its own joe right in the heart of Amesbury, Mass.

Seabrook-based NOBL Beverages at a recent event with their “MOBL NOBL” trailer. Courtesy photo.

Hot coffee options from Flamingos Coffee Bar of Hampton and Exeter. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bakos Photography.

The Warren H. Manning Proposal for Hampton Beach

By Betty Gagne

The year is 1933. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is serving his first of what will become four terms as president of the United States. Gas costs 18 cents per gallon. And King Kong is poised to become the top-grossing moving picture of the year.

Meanwhile in a little place in New Hampshire called Hampton Beach, the townspeople have mixed emotions over a fine proposal to expand and enrich the marshes, to improve the beach, and to generate revenue by transforming the area and its vicinity through a plan called the Prophecy for Hampton.

Let’s step back in time just a bit to discover why and how this proposal was born.

Hampton Beach was pretty well-established as a tourist area and vacation spot since just after the turn of the century. With the construction of the casino complex in 1899, street cars made their

way to Hampton Beach, bringing visitors from the surrounding areas and Massachusetts. Hotels sprang up everywhere, and the boardwalk with its bandstand, restaurants and shops became an attraction in itself. By the 1920s, however, automobiles had begun to clog the roads, pushing the streetcars aside. This limited the number of visitors to the beach. In addition, a series of fires had occurred on different properties, causing further disruption to the once very popular vacation destination. Add to this a string of destructive storms that caused beach erosion. Another factor plaguing the area was that Hampton had just completed a costly sewer project at the beach, so there was little money left to repair the damage inflicted by the unpredictable weather.

The State of New Hampshire offered to acquire the beachfront, take over the land east of the strip, and maintain the Hampton Bridge. The weary residents ordered the selectmen to accept the state’s offer, and this all took place in the early 1930s. The state was ready to make plans to amplify the beach and encouraged ideas and ventures that would increase revenue. The Hampton Beach Development

Warren Manning, Warren H. Manning Collection, Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Commission hired the Warren H. Manning Co. of Boston to submit a proposal to elaborate the beach, and to create more attractions on the marshes. The State was thinking in terms of possibly building an airport on the marsh, constructing beautiful house lots, and placing boat slips along the waterways. Their aim was to bring more wealthy owners to the area in addition to making more money for the beach.

Warren Manning was well-established in the field of landscape design, and worked on more than 1,700 projects during his lifetime. He was a “short man in his 60s, with a full beard,” according to an article published in 1953 in the Hampton Union by James Tucker. Manning spent many months surveying the marshland, and grew to love the area of Hampton Beach. He described the 1,342 acres of salt marshes as “wastelands” and had many ideas for improvements. This didn’t sit well with some of the residents, specifically those who felt the marshes were an important part of the community. Townspeople had the run of the wetlands; some loved camping there, others enjoyed digging for clams and oysters. Graceful egrets, osprey and herons also made the marshes their homes. As earnest as he was in his profession, Manning was not so much concerned about the true natures of the area; he’d been hired to expand the potential of the territory to generate more revenue, and his proposal did not disappoint.

This is where our story truly begins. By November 1932 Manning had described plans to build a new street parallel to Marsh Avenue (today’s Ashworth Ave.), bounded by a canal that would provide slips for recreational boating. He further outlined the possibility of constructing upscale houses on the land. For the waterfront section of the beach, his project included building parks, a children’s playground, and a musical stage with seating for hundreds of people. He announced that the final plans would be ready by January 1933, and the public would be included to see the completed sketches and hear the details of the project.

The Manning Landscape Company proudly presented its plan to the Hampton community sketched on a 12-foot by 3.5-foot canvas banner designed to be displayed in a prominent place to raise excitement about the project. According to the Hampton Historical Society the banner hung in the meeting room at the Hampton Beach Fire Department for a long time, and at some point was donated to the HHS. It was stored in the attic at the Tuck Museum, tightly rolled up, for a number of years. Through time the banner became warped and water stained, damaged beyond the point of being displayed. HHS Director Betty Moore asked photographer Rich Hureau to take high-resolution pics of the banner and possibly try to restore it digitally. Hureau succeeded in getting the banner enhanced to look like the original, and now his restored image is on display in a special exhibit at the Tuck Museum. When you look at the plans, it’s clear which of Manning’s ideas were brought to fruition: The children’s playground and certainly the shell stage were parts of the proposal. You’re probably wondering why Manning’s ideas to improve

the marshlands never happened. It is believed that the true reason was lack of funds, considering the Great Depression and other factors, but some of the credit goes to the environmentally concerned residents of the community.

Fast forward to the ’50s. The Manning plan was still in the minds of many who dreamed of seeing the project come to life. Talk of an airport and house lots was still swirling through the community. To oppose this, the Hampton Garden Club presented a warrant article in 1958 calling for the formation of a Marsh Conservation Committee. The article passed, and in 1965 it became the Hampton Conservation Committee. This team asked for folks who owned marsh land to gift the land to the committee to protect it from ever being developed. Lots of owners offered their marshland, and there’s a plaque on the Tide Mill Creek pulloff on Route 101 that lists those who donated their lands for protection. One resident named Ruth Stimson was strongly in favor of keeping the marshes as they were for the future of Hampton. Ruth appreciated how valuable the salt marshes were and felt they were a boon to the early settlers. The marsh hay was plentiful and provided feed for their horses and cows.

