Around Concord Magazine Winter 2017

Around

CONCORD WINTER 2017/2018 VOLUME 10, NO. 3 $4.95

community• culture• lifestyle

IN THIS ISSUE: Get excited.

It’s cold outside.

Poetry, pond hockey, traditional New England skiing, keeping true to the holidays, and men looking their best.

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CONTENTS

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WINTER 2017/2018

CONCORD

VOLUME 10, NO . 3

48 56 32

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Features

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY SECTION

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26

48

The Community Ski Area

The Best Thing on Ice: Black Ice Pond Hockey

BY DEBBIE KANE

BY RAY CARBONE

Close to home, these areas offer a winter skiing lifestyle.

Will it be the No Regretskies, Scared Hitless, or team Against Medical Advice that takes home the championship this winter?

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Holiday Hope & Community

O Brother, Where Art Thou Style?

BY DEBBIE KANE

BY KRISTIN SCOTT

Celebrate the season of joy.

Make your mark while looking good.

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CONTENTS

Around

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WINTER 2017/2018

CONCORD

VOLUME 10, NO . 3

22 14 18

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In Every Issue

Departments

Editor’s Note

Poetry

10

18

Contributors

Health & Well-Being

12

22

Personal Essay

Home & Garden

9

14

BY JOHN GFROERER

20 Neighborhood Profile

BY KATHLEEN M . FORTIN

64 Calendar

72 Last Word

ARTWORK BY BRAD WUORINEN .

Classic areas such as Pats Peak, Crotched Mountain, and Dartmouth Skiway embrace and build community....

They’re perfect places to make your own memories. page 26

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Correspondence may be addressed to the publisher at 30 Terrill Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301. Or email the editor at: editor@ aroundconcord.com. Advertising inquires may be made by email to publisher@aroundconcord.com. Around Concord is published quarterly by Argyle Communications Group, LLC © 2017/2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Around Concord accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

EDITOR ' S NOTE |

BY JAMES BUCHANAN

Winter. Cold, snowy, winter.

How we love it.

W

hen I think of winter, I think of my time as a night snowmaker. The nights that were the coldest, where we saw twenty-below, they were the most beautiful. The moon was almost always full. The lack of clouds allowed any hint of warmth from the sun to escape back into space, and the air was too cold to hold any moisture.

These nights were crystal clear, and the full moon reflected deep indigo light that lit the whiteness of the mountains and valleys in that same indigo blue. From the top of the mountain at three in the morning, I could look across to Mount Washington.

Its snow-covered shoulders were lit by this winter blue and contrasted in the most incredible way against the star and moonlit infinity of space.

Below us, in the valleys, people slept, wisps of smoke drifted from chimneys, not a single car lit a road, and all was quiet.

This is winter in Northern New England. With a little effort, we can see and experience winter in ways that most of the world cannot even dream.

Northern New England, especially our area of quaint little towns and cities surrounded by river valleys and hills leading to extraordinary mountains, is also the holiday and winter ideal.

In this issue, we asked some people you may know how they stay true to the spirit of the holiday season while offering some ideas to get out and celebrate and create something special for your family.

We also look at winter as a time of fun, exploration, and, yes, style. There is the controlled mayhem of pond hockey, a look at traditional ski areas where community and great skiing combine, and for the men, some hints on how to add a little zip to your fashion.

And there’s so much more. Please take a moment to read, peruse, and enjoy, then seek winter’s beauty. We are so lucky to have it so close.

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CONTRIBUTORS

AMY MITCHELL

JULEIGH HOWARD - HOBSON

KEVIN HARDMAN

Decorator and color consultant Amy Mitchell is the owner of Home Glow Design (homeglowdesign.com). Each week, she writes for Home Glow’s Saturday Blog, focusing on fresh twists on classic style, American craftsmanship, and value and quality for dollars spent. She lives in Hopkinton with her husband and two boys.

Juleigh Howard-Hobson’s poetry has appeared in many places, including The Lyric Magazine, The Poets’ Guide to New Hampshire, Caduceus, and Hawk & Whippoorwill. She holds two awards from the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. Her fourth and most recent collection is Remind Me (Ancient Cypress Press).

Kevin Hardman is a photographer based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who specializes in portraits. He can be found online at www.kevinhardmanphoto.com.

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KRISTIN SCOTT

DIANALEE VELIE

DEBBIE KANE

Kristin Scott is a New Hampshire blogger who brings a unique perspective to the world of fashion.

Her focus is body-positive and empowered ensembles. When she is not busy writing, Kristin can be found sewing, enjoying the outdoors, and studying for her MBA. Check her out at CallaLynne.com or email her at CallaLynneBlog@gmail.com.

Dianalee Velie is the Poet Laureate of Newbury, New Hampshire, where she lives and writes. She is the author of five books of poetry, Glass House, First Edition, The Many Roads to Paradise, The Alchemy of Desire, and Ever After, and a collection of short stories, Soul Proprietorship: Women in Search of Their Souls. She is a member of the New Hampshire Poetry Society and founder of the John Hay Poetry Society.

Debbie Kane writes and edits for a variety of regional publications and supports her editorial “habit” by copywriting for clients throughout New Hampshire and Maine. She enjoys telling stories about the unique people who live and work in the Granite State and recently discovered a love for live storytelling. More at www. debbiekanewriter.com.

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PERSONAL ESSAY |

BY JOHN GFROERER

Mountain

A of Snow

AND THE NEW ENGLAND SECRET The best gauge of winter at our house is the height of Snow Mountain. This peak takes shape just to the south of our driveway. How the practice began I can’t really say, but the tradition goes back at least two decades. Most likely it grew out of my choice of implement for clearing snow from the drive.