HHS volunteer Karen Raynes has prepared an informative notebook as part of the Manning Banner Display which includes newspaper stories from the times, op-eds from townspeople about the project, facts about Warren Manning himself, write-ups from local newspapers about meetings regarding the plan, and other relevant information concerning the history of the Manning project. She feels it’s important for folks to know the story: “The concerns that the banner addresses are more pertinent than ever on the coast as we deal with more frequent and destructive storms, and yet as a destination place we want to grow. The problems addressed and decisions made concerning Hampton Beach today impact many just as they have in the past. Let us be informed and wise in our choices.”

Even today the community sometimes disagrees on what’s best for Hampton Beach, and there are proposed projects in the works right now to make major changes along the boardwalk and in the casino complex. Will these projects be completed? Only time will tell.

The Tuck Museum, at 40 Park Avenue in Hampton, is open Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hamptonhistoricalsociety.org.

Painting by Ruth G. Stimson of the Hampton Marshes. Courtesy image. Courtesy image.

Experience Sea Life: Three Ways to do it!

By Betty Gagne

The New Hampshire seacoast is full of untouched beauty. It’s everywhere around you — clean, sandy beaches, sunny blue skies, and an ocean full of creatures from the tiniest barnacles to the most majestic whales, surrounded by all the other living beings who call the sea their home. A walk along the ocean’s edge will sometimes reward you with seeing nature in its untouched habitat; crabs, snails, clams and scallops in their shells, and sometimes fish and even live sand dollars can be found. But if you’re seeking a little adventure and feel the need to dive a little further into the true wonders of the deep, here are three different paths you can take.

wHale watcHing

Whale watching is a perfect way to enjoy the marvels of the sea without even getting your hands wet. Cruising the water in a huge vessel is relaxing and educational. Tours usually go out between late May and early October, and your chances of spotting whales runs about 85 to 90 percent. The true mystery of taking a whale watch tour is that you never know what you’re going to see. The vessels leave the coast and typically travel a couple of hours toward Jeffrey’s Ledge in the western Gulf of Maine, or south to Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts. These are well-known feeding spots that whales and other sea life travel to in early spring. Among the pods of humpbacks, fin and minke whales, passengers have also spotted dolphins, seals and aquatic birds. The expeditions go out in the morning and afternoon.

The first thing you’ll learn on a whale watching expedition is how to spot the animals using clock direction. Twelve o’clock means straight ahead, three o’clock means to the right, six o’clock is behind or below, and nine o’clock means to the left. This is something children really enjoy because they love to spot whales and yell out where they are. Prepare to hear lots of happy cries of numbers on your whale watch tour. Also you can expect to see several whale watching vessels in

the same area; rumor has it they communicate with each other and share their locations so everyone gets to see the whales. Passengers have described whale watch tours as “fascinating, awesome” and “the experience of a lifetime.”

Granite State Whale Watch out of Rye offers tours guided by a naturalist to answer questions and further enhance this educational, family-friendly activity. If you choose to participate in a whale watch, expect to be at sea for at least four hours and be sure to make reservations in advance. Whale watching tours usually take place rain or shine but sometimes will be canceled due to poor visibility or rough seas, so plan accordingly. You’ll want to pack binoculars and a camera, a jacket or sweatshirt, sunscreen and a hat. The boats usually have some snacks and drinks for sale, and if you are prone to seasickness you’ll want to take medicine beforehand. Going on a whale watch cruise is an exciting, enthralling experience that you’ll never forget.

deep Sea FiSHing

If you’re seeking more of a hands-on adventure, a deep sea fishing excursion may be exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll still be out on the ocean, but the experience is more up close. Instead of just enjoying

Courtesy photo.

the view, you’ll be getting your hands into it by baiting your hooks and hopefully being brave enough to hold that fish once you catch it. Deep sea fishing is an amusing and adventurous sport, and when you hop on one of these fishing charters everything is provided for you. Even if you’ve never deep sea fished before, expect to learn a lot and feel like an expert by the end of the excursion.

Deep sea fishing charters typically go out early in the morning, and these boats travel a fair distance away from shore for the best chances of finding fish. Imagine going out into deep waters, catching fresh haddock and cooking it for dinner that evening. You can’t get much better than that! The charters are fun and provide an educational experience, and everyone in the family will enjoy them.

Yellow Bird Deep Sea Fishing Charters runs out of Hampton Harbor. This is one of many fishing companies, and it’s a favorite because the boat is 60 feet long and holds a maximum of 24 to 30 people depending on the length of the outing. They offer day trips, 10-hour trips and 12-hour

marathon trips, and you can even charter the entire boat if you choose. When you make your reservation, you get to pick your spot on the deck, and the anglers are placed far enough apart to avoid getting lines tangled. The crew is there to assist you, and Captain Ricky St. Pierre finds the hottest fishing spots by using a fish finder, a sonar that shows the water’s depth and the sea bottom. Anglers usually want to catch as much haddock as possible, and a haddock has to be at least 17 inches long to be considered a “keeper.” Redfish are also a common catch, and cod is in season from November through August, with a limit of one fish per day. Fishing charters follow the regulations set by the Marine Fisheries Division of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and these rules determine what type of fish can be caught and how long they must be.

The same suggestions for what to bring on a whale watch apply to a deep sea fishing charter: sunscreen, a jacket or sweatshirt, and a hat. Consider taking something for seasickness if you’re prone to it. You’ll also want to bring paper towels or something to wipe your hands; you’ll be baiting your hooks with slimy chum, and holding that catch of the day proudly for your Kodak moment! Even if you don’t snag one fish, you’ll be going home with some. The crew filets the fish and separates it into bags so everyone gets their share. A deep sea fishing trip is a fun way to experience seeing and touching sea life.

educational SiteS

For those who prefer to experience the wonders of the sea on land, the seacoast features a number of educational spots that provide close up interactions with fascinating creatures that live in touch tanks. One such place is the Seacoast Science Center, located in Rye at Odiorne State Park. The importance of the ocean and the role it plays in sustaining all life on Earth is very concerning to the folks at the Seacoast Science Center, and that’s why they focus not only on the function of the sea but also on how to sustain its health. Their programs aim to encourage and inspire people to care about this valuable natural resource, and teach how small steps can make a big difference in keeping the ocean in good shape.