Snowblowers have never really appealed to me. The noise, the smell of gasoline, and the possibility of severing a body part all provide a sufficient deterrent. More importantly, manual labor when it comes to snow removal is an opportunity to demonstrate to myself, and maybe the neighbors, that I am still healthy. Not quite a manhood test, but a “Hey, look, I can do this without mechanical assistance.” All I need is a snow scoop.

I was introduced to snow scoops years ago. Bigger than a shovel and able to collect large amounts of snow in a single push, it had a kind of New England practicality that was foreign to my native north-of-Buffalo upbringing. This was a tool kept strictly for people who lived east of New York State, almost like a secret handshake. Tell a non-New Englander about it, and you will have yours confiscated by the Public Works Department.

The first of my snow scoops was made of wood and was left behind by a previous owner of the house we bought.

At first glance, I thought it might be some sort of extinct garden tool until a friendly native let me in on the secret. It was heavy, a little rickety, but it did the job with expediency.

The only exceptions were the most determined of snowfalls.

The wood seemed to be a link to the past, an antique of sorts. It affirmed the secret-ofNew-England theory. And it quickly taught this beginner that this was not a shovel—no, no, no, you didn’t deftly pick it up full of snow and toss out the contents. This thing stayed on the ground, and you shuttled the snow around as if it were a mini dump truck.

With a snow scoop, it almost becomes obligatory. You have to move it somewhere. Why not make a mountain?

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Nowadays, they don’t make them in wood. They only come in plastic with a metal handle. It took me many years before I accepted the new technology. Each winter I pushed the wood model a little further beyond its life expectancy, trying to delay the upgrade. Must be something in my personality. It might even explain why I still prefer my flip phone over one of those high-tech iPhones. You say text, I say book. You say good, I say wood.

When we moved into our current house, a new snow scoop was one of the first purchases. Then came that first snow a few weeks later. I didn’t just shovel; I strutted with a swagger that said, “Bring it on.”

Just to show how much snow I was going to move and the ease with which I would do it, I decided to put it all in one big pile. Now this is something you can’t really do with a snowblower. You could do it with one of those wimpy little shovels, but it would tire you out pretty quick.

With a snow scoop, it almost becomes obligatory. You have to move it somewhere. Why not make a mountain?

With each successive snowfall, I added to my pile. It grew from three feet to six to ten, maybe even higher. Neighborhood kids came over with their sleds. It went from snow pile to monument—a bold statement about my powers as a winter fighter. As spring came, we began to project how long it would take the mass to finally melt away. I hoped for June. Alas, it barely made it to May. So, the tradition began. There have been winters when it never became more than a big hill. And there have been winters when just one mountain wasn’t enough to store it all and it became a mountain range.

I do confess that pushing a full scoop of snow up the mountainside is becoming more of a challenge. And maybe I cheat a little bit, leaving small deposits here and there along the drive’s edge. But don’t offer me a snowblower just yet.

The quiet of a winter’s day after a fresh snow holds special magic that I don’t want to be responsible for disturbing.

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POETRY

Sparrows in January

BY JULEIGH HOWARD - HOBSON

Sparrows flit and peck the freezing Snow while blue shadows from the trees Fall across the whiteness, pleasing Poets and artists, but not these Small birds. It’s cold here, the winter’s Been hard, and long, icy splinters Of hail and chilling heaps of snow Have all given the sparrows no Break, only cold icy mornings Bringing cold icy days. Who Has not seen the tiny things through A window (while news warnings Advise we stay indoors and warm) Searching for cold crumbs in a storm?

First appeared in The 2008 Poets’ Guide to New Hampshire (Poetry Society of New Hampshire)

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Night

BY JULEIGH HOWARD - HOBSON

It’s dark, the last falling hues of twilight Have faded from the sky. Clouds blot any Hope of stars. There’s not much here but night, Unrelenting, unremitting, moon free Night. Maybe, if we are lucky, a car Will pass, headlights on high, and the world will Flare suddenly and be bright, but cars are Few and far between here, and the night still Resumes its blackness once they pass through— A blackness made thicker and blacker for Having been pushed back for a moment to Let two high beams shine forth. It gets darker And darker as the night goes on, but then Light verges on the land and grows again

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POETRY

Newbury

Snowfall

BY DIANALEE VELIE

For Doug and Patsy King

Snow falls gently at dawn, kissing the earth like a tender lover, wrapping her in a downy duvet of soft, fluffy, white powder.

Newly buried in snow, tucked between towering mountain and tranquil lake, Newbury sparkles with children’s laughter on this stay at home school day.

In this whirlwind of winter, town and state employees plow our streets for the safety of locals and visiting skiers.

They will go home tonight at sunset, as the storm heads further north, and the sky, now a dance of blue and pink, turns the mountain into a purple peak.

One of them will kiss his wife, relax over dinner and then, together in silence, like the mountain and the lake, they will recapture the day in poems.

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HEALTH & WELL- BEING |

BY SHANTI DOUGLAS

|

BY SHANTI DOUGLAS

. . . we want to flow with life and enjoy ease in the body and mind.

Making Friends with

Stress

LEARNING TO STOP AND LISTEN TO WHAT THIS FRIEND WANTS US TO HEAR Regardless of the time of year, we all want freedom from the constant pressures of time, money, and to-dos. Everywhere we look, there’s something else that needs to be done. Most of the time we push this stress away, grin and bear it, or completely ignore it. We see stress as an enemy in our life, and there’s good reason for that. It’s a powerful underlying factor for illness and disease.

I’d like to suggest, however, that we might be better served by seeing stress as a friend, a concerned contributor to our life and one that cares deeply for us.

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No matter how skillful our reaction to a stress-provoking situation is, we’re always just trying to come into harmony and balance. Yes, even when we scream at our kids, this is true. We want the frustrating or painful situation to stop and for our experience to feel good and work well. Whether it’s our kids misbehaving in a store or the number of times we get interrupted during our workday, we want to flow with life and enjoy ease in the body and mind.