Exhibits at SSC provide information about marine mammals and what is being done to protect them. The Gulf of Maine exhibit teaches visitors the importance of this ecosystem and how it has changed and evolved through time. Children and adults alike will appreciate the chance to visit the Edge of the Sea exhibit, where you can learn about life by reaching in and touching it. Three very different saltwater tanks are home to a variety of intertidal animals

Courtesy photo.

Courtesy photo.

and seaweeds and you are invited to get up close and personal with them. You’ll have the opportunity to really get your hands wet by holding sea stars and urchins and other sea life. A visit to SSC is educational and entertaining, and during the summer there are lots of events going on. Looking for sea life is a feast for the senses and whether you’re observing whales through a pair of binoculars, reeling in a fishing line with two haddock, or gingerly reaching into a touch tank to pick up a crab, you’re experiencing some of the briny miracles of the seacoast.

deep Sea FiSHing excurSionS

Al Gauron Deep Sea Fishing & Whale Watching Cruises 1 Ocean Blvd. Hampton, N.H. algauron.com 603-926-2469 gauronfishing@yahoo.com

Eastman’s Docks Fishing Fleet 5 River St. Seabrook, N.H. eastmansdocks.com 603-474-3461 GSWW@comcast.net

Steaker Charters

1 Ocean Blvd. Hampton, N.H. steakercharters.com 603-918-8626 derekgauron@yahoo.com

Yellow Bird Deep Sea Fishing 1 Ocean Blvd. E Hampton, N.H. yellowbirdfishing.com 603-929-1995

wHale watcHing cruiSeS

Granite State Whale Watch 1870 Ocean Blvd.

Rye, N.H. granitestatewhalewatch.com 800-964-5545

GSWW@comcast.net

Newburyport Whale Watch 54 Merrimac St. Newburyport, Mass. newburyportwhalewatch.com 800-848-1111 info@newburyportwhalewatch.com

toucH tankS

Blue Ocean Discovery Center Ocean Boulevard

Hampton, N.H. blueoceansociety.org 603-502-3445 info@blueoceansociety.org

Explore the Ocean World Touch Tanks & Oceanarium 367 Ocean Blvd., No. 3 Hampton Beach, N.H. exploretheoceanworld.com 603-758-7998 exploretheoceanworld@hotmail.com

Seacoast Science Center

Odiorne Point State Park 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, N.H. seacoastsciencecenter.org 603-436-8043 info@sscnh.org

“Eat in the Roug h” New England Style

CLAMS

Betty Gagne with her catch. Courtesy photo.

Fresh local produce from the Seacoast’s niche farms

By Curt Mackail

The Seacoast offers many ways to get fresh food from local growers. Although you may find some fresh, local produce in supermarkets (usually not much), the best places to get the benefits of local harvests are farmers markets, farm stands, and buying direct from nearby producers.

Dairy farms, livestock farms and orchards comprise a major portion of the regional agricultural economy, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With few exceptions, farms are family-run here, as they have been since the colonial era.

“Family farms have survived by keeping up with the latest innovations in agriculture like diversifying production and trying out new products,” reports New Hampshire Folklife, an online resource for learning about traditional arts and cultural heritage (visit nh.gov/folklife/index.htm).

One of those agricultural innovations is the emergence of ultra-niche marketing. Niche farmers focus on only one or a few products targeted to narrow segments of consumers. The Rutgers University agricultural experiment station says ultra-niche farming means the farmer produces exceptionally high-value crops that can be grown on 10 acres or fewer.

According to Skynova, an online financial management service for small-scale growers, the best niche crops are mushrooms and microgreens.

“Incredibly easy to grow and highly sought-after, mushrooms are a very profitable specialty crop. They can be grown indoors, year-round,” Skynova says. “Microgreens and herbs are also easy and efficient for the grower, requiring little space to grow in abundance. And, herbs and microgreens require minimal investment,” the company says.

exemplarS oF nicHe

Food productS in tHe SeacoaSt

FunguS among uS

Dunk’s Mushrooms. Dunk’s Mushrooms is a culinary mushroom farm with an FDA-registered processing facility in Brentwood, New Hampshire. William Dunkerly (Dunk) founded the business in 2016, providing local restaurants and stores with high-quality gourmet mushrooms.

“We grow between eight and 12 species. Our distribution area includes central and southeastern New Hampshire, northeastern Massachusetts, southern Maine and the Upper Valley of Vermont,” Dunkerly said. Dunk grew up in Errol, New Hampshire, and spent lots of time in the woods — foraging, fishing and hunting, he said. Dunk’s chance discovery of a rare wild mushroom led to a relationship with a North Country mushroom company. Then, when a wild oyster mushroom inspired him to clone it, Dunk succeeded on his first try and something clicked, he said. The mushroom company and a friendly local chef told Dunk they were ready to buy if he could produce enough volume.

So Dunkerley converted a $30 indoor greenhouse into a mushroom farm. That meager start developed into an 80-square-foot controlled-environment greenhouse in his basement, producing some 300 pounds of mushrooms weekly.

Dunk said he then faced a decision: remain a parttime hobby grower or quit his day job and go all in on mushroom farming. He quit his job.