This desire for harmony and flow is basic to all forms of life. Plant life, animals of the wild, insects under the ground—everything wants to be safe and free from harm.

Everything wants to live, grow, and engage with its surroundings in a deeply connected and cohesive way. All of nature moves toward homeostasis. And, lest we forget, we are also part of nature.

Being friends with your stress is being friends with yourself. It’s getting to know who you are and how you operate.

Being a great friend requires that you don’t judge and that you accept your friend and all the situations she might get

into. You care deeply, so you listen deeply, asking questions with curiosity. What is stress feeling or thinking? What is it trying to tell me beyond “I just don’t want it to be like this”? What is the deeper need that’s looking to be heard? The answer might not be whatever is showing itself at face value. For instance, on the surface, sadness often shows itself as anger.

A great way to begin befriending stress is with the acronym STOP. With STOP: • We Slow down by pausing our body and mind so that, • We can Take a step back from the provoking irritation to gain a more objective view.

• We Observe what’s happening inside of ourselves and outside (context and other people) with our situation.

• We then Park or Proceed with what would be the next best option for positive action in a way that honors the caring message we heard. I’m going to close my emails, focus on him, and become curious about his day. That would feel good for both of us.

I should add that when we Observe, we are seeking to notice how we’ve gotten overanxious or dramatic about an in-thescheme-of-things small situation. This helps to break the ruminating and the exasperating stress cycle.

Because our minds and bodies are connected, we can use this to help center our thoughts and emotions. Placing a hand on the heart or belly connects us with our innate nature, giving us a little bit more ground to be in the present moment. It also helps us connect to our intuition, that inner guide that always seems to know just the perfect thing, even if it doesn’t make sense at the time. My son needs my full attention right now, not me reminding him to pick up his room again.

STOPping also gives us a chance to ask for what we need. This is a difficult thing to do for many because we feel like we’ve got to do it all, nobody can do it as good as we can, or we don’t want to be a bother to anyone else. Hmm . . . if a friend came

to you in need or asked you to help her in some way, would you think she was a bother?

By viewing stress as a friend, we don’t have to get so tough with ourselves. We can see stress as wanting us to be happy and that it is helpfully pointing to something that is running against that happiness.

Instead of resisting our experience, we

can invite openness, acceptance, and curiosity. Just as we would care for a friend who is suffering in some way, stress is a signal that we can take ourselves by the hand, sit down, listen deeply, and then take steps to ease the pain. Taking moment-tomoment care of our new friend, stress, is how it becomes one that doesn’t visit too often.

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NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE |

BY KATHLEEN M . FORTIN

young, unmarried woman. Accepting his offer, Abigail Griffin became Abigail Walker. As trustee Allwynne Fine, notes, “It may have been a marriage of convenience.” Eleven years later, Timothy Walker died, leaving Abigail a widow.

Many facts and details about Abigail and her life are unknown. Answers to questions about her own family, how she came to know the Walkers, and the details of her married years are, as far as I know, lost to history. What is known about Abigail relates to the creation of the Walker Lecture Fund, which supports the lecture series, and can be found in an informative, fifty-two-page booklet titled A Living Legacy (2002) written by Concord historian Stephen Winship and published for the Lecture Series’ one hundred and fourth continuous season.

ABIGAIL B. WALKER SEPTEMBER 2, 1816—DECEMBER 26, 1891

From Domestic Hand to Cultural Guardian ABIGAIL B. WALKER, CONCORD’S NINETEENTH CENTURY PHILANTHROPIST

As a perpetual student who loves learning and listening to lectures, I was intrigued when I first heard about the Walker Lecture Series. It’s a wonderful piece of Concord’s heritage and culture, so I decided to see what I could learn about it.

This program of educational and musical events has been around since 1896 and was founded by a housekeeper. According to David Tardif, a former trustee of the lecture series, Abigail B. Griffin was a domestic who worked in the household of Concord’s Walker family. It struck me that there must be an interesting explanation behind this.

The Timothy Walker family has a history in Concord that dates back to 1726. Parson Timothy Walker was the first minister of Concord’s Congregational Church. His grandson, Timothy Walker, was also a minister and made his home at 217 North Main Street, a brick colonial built across the street from his grandfather’s homestead.

The grandson, Timothy, was nearly eighty and going blind when his second wife died.

He convinced thirty-year-old Abigail, already the family housekeeper, to marry him and take care of him. Beyond his own welfare, he was concerned that the public might not approve of the former minister living with a

HOW IT ALL BEGAN Abigail’s life, for almost forty years after her husband died, sounds more like fiction than fact. Immediately following his death, she abandoned their home on Main Street, even leaving dishes on the dining room table. Abigail went to live with her family and never returned to the Walker house. Neighborhood children referred to the house, with its overgrown and unkempt exterior, as haunted.

Feeling that she was not entitled to it, Abigail never spent a cent of her inherited wealth. She could have chosen to live a very comfortable life, yet she made a highly moral, selfless, and principle-driven decision to live a Spartan life. She supported herself by caring for the sick and working jobs of a domestic nature. As a result, she preserved her husband’s estate.

In Winship’s booklet, he reports that the idea to start a Timothy Walker Lecture Course was proposed to Abigail by Joseph B. Walker, her husband’s nephew. She instantly liked the idea.

According to Allwynne Fine, Abigail enjoyed listening to stories told by her husband’s brother, a physician who traveled extensively. She thought it would be wonderful if others could enjoy similar talks. Abigail replied to her nephew’s proposal, “What is wrong with calling it the Timothy and Abigail B. Walker Lecture Course?” And so it came to be.

In her will, $30,000 (a very generous amount in 1891) was “to be devoted to the procurement of free courses of lectures upon subjects of history, literature, arts, or science.”

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LEAVING BEHI ND A LEGACY Abigail died at seventy-five. The largest bequest of her estate went toward establishing the fund to support the Walker Lecture Series. In her will, $30,000 (a very generous amount in 1891) was “to be devoted to the procurement of free courses of lectures upon subjects of history, literature, arts, or science.”