The operation today is 3,000 square feet with

Microgreens have literally grown into a profitable business over the past five years for Scott Wilson, he said. A microgreen is defined as the first two leaves that emerge from a seedling.

Photo courtesy of Big Scotts Local Grown, LLC.

storage, refrigeration and growing rooms. “Production now runs around 700 pounds per week of eight specialty varieties,” Dunkerly said.

Dunk starts with ready-to-fruit mushroom blocks. The mushrooms are transplanted to a growing medium. Some are ready for marketing in as little as a week. Others may take up to three weeks or more. Dunk and two part-time employees harvest the produce twice every day, all year.

For anyone considering a specialty mushroom growing business, Dunkerley offers this advice: “This is not get-rich-quick nor easy. It’s a seven-day-a-week gig,” he said. For a complete list of products and places to find them, visit dunksmushrooms.com. You may also purchase directly from the business, at 313 Route 125, Brentwood. Hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. Telephone 603-952-7411. Email dunksmushrooms@gmail.com.

a very pungent BuSineSS

Backyard Garlic Farm. Garlic is one of the easiest and most satisfying crops to grow in the backyard garden, says the University of New Hampshire agricultural extension service. And that’s why the Seacoast’s niche farm that’s totally devoted to garlic is called Backyard Garlic. Business owners Margaret Witham and Rebecca Hennessy started Backyard Garlic in their own backyards.

Individual garlic cloves are separated and planted in the fall. They send up stalks (called scapes) in early summer, then mature under the soil until they are pulled, cleaned and cured in a dry environment during fall.

“We harvested our first crop in 2016,” Hennessy said. “Hardneck garlic, the variety we grow because it does well in New England’s cooler climate, remains in the ground for almost nine months. So it was a long wait for those first bulbs. But it was worth it,” Hennessy said. “As we approach our 10th year as garlic farmers, Margaret and I anticipate each

harvest with much the same excitement as we did back then.”

Backyard Garlic moved from New Hampshire to Eliot, Maine, in 2020.

“We have our own sunny patch of land and grow most of the garlic we process. Last year that was 1,600 pounds that we cracked, peeled, chopped and dehydrated,” Hennessy said.

“We wanted to own a food business. The idea grew like a magic bean from our experience working together to build an elementary school garden. Although we weren’t sure what the business would be, we knew that we wanted it to be grounded in community, promote soil and human health, and be sustainable as a second career.

“In 2015 when we sat down next to Don Womack at a farm and food conference in Nashua everything fell into place. Don reached out his hand, the smell of garlic rising from him like morning fog, introduced himself as The Garlic Guy, and said he would teach us everything he knew about garlic. We started working on our business plan on the drive home,” Hennessy said.

“By 2021 our new neighbors were helping us plant, harvest, and peel our crop. Folks stop by to meet the garlic farmers that live down the street. It’s been a blast,” Hennessy said

Backyard Garlic’s dried garlic grinders are found at some 35 locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts including farm stands, small grocers and Whole Foods Market. For a complete list of where to buy, visit backyardgarlic.farm. Telephone 498-9416. Email backyardgarlic@gmail. com.

William Dunkerly, known as Dunk, started growing gourmet mushrooms in a $30 indoor greenhouse as a part-time occupation. Since 2016, Dunk’s Mushrooms has expanded into a 3000 square-foot FDA-registered facility with storage, climate controls, and grow rooms in Brentwood, NH. Photo courtesy of Dunk’s Mushrooms.

Rebecca Hennessy (left) and Margaret Witham started their garlic farm because they wanted to own a business that promotes community, soil and human health, and provide themselves with sustainable second careers. Photo courtesy of Backyard Garlic, LLC.

Backyard Garlic’s dried garlic grinders are found at some 35 outlets including farmers markets, farm stands, small grocers, and Whole Foods Markets in Portland, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Photo courtesy of Backyard Garlic, LLC.

Scott Wilson and daughter Brittany grow gourmet popcorn and microgreens on their Stratham farm. Scott also grows corn that will be stone ground and used for fresh local tortillas and chips made and marketed by Vida Tortilla, a Seacoast business supplying restaurants and farmers markets. Photo courtesy of Big Scotts Local Grown, LLC

a growing microgreenS BuSineSS

Big Scott’s Local Grown. He’s a third-generation farmer and she’s a chef and nutritionist.  Together, Scott Wilson and his daughter Brittany Wezner along with Brittany’s husband, Tyler, produce, package and market hydroponic microgreens and popcorn grown on their farm in Stratham, New Hampshire. The corn side of the business came first, in 2016. Microgreen growing came next, three years later.

Wilson said, “In the spring of 2019, I expanded the farming operation to include growing grain corn for a startup company in Dover, Vida Tortilla, that makes tortillas and corn chips and distributes in southern New Hampshire and Maine. We also added microgreens that same year. Now the popcorn part of the business is the smallest. But the microgreens and grain side of things is great. It’s expanded into a significant business over the past five years.”

“We grow our microgreens using three simple things. Coconut fiber pads, seeds, and water only. No dirt, no cutting and no prepackaging. Just pure, living, delicious microgreens. Not only are they visually appealing, they are packed with amazing flavor and nutrients,” Wilson said.

The gourmet popcorn line-up includes four varieties, all nonGMO: Ruby Red, Shaman’s Blue, Wicked White and Classic Yellow. The colors refer to the shell of the popcorn. After popping the kernels are all white, although each has a different flavor and texture. For information on where to buy the products, visit bigscottslocalgrown. com. Telephone 603-770-1746. Email info@bigscottslocalgrown.com.

a Family Farm witH a century oF HiStory

Hurd Farm. The 160-acre third-generation Hurd family farm in Hampton, New Hampshire, produces grass-fed beef, pork, poultry and eggs.