The Concord Monitor published an obituary for Abigail in its December 29, 1891, edition and ran a front-page story announc-

ing her generosity. The story noted, “She regarded her late husband’s estate as a sacred trust and generously remembered the public institutions of her adopted city.”

It went on to say, “Mrs. Walker was an eminently conscientious woman, possessed of a strong will and kind heart. Before her health became impaired, she was active in kind attentions and faithful ministrations to the sick.”

After her death, it took five years to make her vision a reality. Then, as now, a team of three trustees worked hard to fulfill Abigail’s mission. She also left money to other local organizations, among them the First Congregational Church, the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the New Hampshire State Hospital.

According to Allwynne Fine, the Lecture Fund has a wider reach than the Lecture Series. It also supports Concord’s summer concerts in the parks and the Concord Hospital lectures, and it contributes to children’s music scholarships and other programs.

The early Walker Lecture Series resembled today’s popular TED Talks. A Living Legacy reveals that the history of lectures by local speakers began with the early nineteenth century lyceum movement.

This is when organizations began to offer adult educational programs and entertainment. Within twenty years, as railroad construction flourished, the lyceum speakers started to travel the country.

Later in the century, the similar Chautauqua Movement, named after the lake in New York State, gained momentum. These forums paved the way for the Walker Lecture Series in 1896. At that time, the thousand-seat White’s Opera House, the largest venue in Concord, could have been filled twice over with people seeking to attend the lectures.

its publication. Any history buff will be fascinated to see the names of national speakers on a wide variety of topics. Although Admiral Richard Byrd’s talks about the North Pole in the 1930s have become among the most notable, there are many others. There was a talk in 1896 about Abraham Lincoln by The Honorable John D. Long; one in 1900 by Dr. Eugene May, The Land of the Shillalah and the Shamrock; and one in 1912, On the Trail of the Emigrant, by Dr. E.A. Steiner. I was struck by the title of a 1911 talk by Ralph Parlette, The University of Hard Knocks.

The Boston Speakers Series is also a present-day facsimile. The main difference is that all Walker events have always been free of charge, as Abigail desired.

Today, the Lecture Series has no problem filling each year’s program of events (between twelve and fifteen), most of them held at the Concord City Auditorium (the Audi). The schedule has expanded over the years to include a variety of art forms and musical performances, and each year the roster changes. Typically, interested speakers and performers contact the individual trustees. Favorite performers may be asked to return—Handel’s Messiah is on the schedule each year—and the trustees continue to research new opportunities.

Abigail is buried next to her husband, Timothy Walker, in the North Church Cemetery in the large Walker family plot.

Others laid to rest in this cemetery include President Franklin Pierce and many prominent citizens of Concord.

Abigail was not born to a life that made establishing such an important piece of Concord’s culture likely, but it is stories like hers that make our community so rich and its history so worth remembering. For more information about the Walker Lecture Series, go to walkerlecture.org.

A RICH HISTORY OF EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT A Living Legacy lists each of the one thousand, one hundred eighty-seven performances that took place by the year of

The author wishes to thank trustees Allwynne Fine, David Tardif, and Dick Osborne and the following for their assistance with this article: the Concord Historical Society, the Concord Library, and Jill McDaniel with the City of Concord Cemetery Division.

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Cut Your Own Trees, Horse Drawn Rides, Fresh Wreaths, Gift Shop & more!

Open 10am to 4pm November 18th–December 24th

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CO N CO RD F I N E CRAF T G ALLERY

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Hand-Crafted

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2017 Annual Ornament Winter’s Waltz

by Walker Boyle

Phone: 603-228-8171 36 North Main St., Concord, NH www.concord.nhcrafts.org

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HOME & GARDEN

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMY MITCHELL

Milk & Chalk-Style Paint

Make the Old New Again CONTOOCOOK’S SAGE & TWINE OFFERS WORKSHOPS IN THESE AGE-OLD FURNITURE-PAINTING TECHNIQUES

A

my Rothe, owner of Sage & Twine in Contoocook, has had a love affair with paint since she can remember. As a young girl, she painted with watercolors, and in her teens, she picked up jobs here and there during the summers doing interior and exterior house painting to earn extra money. Years later, following a ten-year stint teaching science in New York, she and her family moved to Maine.

A SERENDIPITOUS DISCOVERY Having upsized, Amy realized (like many of us) that her family didn’t have enough furniture or funds

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to furnish all the rooms in their home. She started looking for affordable options to fill the gaps. On one of her furniture-hunting trips, she walked into a cute, once-a-month pop-up shop called Cowgirl Emporium, owned by Cindy Stewart, just outside Ellsworth, Maine. Cindy sold beautifully painted furniture and repurposed home décor.

“I knew the moment I stepped into her shop that I had a connection to what she was doing.

It inspired me to paint the pieces I had been stockpiling,” Amy says. “I started painting furniture like a banshee.”

But chalk-style paint wasn’t really around yet,

www.homeglowdesign.com

at least not in Maine. This meant there was a lot of sanding and prepping and priming and painting. And sometimes painting again and again. Latex paint— ugh, I feel the pain. It’s the reason I stopped DIYing years ago—until just recently.

“I learned the hard way with that paint, but it gave me great experience!” Amy quips. Enough experience to open her own shop. “I carry two fantastic lines of milk and chalk-style paint, and I teach workshops, paint customized furniture for both the shop and commissioned work, hunt for interesting vintage home goods, and work with various vendors to bring in new gift items as well. I love it!”

www.sageandtwine.com

EVERY THING CHARMING Amy has found that her location in central Contoocook Village has helped to grow her business.

“I’ve been in downtown Tooky for the past year and a half as a full-time brick-and-mortar shop, and I really enjoy networking with the other shop owners in town. I feel so fortunate to be among businesses that are truly dedicated to our community and a community so supportive of its local businesses.”

Amy’s shop is everything utterly charming— all local, handmade, vintage, and repurposed items. These include her own painted-furniture masterpieces, which she creates using chalk-style or milk paints. She also accepts furniture-painting commissions directly from clients.

Better yet, Amy offers three furniture-painting workshops—one each in milk and chalk-style paint techniques and a third she calls a “Bring Your Own” workshop. Avid furniture painters can also rent studio space by the hour so they can do it themselves but still work under Amy’s guiding eye.

GET TING HANDS - ON I decided I had to try it, so I signed up for one of the bring-your-own classes and brought along a friend, Jen Blagriff. Jen had bought a high-quality but slightly dinged-up Queen Anne dining room set off Craigslist for a song. She planned to paint the chairs to give the set a fresh and younger look (see “Four Ways to Freshen Up a Formal Dining Room Set,” Around Concord, spring 2017). She had a total of six chairs that needed painting. By the end of the class, we planned to finish two.

Amy stocks milk paint from Miss Mustard Seed and chalk-style paint from the FAT Paint Company based in Canada. She loves working with both and the look of both, and she chooses her medium based on each individual project. Considering the look Jen and I wanted to achieve with her chairs, we chose to use chalk-style paint.

I was curious about why Amy chooses to stock the FAT Paint Company’s chalk-style paints instead of other better-known brands. “FAT products offer unparalleled coverage,” she says. “The paint is smoother and less toxic. There is almost no odor.

The waxes are so smooth and creamy that they go

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HOME & GARDEN

THE SKINNY ON CHALKSTYLE & MILK PAINTS

B

oth milk and chalk-style paints can transform DIY projects into beautiful works of art, but each

does so using different processes.

Milk paint was first used in colonial times, and original finishes can still be found today because of its ability to act as a stain on raw wood. Composed of limestone, clay, pigment, and the milk

on like butter. They also use more beeswax in their formulation, and they are more natural.” The colors are beautiful and can be customized.

One of the reasons I stopped painting furniture was how time consuming and tricky working with latex paint can be. As Amy related, all the prep work, sanding, priming, etc. can be incredibly tedious.

With FAT chalk-style paint, there is rarely the need to sand—unless the original finish is particularly high gloss. And NO PRIMING. Big sigh of relief.

We chose Antique Wedgewood, a subtle grey/ blue that will work beautifully with the wallpaper Jen already has in her dining room. Though chalk-style paint is very easy to work with, the tips and tricks of the trade Amy taught us during class—gained through years of practice—were absolutely key to our eventual success.

After practicing painting, sanding, and finishing-

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coat techniques in the shop, we headed outside (it was a very hot day) to take a crack at the real thing. The result was perfect, and the new color accentuated the Queen Anne’s curves beautifully without seeming the slightest bit old and dated.

“It’s this love of change and the power to create something new and different that motivates me every day,” Amy says. “I think your home should be not only a safe, comfortable haven but one that also evokes inspiration and joy, a place that represents you and your family. I love being able to provide that for my customers. Who could want for more?”

protein casein, it comes in powder form

Sage & Twine/Painted Furniture “Fall In Love All Over Again”

slightly higher cost than milk paint.

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all dust removed, both paints should be

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www.homeglowdesign.com

and must be manually mixed with water before application. Because milk paint cracks, flakes, and self-distresses, it’s best suited for a farmhouse-style design.

Chalk-style paint, on the other hand, was developed in the 1990s and is a thicker paint made with calcium carbonate, talc, and pigment. No premixing is necessary, so it’s an openthe-can-and-paint kind of process. This convenience, however, does come at a Once applied, sanded/distressed, and sealed and protected with either wax or a water-based, non-yellowing polycrylic product.

www.sageandtwine.com

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The Community

Ski Area CLOSE TO HOME, THESE AREAS OFFER A WINTER SKIING LIFESTYLE

BY DEBBIE KANE , PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAGGED MOUNTAIN

M

y earliest skiing memory is at Vermont’s Mad River Glen. Happy, chatty adults, including my parents, gather at the bottom of the mountain, enjoying the sunny day and the perfect trail conditions. I’m four;

I’ve just learned to snowplow. I’m wondering what would happen if I skied off the trail into the parking lot directly behind the small lodge.

My mother notices and scoops me up before I can find out, to gales of laughter from the other skiers.

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“If you provide good on- and off-hill experiences, guests are incredibly loyal,” says Crotched Mountain’s Andy Gendron.

“They’ll keep coming back.”

Mad River Glen’s motto—really, more of a challenge—is Ski It If You Can and belies the true nature of the mountain. It’s a charming place with a deep sense of community—it is owned by a cooperative of its skiers that you can join—and its own history. It has the nation’s last single-chair lift, (very) limited snowmaking, and (very) limited grooming. It’s also a home to families with children learning to ski and parents that are expert skiers.

It’s also not the last of the old-style New England ski areas where families, young couples, friends, and anyone else can enjoy a truly unique ski experience. New Hampshire, especially within about an hour’s drive of Concord, is blessed with a number of these heirloom ski areas where a good day is as much about camaraderie with fellow skiers and staff as it is snow conditions, challenging pitches, and that indefinable sense of flying.

Lest you think you will step back in time to a rope tow powered by an aged Ford Model T, New Hampshire’s smaller and medium-sized ski resorts invest in snowmaking, faster lifts, terrain parks, and high-tech ski rental gear. What you won’t find are crowded highway-like trails, ski

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lifts that merely take you to a different lift, or the need to ride a shuttlebus from the parking lot to the lodge.

Instead, classic areas such as Pat’s Peak, Crotched Mountain, and Dartmouth Skiway embrace and build community. They are places where parents can drop off their kids for an afternoon of skiing or let them roam the mountain while they enjoy adult time on steeper trails and glades or in the base lodge near a warm fire. They’re perfect places to make your own memories.