“Our animals are fed an all-natural diet with no added antibiotics

All of the livestock raised on the 100-year-old Hurd Farm is fed an all-natural diet, receives no antibiotics nor growth stimulants, and spends their days outdoors in pasture. The farm markets beef, pork, turkeys, chickens, and eggs. “Being part of the movement to shop local and support small farms, knowing you are making even a small difference in the world, is our greatest reward,” said Steve Hurd’s daughter Morgan. “We raise happy, healthy animals,” she said. Photo courtesy of Hurd Farm.

or growth stimulants, and they spend their days in the pasture on our farms,” said Margaret Hurd, daughter of longtime farmer Steve Hurd.

“What makes our product special is that consumers know exactly where their meat is coming from. When you buy meat from a grocery store, you have no idea where that animal came from, what it was eating, or even whether it was truly healthy or not. Our animals are raised free-range on pasture, they receive no antibiotics or hormones, and are spoiled with food donations from our community,” Morgan Hurd said.

“When you choose to shop with us, you’re not only receiving a much higher-quality product, but you’re also helping to support a local, family-owned farm that has been operating for more than 100 years,” she said.

Previously a dairy operation, Hurd Farm switched to the meat business in 2009.

“When we first got into the business, locally raised meat was looked at as expensive and we had a much smaller customer base. As it became more popular to shop at farmers markets and purchase products grown locally, demand increased and our customer base began to grow. When Covid-19 hit we really saw an increase in demand for our products. It was harder to purchase meat at the grocery store and more and more people started wondering exactly where it was coming from. Farmers markets began booming with all different types of customers,” Morgan Hurd said.

“We’ve made amazing connections with local families, business owners, and other farmers,” she said. “Raising animals is incredibly challenging and there are constantly changing variables that affect them. But being a part of the movement to shop local and support small farms, knowing you are making even a small difference in the world, is the greatest reward.”

Hurd Farm products can be found at farmers markets in Exeter, Portsmouth, Hampton Falls and Salem. The Hurd Farm store, 11 Old Stage Road, in Hampton, is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. Visit hurdfarm.com. Telephone 603-944-6869. Email hurdfarmllc@ yahoo.com.

Annarosa’s

sEASON uNFOLDING

By Michael Witthaus

Hand Crafted European Breads & Pastries

art

• The Abstract Artists Group of New England celebrates a sampling of artwork from its members all through May at Metzy’s Cantina (5 Boston Way, Newburyport, Mass., newburyportart.org). The group supports, encourages and promotes abstract and non-traditional artists and seeks to educate the public about its work. There’s a reception on May 4, and the exhibition runs through May 31.

• The Lane House Arts Center (380 Lafayette Road, Hampton, N.H., lanehousearts.com) celebrates its threeyear anniversary over a long weekend, with a reception for the Going Green group exhibit on June 14 at 4 p.m., a concert on June 2 at 5:30 p.m. from New Hampshire Celtic fiddler Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, and an open house on Sunday, June 3, from 10 to 5 p.m., where visitors can view studios of resident artists.

• On the first Friday of every month, the Art ’Round Town Gallery Walk happens from 5 to 8 p.m. in the area around Portsmouth’s Market Square. It’s a great way to bide the time before a restaurant reservation. Gallery works range from regional landscapes to more abstract and avant-garde pieces, from artists based in New England and around the world (facebook.com/ artroundtownportsmouth).

• Available to children age 6 and up, the Kids Summer Arts & Crafts Camp happens daily from June 13 through June 21 at Seacoast ArtSpot (2992 Lafayette Road, Unit 3, Portsmouth, N.H., seacoastartspot.com), $99/day, $450/week. Arts and crafts projects at the bring-your-own-lunch

camp encourage kids to use their imaginations working with a lot of upcycling and recycling; each day includes a fine arts project.

• “Sand Wars: May the Beach Be With You” is the theme of the 24th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic June 20 through June 22. Two hundred tons of imported sand is dropped for a massive sponsor site and invited artists compete at an event that has received worldwide attention. The final-day awards ceremony is followed by special fireworks; the area stays illuminated for viewing through June 26.

comedy

• See top comedy talent at The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H.), including Jay Leno on May 10 and Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood on June 13. The more intimate Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St., Portsmouth) has Gianmarco Soresi on May 9, Brian Glowacki on May 18, Nick Callas on May 24, and Pat McGann doing four shows over two days on June 21 and June 22. Tickets at themusichall.org.

• Every Tuesday for over 14 years, The Winner’s Circle (211 Elm St., Salisbury, Mass.) has remained a goto open mic for aspiring comics, and more than a few bigger names that stop by to work on new material; Juston McKinney is a frequent habitué. The free event has an online signup sheet that’s always booked weeks in advance — check out winnerscirclema. com for an available slot.

• Jimmy Dunn, lately in the Frasier reboot cast, launched the Hamp-

Hampton Beach Sand Scculpting Classic (2022). Photo by Betty Gagne.

Specials

Golf & World Famous Seafood Chowder & Lobster Rolls

ton Beach Comedy Festival partly as an excuse to hang out in his backyard with standup comedy pals. The summer tradition kicks off Aug. 13 at McGuirk’s Ocean View (95 Ocean Blvd., Hampton) and runs through Aug. 18 - hampton-beach-comedy-festival. weebly.com

• There are laughs along with the many national music stars playing at Casino Ballroom (24 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach), including SNL alum and perennial rebound boyfriend Pete Davidson on June 22, TikTok star Nurse Blake on June 29, Kathleen Madigan on Aug. 24, Brad Williams on Sept. 21 and Lewis Black’s Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour on Sept. 27. Tickets at tickemaster.com.

• Opened in mid-2021, McCue’s Comedy Club, located inside The Roundabout Diner (580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, N.H.), presents top comics like Kenny Rogerson, Frank Santorelli and Carolyn Plummer every week, along with newer names like Will Smalley and Rodney Norman. The venue is run by veteran standup Jim McCue. Schedule and tickets at mccuescomedyclub.com.

FeStivalS

• The 12th annual New Hampshire Maker Fest is an all-ages event spotlighting creativity and innovation, invention and resourcefulness. The family-friendly happening welcomes engineers, artists, scientists and chefs and anyone else looking to show hobbies, experiments and projects. Saturday, June 1, at Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, N.H., childrens-museum.org).

• Juried artisans from all over New England display and sell their American-made works at the Mothers’ Day Weekend Craft Festival on May 11 and May 12 at the Hampton Falls Common (1 Lincoln Ave., Hampton Falls, N.H., castleberryfairs.com). Offerings range from fine art to jewelry

to pottery, sun catchers and sculptures. Live music both days, and food products are also available at the free, rainor-shine event.

• In 1958, 30 communities joined to present Yankee Homecoming; today, Newburyport is the lone community continuing the tradition. The event, happening July 27 through Aug. 4, includes a craft fair, downtown concerts, a brewfest (that always sells out in advance). The singular Olde Fashioned Sunday is on July 30, with pony rides and midway games, along with an antique and classic car show – yankeehomecoming.com.

Film

• Weather permitting, enjoy family-friendly films on an outdoor screen at Movie Night Mondays in Hampton Beach, starting July 8 at dusk with Under the Boardwalk. This year’s features include The Swan Princess: Far Longer Than Forever on July 15, Mummies on July 29 and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on Aug. 5. Bring a blanket or chair to the free event, which happens next to the playground (hamptonbeach.org).

• The Prescott Park Arts Festival’s 50th anniversary season includes a Movie Night Series presented by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Eight family-friendly movies will be announced soon, and the series will begin around mid-June. Last year included Ratatouille, Top Gun: Maverick, In the Heights, Hook, Inside Out and James Bond: A Quantum of Solace (prescottpark.org).

• Along with live events, The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H., themusichall.org) has run movies for over 120 years. This year’s include From Here to eternity and a screening of Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, both on May 12. The Women’s Adventure Film Tour on May 22 has eight female-forward shorts, and the restored Russian mas-

Yankee Homecoming. Courtesy photo. Jimmy Dunn. Courtesy photo.

terpiece nostalghia screens May 25 and May 26.

Food

• A hot pepper eat-off, hot wings contest and all-day music are all part of the New England Hot Sauce Fest happening June 27 at Smuttynose Brewing Co. (105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton, N.H.). Showcasing more than 30 artisan fiery sauce companies, the third annual event also includes crafts, food trucks and beer, along with bouncy houses for the kids. $13 to $17 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• The Golden Ladle Award will be awarded at the 97.5 WOKQ Chowder Festival on June 1 in Prescott Park (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, N.H., prescottpark.org). Presented by Avery Insurance, it runs from 11:30 a.m. until the chowder’s gone. In the past, recipes have included Smoked Scallop, Manhattan, Vegetarian, Corn and Spicy Seafood chowders. The event kicks off this year’s Prescott Park Arts Festival.

• Now in its 10th year, the Portsmouth Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is the ultimate foodie trailer park. The area’s top purveyors dish out everything from lobster rolls to heartshaped empanadas and treats like whoopie pies and warm mini doughnuts. There are also artisans selling pottery, jewelry and more, with beer from host Cisco Brewery (35 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth). See foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.

• Along with a bevy of deliciousness from area restaurants, the 34th Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival has two stages with nonstop music, a cornhole tournament and a lobster roll eating contest. NESN’s Wicked Bites hosts cooking demonstrations, and there are craft booths, a pop-up art show and allegedly New Hampshire’s only bar on the beach. Advance tickets $24 at hamptonbeach.org.

nature

• Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses is offering two Sunset Lighthouses Cruises on June 21 and June 28 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Leaving from Rye Harbor (Route 1A, Rye, N.H., portsmouthharborlighthouse. org), the cruise is narrated by historian and author Jeremy D’Entremont and passes close to Portsmouth Harbor, Whaleback and White Island Lighthouses in the Isles of Shoals. Tickets are $40 per person.

• Among the many activities offered at the Seacoast Science Center (Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, N.H., seacoastsciencecenter.org) is Nature@Nite. Held monthly on the third Friday, each themed event engages participants of all ages in STEM topics. A scheduled, guided nature program starts at 5 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to dress for outdoor exploration.

• A self-guided walking tour concentrated on the city’s Little Harbor neighborhood, the 35th Annual Pocket Gardens of Portsmouth Tour offers a peek at nine unique gardens, along with music, plein air artists (outdoor painters) and cookies. Nature writer Susan Pike discusses native plants, along with John Forti, author of The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World (June 21 and June 22; portsmouthnhtickets. com).

SportS

• A benefit for Friends Forever International, the Golf Fore Peace Tournament happens June 10 starting at noon at Wentworth by the Sea Country Club (60 Wentworth Road, Rye, N.H., ff.international). Compete for bragging rights with contests for longest drive, one club only, holein-one, and putting. A cocktail party follows, with a review of FFI’s efforts in New Hampshire, Northern Ireland

and Israel.