“These areas get kids on skis for the first time without being intimidating,” says Karolyn Castaldo, director of marketing communications for Ski NH, a ski area trade association. “They offer great feeder programs for skiing higher mountains. The fees are reasonable too. It’s less expensive if you want to make skiing a lifestyle.”

In addition, these ski areas recognize that creating great memories is the key to their success. “If you provide good on- and off-hill experiences, guests are incredibly loyal,” says Crotched Mountain’s Andy Gendron. “They’ll keep coming back.”

Most of these areas are also open yearround for mountain biking, endurance races, chili cook-offs, youth summer camps,

and anything else they can come up with to maintain their bond with the people they serve in the winter.

As November nights cool and temperatures fall to freezing and below, anxious and excited ski mountain managers call out snowmakers to bring winter to their slopes. Then nature will lend a hand, coloring the remainder of the landscape in white throughout the winter months.

For those willing to rise early and bear the coldest temperatures of the day, being first on the lift means beautiful, freshpowder mornings and first tracks. So, let’s get excited and think snow.

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Local Ski Areas THE HEART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES

Abenaki Ski Area Wolfeboro WWW.WOLFEBORONH.US /ABENAKI-SKI-AREA

Dating back to 1936, Abenaki Ski Area claims to be the oldest community-run ski area in the United States. Operated by the town of Wolfeboro, it’s the destination for area families, with a terrain park, thirty kilometers of crosscountry ski trails, a new four-season lodge, and unbelievably affordable lift tickets and equipment rentals.

“It’s a great local hill for families and kids learning to ski,” says Christine Collins, director of Wolfeboro’s Parks and Recreation Department. “I love seeing generations of people coming together here. Everyone knows each other, and it’s nice to see grandparents with their children and grandchildren having fun outdoors.”

Dartmouth Skiway Hanover WWW.SKIWAY.DARTMOUTH.EDU

The Dartmouth Skiway combines big-mountain skiing with a family-friendly attitude. Established by Dartmouth College in 1956, its one hundred skiable acres are home to the college’s ski team, as well as nearly one hundred Dartmouth All-Americans and more than thirty national ski champions. But the vibe at the Skiway is low-key. “We’re very family oriented,” says Doug Holler, the Skiway’s general manager and director. “You’ll often see mom or dad pull up and drop off the kids to ski for the day.”

In addition to what Doug calls “a heck of a view,” the mountain boasts a beautiful, cathedral-ceilinged lodge for skiers to enjoy after a run. In February, the Skiway hosts Dartmouth’s famed Winter Carnival, an event showcasing the college’s ski racing teams.

McIntyre Ski Area Manchester WWW.MCINTYRESKIAREA.COM

McIntyre Ski Area, located minutes from I-93 in Manchester, calls itself the learn-to-ski/ride mountain in Southern New Hampshire. Owned and operated by the McIntyre Ski School, thousands of Southern New Hampshire children have learned to ski on one of the mountain’s nine trails. It also hosts area elementary and middle school students in after-school programs and learn-to-ski lessons. Snow tubing is an additional reason to hit the hill.

Whaleback Enfield WWW.WHALEBACK.COM

A fixture of the Upper Valley, Whaleback is winter home to many local residents, schools, and ski teams. It’s owned and maintained by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (UVSSF), the nonprofit that purchased Whaleback in 2013 after it had closed. “A lot of people grew up skiing here,” says UVSSF Chairman Rob West. “It’s local, affordable, and has great terrain for all abilities.”

Overseen by a volunteer board, UVSSF wants Whaleback to become a year-round destination. Projects this year include snowmaking upgrades and installation of a new T-bar, increasing the mountain’s skiable acreage. Rob has big dreams for the small area, hoping that its earlier financial struggles are in the past. “We want to be a premier learning facility in the region,” he says. “I like knowing we can offer an exciting experience for adults and kids.”

SKIING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

Granite Gorge Roxbury WWW.GRANITEGORGE.COM

Skiing’s a family affair for Fred and John Baybutt, owners of Granite Gorge in Roxbury, New Hampshire. The brothers grew up skiing on the hill and bought the resort fourteen years ago

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after financial problems had forced it to close.

“You have to travel an hour to get anywhere to ski, so we wanted to bring back the hill,” says Fred. Now the area stays open yearround, hosting nonsnow events like summer youth camps, a 4x4 monster-truck hill climb, and Halloween activities in October. In winter, the area picks up the pace with family-friendly alpine and cross-country skiing.

People come from all over Northern New England to the area’s tubing park, which Fred calls “the best in New England.” Night sessions and special themes like cosmic tubing with a light show, music, and even fireworks keep it exciting.

This winter, Granite Gorge is slashing fullday adult ticket prices from $49 to $35 and $29 for kids. Fred hopes it brings more families together on the mountain. “The bond you see being forged when they learn to ski together is tremendous,” he says. “It’s like nothing else.”

Pats Peak Henniker WWW.PATSPEAK.COM

Easily visible from Route 9 in Henniker, Pats Peak is a quick day trip for many Southern New Hampshire residents, making the 1,460-foot peak a popular year-round destination. Owned for fifty-plus years by the Patenaude family, community is the core of its mission. “We’re all about loyalty and tradition,” says Lori Rowell, director of marketing and sales. “Our staff takes ownership in being part of the Pats Peak family. We always thank our loyal season-pass holders for being part of our community.”

Night skiing is a big winter draw, with one hundred percent of the trails lit. Most weekday afternoons, middle school and high school students take to the slopes as part of after-school ski programs; snow tubing is offered Friday nights, weekends, and holidays.