• Before feasting on lobster, run the Harvard Pilgrim Seafood Fest 5K on Sept. 8; runners get festival admission with entry (milleniumrunnning. com). The race is preceded by Yoga on the Beach (pre-register during signup with code FREECLASS), along with a Lil’ Lobster fun run for the kiddos. The out-and-back 3.1-mile course runs along Route 1A, affording awesome views of the seacoast.

tHeatre

• The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, N.H., playersring.org) presents alice, a Whimsical Musical in Wonderland May 24 through June 2. Based on the books by Lewis Carroll, it follows Alice as she “navigates the sometimes-frivoloussometimes-frightening landscape, and the confusing space between childhood and adulthood that’s filled with madness, Jabberwockys and impossible things.”

• The Greek myth at the heart of Tony-winning musical Hadestown is seen from a new point of view in eurydice, running May 17 through May 26 at Firehouse Center for the Arts (1 Market Square, Newburyport, Mass., firehouse.org), with the female heroine as the play’s protagonist. Dying too young and on her wedding day no less, Eurydice travels to the underworld and struggles to remember her life and lost love.

• A 19th-century actress hides her secret in romeo and Her Sister, from NH Theatre Project (959 Islington St., Portsmouth, N.H., nhtheatreproject.org). It’s based on the true story of Charlotte Cushman, who broke new ground playing Romeo, with her sis-

ter portraying Juliet, while working to conceal her sexual identity. The “queer historical dramedy” opens June 7 and runs throughout Pride Month.

• Musical theater is part of the Prescott Park Arts Series, with legally Blonde, the Musical, presented by Service Credit Union, running from June 21 through Aug. 11. That’s followed by a 50th Anniversary Musical Revue featuring selections from the shows performed on the Prescott’s stage over the past five decades. There are performances from Aug. 16 through Aug. 18, including a matinee on Aug. 17.

• A packed schedule from Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth, N.H.) includes Willy Wonka through May 19, based on the 1971 film with its memorable Newley & Bricusse score. Spring awakening, a Tony-winning musical about adolescence, runs through May 26. Opening June 7 is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat, followed by the jukebox musical rock of ages, July 18 through Sept 1.

New England Hot Sauce Fest. Courtesy photo.

Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. Courtesy of Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Willy Wonka plays at The Seacoast Rep through May 19. Courtesy photo.

HOME OF THE KING SHAKE

wHere it’S at

Live music for your Seacoast summer.

Bernie’s Beach Bar

73 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, N.H., 603-926-5050

Fortunate Youth – May 10

Ripe – May 24-26

The Movement – May 30-31

Joe Samba – June 7-8

Vavo – June 14

Abducted By The ’80s – June 16

Hot Beach Bash 5 feat. Mya – June 20

POP 2000 Tour – June 27

Remembering Toots: Leba & The Maytals – July 17

Bumpin’ Uglies & Ballyhoo! – July 18

Grateful Dub & Roots of Creation –Aug. 1

Tropidelic – Aug. 15

Collie Buddz – Sept. 1

Blue Ocean Music Hall

Oceanfront North, Salisbury, Mass., 978-462-5888

The Breakers – May 10

Fortune – May 11

Leonid & Friends: A Tribute To Chicago – May 22-23

The Alarm w/ Gene Loves Jezebel & Belouis Some – May 25

Matt Stell – May 29

Hollywood Nights – June 15

Bruce in the USA – June 20

Adam Ezra Band – June 21

Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing –June 29

Buffett Beach Blast feat. Changes in Latitudes – July 19

Gavin Marengi Band – July 25

The Cat Empire – July 29

The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA –

Aug. 7-8

Celebrating Celine – Aug. 16

Pink Talking Fish – Aug. 30

Casino Ballroom

169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, N.H., 603-929-4100

The Front Bottoms – May 10

Our Last Night – May 18-19

Charley Crockett – June 5

Jo Dee Messina – June 7

Voyage (Journey Tribute) – June 8

Little River Band – June 15

Bonnie Raitt – June 18

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – June 20-21

Michael Franti & Spearhead – June 25

Gimme Gimme Disco – June 28

Umphrey’s McGee – July 5

Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime – July 6

Priscilla Block – July 7

The Used – July 10

Aaron Lewis – July 11

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

– July 14

Brit Floyd – July 18-19

Dirty Deeds & Through the Doors –July 20

Dark Desert Eagles – July 27

Switchfoot / Blue October / Matt Nathanson – July 28

Get the Led Out – Aug. 3

Happy Together Tour – Aug. 4

Teddy Swims – Aug. 7

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – Aug. 8

Face 2 Face: A Tribute to Elton John & Billy Joel – Aug. 10

KC & the Sunshine Band – Aug. 15

Brett Young – Aug. 16

Dustin Lynch – Aug. 17

Joe Bonamassa – Aug. 30-31

Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

135 Congress St., Portsmouth, N.H., 888-603-5299

Gaby Moreno – May 9

Kenny Garrett Quartet – May 11

Albert Cummings Band – May 12

YellowHouse Blues Band: Monday

Night Local Artist Series – May 13

Shemekia Copeland – May 17

Larry Carlton: Greatest Hits & Steely

Dan – May 18

The Chris O’Leary Band – May 19

Panorama: Monday Night Local Artist

Courtesy of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses.

Series – May 20

Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice – May 22

The Steepwater Band – May 22

BoDeans – May 23

David Sanborn Jazz Quintet – May 24-25

Beatlemania Again – May 26

Raul Midon – May 29

Trouble No More: Allman Brothers Band Tribute – May 30-31

Charles Lloyd Sky Trio feat. Brian Blade & Larry Grenadier – June 2

Rick Estrin & the Nightcats – June 4

Anthony Geraci & The Boston Blues

Allstars – June 5

Chrissi Poland ft. Stu Mindeman + James Genus and Josh Dion – June 6

Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Trio – June 9

Samara Joy – June 11

Jenny Don’t & The Spurs – June 12

Shaw Davis and The Black Ties – June

13

Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers – June 14-15

Fred Wesley & the New JBs – June 16

Soulive – June 17-18

Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers Band – June 19

Mason Jennings – June 20

Lee Ritenour – June 21

Ravi Coltrane Quartet – June 23

Colin James – June 26-27

Miguel Zenón Quartet – June 29

John Pizzarelli – June 30

Tatiana Eva-Marie – July 3

Cindy Blackman Santana – July 4

Dwight & Nicole – July 5

Joey Alexander Trio – July 6

Vanessa Collier – July 12

Toronzo Cannon – July 16

Yacht Rock Schooner – July 17-18

Uprooted feat. Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root – July 19

The Hot Sardines – July 20

Phantom Blues Band w/ Curtis Salgado – July 21

Liz Frame & the Kickers – July 24

Sugaray Rayford – July 25

Peter White – July 26

Tab Benoit & Anders Osborne w/

Mike Zito Band – July 28

The Boneshakers – Aug. 1

Bill Frisell Four – Aug. 3

The Jeremiah Johnson Band – Aug. 4

Robert Jon & the Wreck – Aug. 5

Bonerama – Aug. 10

Takin’ It To the Streets – Aug. 14

Ruthie Foster – Aug. 15

Brubeck Brothers Quartet – Aug. 16

Larry McCray – Aug. 17

Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac Trib-

ute – Aug. 18

Spyro Gyra – Aug. 21

Billy Price Band – Aug. 22

Walter Trout Band – Aug. 23

Karla Bonoff – Aug. 24

Moondance: Van Morrison Tribute –Aug. 27

The Weight Band – June 8

The Music Hall

28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H., 603-436-2400

Wood Brothers – May 11

David Foster/Katherine McFee – May 15

Let’s Sing Taylor – May 18

Nat Zegree’s The History of Rock ‘n Roll – May 23

Joe Jackson – June 3

Magic of Motown – June 19

Kenny G – June 21

Emerging Artist Benefit Concert: Jason Mraz – July 3

Straight No Chaser, Summer: The 90s – Aug. 10

Music Hall Lounge

131 Congress St., Portsmouth, N.H., 603-436-2400

Zac Francis album release party – May 10

PMAC Jazz Night – May 11

Samara Joy. Courtesy photo.

45 Years of Pleasure

Bandits On The Run – May 12

Chris Trapper – May 16

Three Second Chances – May 17

Brian Glowacki – May 18

Nick Callas – May 24

Hunter Root – May 25

Bitter Pill – May 26

Chastity Brown – May 28

Dalton & The Sheriffs – May 31

Reed Foehl – June 1

Blkbok – June 2

Muse: A Salute to Divas of the ’90s –

June 7

Ellis Paul – June 9

Dave Ross – June 14

Andy Beningo – June 15

The Wellermen – June 18

Pat McGann – June 21-22

Haley Reinhart – June 23-24

Tohst – June 28

Karen Morgan – June 29

Grace Pettis and Henry Honkonen –June 30

Erick Baker – July 11

Cam Bertrand – July 12

Dulcé Sloan – July 14

Jackie Fabulous – July 18

Robert Kelly – July 20

Orlando Leyba – Aug. 3

Wellfleet – Aug. 9

Chris Franjola – Aug. 16

Pete Kilpatrick – Aug. 17

Ari Hest – Sept. 5

Wally’s

144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 603926-6954

Bearly Dead – May 11

Heartless: Tribute to Ann Wilson of Heart – May 17

The Warped Tour Band – May 24

CKY – May 26

John Garcia formerly of Kyuss – May 27

Afroman – May 31

Shwayze – June 9

Taproot – June 29

The Broken Hearts: Tom Petty Tribute – July 3

Completely Unchained: Van Halen

Tribute – July 5

Lauren Watkins – July 7 Red Not Chili Peppers – Aug. 9

Word Barn

66 Newfields Road, Exeter, N.H., 603244-0202

Louise Bichan – May 9

Damn Tall Buildings – May 10

Antje Duvekot & Connor Garvey –May 17

Jake Kohn – May 19

Vienna Teng w/ Amber Rubarth –May 20-21

Kat Wright – May 24

Ryan Montbleau – May 30-31

Abigail Lapell – June 2

The Wolff Sisters – June 7

Soggy Po’ Boys – June 8

Acoustic Nomads – June 14

The Dead Tongues – June18

Tiger Saw & Sneaky Miles – June 28

Mallett Brothers Band – July 5

Dead To The Core: Grateful Dead Celebration – July 13

Rachel Davis & Darren Mcmullen (Of Còig) – Aug. 29

3S Artspace

319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, N.H., 603-766-3330

Frankie Cosmos w/ Katie von Schleicher – May 11

The Verve Pipe – May 16

Willi Carlisle w/ Aaron Jonah Lewis –May 17

PMAC Teen Rock & Teen Jazz Show – May 18

Chris Smither w/ special guest Peter Mulvey – May 19

Lucero – June 4

Sam Grisman Project – June 14

Gaelic Storm – June 18

Miracle Legion – June 20

DakhaBrakha – June 21

Wednesday w/ Babehoven – July 1

Etran de L’AÏr – July 2

Prince Daddy & The Hyena w/ Saturdays At Your Place, Riley!, Carpool – July 14

Southern Culture on the Skids w/ The Woggles – Sept. 25

Joe Jackson. Courtesy photo.