All twenty-eight trails lead to the lodge at the bottom of the mountain, which offers food and free music most evenings. Summer offerings include a weekend-long mountain bike festival.

www.skinh.com

BIG MOUNTAIN AMENITIES, FAMILY- FRIENDLY SLOPES

Crotched Mountain Bennington WWW.CROTCHEDMTN.COM

Crotched Mountain, at one thousand vertical feet and one hundred acres, may be a small- to medium-sized mountain by ski industry standards, but it offers big mountain excitement.

Have to work late? No problem. Located in Bennington, New Hampshire—forty-five minutes from Concord—Crotched Mountain is the only ski area on the East Coast offering night skiing until 3am every Friday and Saturday night during January and February. “You can leave Concord at midnight and still have two hours to ski,” notes Director of Marketing Andy Gendron.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

The resort has invested millions in new snowmaking technology and lift equipment including the Rocket, a high-speed quad chairlift that hustles skiers to the top of the mountain in four minutes. Add one hundred percent snowmaking capacity, three terrain parks for skiers of varying abilities, a vibrant ski racing community, and learn-to-ski programs, and there’s a lot to like.

This summer, the mountain hosted the Crotched Mountain 100, a one hundred mile trail run and mountain bike event.

Ragged Mountain Danbury WWW.RAGGEDMOUNTAINRESORT.COM

Located in Danbury, Ragged Mountain encompasses two mountains, with 1,250 vertical feet and two hundred fifty acres. Featuring the state’s only six-pack lift, skiers can easily get up

and down the mountain.

For first-time skiers and snowboarders ages seven and up, the resort offers an unbeatable deal: the Bebe Wood Free Learn to Ski & Ride Program. Named for one of the mountain’s first ski instructors, it includes three free beginner ski lessons, free lower-mountain lift tickets, and free equipment rentals.

“You can visit the mountain three times and decide if skiing is a sport you want to invest in,” says Director of Marketing Ben Hall. Another deal—this season, the resort is offering a Mission: Affordable season pass for $299, with no blackout dates.

For more information about New Hampshire ski areas, visit Ski NH at www.skinh.com.

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Holiday

Hope & Community

BY DEBBIE KANE

CELEBRATE THE SEASON OF JOY

O

ur favorite fall and winter holidays—Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the winter solstice—are rooted in rituals and customs developed by ancient cultures to celebrate not only religious tradition but also hope and respect for all humanity.

We asked Concord-area business, community, and faith leaders how they celebrate the spirit of the season. We learned that, while we are all challenged by a cultural emphasis on “busyness” and gift giving, it’s still a time of immense hope, love, family, fellowship, and community.

Interested in helping others during the holidays? Visit www.volunteernh.org for suggestions.

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Sarah Chaffee Owner, McGowan Fine Art, Concord

PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

The holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, always mean family, friends, and food to me. I come from a large family, and Thanksgiving was always big and noisy (we kids used to dare each other to eat the smelly Limburger cheese that my grandfather liked). Even though we were atheists, we visited the live crèche at the Episcopal Church in Goffstown. I loved it. There was something magical about watching people sitting still in the cold, bathed in white and blue light. You got into the spirit of the season, no matter what you believed.

“There was something magical about watching people sitting still in the cold, bathed in white and blue light.”

Jessica Livingston

Father Ray Ball

Director, Concord Multicultural Festival

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Concord

My family tries to live a life of kindness.

We try to do one kind act a day, things like putting change in parking meters with a note thanking the driver for shopping in downtown Concord, or baking treats for local firefighters. We also try to be inclusive, including new Americans from other countries and cultures in our celebrations without imposing on their beliefs. I send immigrant and refugee families watercolor paintings of New Hampshire as welcome gifts, not necessarily holiday gifts.

I think Christmas, especially the story of the birth of Jesus, speaks to us because it touches on the universal idea of rebirth. As we get older, cares, responsibilities, hurts, and wounds can mount. Christmas is the time when we long to recapture our inner child and find peace and love. We can identify with the weakness and fragility of a baby in a manger and, likewise, feel that our inner child needs care and nurturing. For me, the holidays are a quiet time to think about how I can reconnect with that inner joy and peace.

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Shanti Douglas Mindfulness & Lovestyle Coach, Corporate Trainer, 8 limbs Holistic Health, Concord When my three kids were younger, I was completely in the holiday feeding frenzy. Now, I really try to step out of the commercialism of the holidays.

We have experiences instead, like walking in the park or ice skating. It’s important for me to get together with my kids and try to rediscover a sense of community.

We use the holidays as a doorway to strengthen that connection and keep it going year-round. I also create boundaries during this time of year and make sure to slow down, take care of myself, and not be driven to do more.

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PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

“We use the holidays as a doorway to strengthen that connection and keep it going year-round.”

Virginia Prescott

The Reverend Emilia Halstead

Host, Word of Mouth, NH Public Radio, Concord

Senior Pastor, First Congregational Church, Concord

Thanksgiving is a high point of the year.

The history—both made-up and real—appeals to me. The idea that we’re getting ready to head into a long winter has such resonance in New Hampshire and New England. I’m one of eleven children, but in our family, there was always room for more people at the table. That’s a beautiful tradition. Now, I make it a point to go to other people’s homes to be around people I love and care about. I’m unsentimental about the ramp-up to Christmas, but I love singing Christmas carols. Caroling and singing together is part of the joy.

For the last three years since moving to Concord, I sing Handel’s Messiah with the Concord Community Chorus. It’s a wonderful way for me personally to prepare for the holiday season. At church, we light the four candles in the Advent wreath as an act of meditation to focus on the mystery and wonder of the season.

Most Christian denominations mark Advent, the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas Eve and a time of waiting and watchfulness. One Advent hymn that really brings that to mind for me is “I Wonder as I Wander.” It reminds me of the need for love to break forth into the world.

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LOOK OUT FOR SCROOGE IN CONCORD

BY KATHLEEN FORTIN

C

harles Dickens’ fictional character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is as synonymous with the Christmas season as Santa Claus. Published in 1843, Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol became a stage hit and remains a much-anticipated production that reminds us of the spirit of the holiday season. After all, regardless of your religious or secular holiday traditions, kindness and generosity are universal virtues. And now, after a seven-year hiatus, the Concord Community Concert Association and the New Hampshire Theatre Factory are returning A Christmas Carol to Concord.

The Theatre Factory is bringing a powerhouse list of talent. Award-winning Artistic Director Joel Mercier developed the script, worked on the musical composition, and serves as the musical’s director. Highly skilled Producing Director Wallace J. Pineault, MA, PhD, is responsible for set design, lighting, and all things technical.

Geraldine (Geri) Veroneau, Concord Community Concert’s president, says, “The set designs of nineteenth century England depicting buildings of the time and colorful holiday parties contrasted against dark, ghostly scenes will be visually stunning.”

Not all Scrooges are created alike, and this presentation promises to be a fantastic rendition. Among the cast

of thirty-five, New Hampshire actor John Conlon will return to play the role of Ebenezer. Geri says, “Conlon as Scrooge is phenomenal,” and she adds, “We hope to bring a new holiday tradition to Concord.”

Concord is fortunate to have the Concord Community Concert Association. Established in 1930, it is one of two such organizations in New Hampshire (the other is in Nashua). At one time, there were thousands of these groups across the country, but today only three hundred remain.

A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost Story will run at the Concord City Auditorium Thanksgiving weekend (November 24 to 26, 2017) on Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for those fifteen and younger.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at concordcommunityconcerts.org.

This is an updated holiday classic well worth taking the time to see while supporting community theater.

Concord Community Concert Association WWW.CONCORDCOMMUNITYCONCERTS.ORG

“Conlon as Scrooge is phenomenal.

We hope to bring a new holiday tradition to Concord.”

A Christmas Carol at the Concord City Auditorium

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State Senator Dan Feltes District 15, Concord For me, the holidays are really about helping others. We have a lot of division and anger in the world right now, and it’s up to us to change that and extend acts of kindness. My wife Erin and I do a variety of volunteer projects every year, from working in a local soup kitchen to helping get warm coats out to needy families.

Kate Atkinson

Katherine Nevins

Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Concord

Owner, MainStreet BookEnds, Warner

Advent, the month leading up to Christmas, is a time of preparation for the birth of Christ. Preparation means looking at ourselves, our behaviors and choices, how we spend our time and money, and then making changes.

We encourage people to look inwardly a little more—is it important to invest in gifts to put under the tree, or should we support a charity in honor of a loved one? My focus is on making an honest, deep effort to recognize the unhelpful choices in how we live our lives and concentrate on making choices that enhance the lives of people around us. You don’t have to be a person of faith to tell the truth to yourself.

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As a community bookstore, we try to be a place of respite and comfort and a place where people can connect face to face with others. I’m always struck by the small miracles that happen here every day; someone connects with a neighbor or discusses the loss of a loved one, or how difficult it is to raise children.

For me, the spirit of the season isn’t about sales.

It’s about having a place in the community that people gravitate to, whether to find a book or sit, have a cup of coffee, and reflect.

We have an annual remembrance ceremony with the Concord Regional Visiting Nurses Association (this year, it’s November 27). It’s an event for people who’ve lost loved ones to be with one another and, if they feel like it, to chat with hospice volunteers and local spiritual leaders.

PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

“We have a lot of division and anger in the world right now, and it ´ s up to us to change that and extend acts of kindness.”

STEP BACK IN TIME IN PORTSMOUTH

BY LAURA POPE

T

here is no doubt that Concord and the surrounding area offer a festive blend of holiday activities and celebrations. But for those seeking to add a bit more to this year’s marking of the holiday, Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth offers a pastiche of local history, holiday tradition, seasonal celebration, and Christmas shopping throughout the month of December.

Perhaps the center of the celebration and its most nostalgic element is held at the ten-acre Strawbery Banke Museum, which brings the history of its waterfront neighborhood to life. Bathed in the glow of candlelit lanterns that line its paths, the museum is alive with costumed role-players such as the fishmonger and the night watchman. More than three centuries of holiday tradition are on display in period houses decorated with greens and botanicals from the museum’s gardens. Visitors to these historically accurate homes can meet costumed characters readying their homes for the winter celebration.

A highlight of the season is the Candlelight Stroll, held on three consecutive weekends between December 1 and 17 from 5 to 9pm on Saturdays and 4 to 8pm on Sundays. The museum also hosts outdoor ice skating at the Labrie Family Rink at Puddle Dock Pond throughout December from 9am to 9pm. Skaters and visitors can warm up at the Fig Tree Kitchen or by a roaring bonfire and listen to live holiday music. There is

also a welcoming cider shed, hearth cooking and craft demonstrations, and children’s activities.

The Museum’s William Pitt Tavern on Court Street is the site of the ever-popular Pickwick Mercantile’s holiday dinners held during the Candlelight Stroll weekends. The old-fashioned immersive experience features food, music, and merriment as well as visits from historic characters in period costume. The cuisine for the courtyard reception and four-course colonial dinner is provided by Fezziwig’s Food & Fountain. These dinners sell out quickly, so book early.

The Portsmouth Music Hall, the city’s venerated vaudeville-era venue, hosts two live-performance, seasonal favorites in December. The first is Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which is being produced in partnership with the Ogunquit Playhouse. The second is the Family Pops Concert performed by the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, December 20 and Thursday, December 21 at 7:30pm.

There’s no need to do too much walking; just park and let the free, decorated vintage trolley whisk you around Portsmouth. The trolley is on a fifteen-minute loop with stops at parking lots, hotels, the Music Hall, and Strawbery Banke Museum. Rides begin at 1:30pm and go until 10:30pm on Saturday and Sunday from December 2 through 10 and Friday through Sunday December 16 to 18.

Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth WWW.PICKWICKSMERCANTILE.COM/PAGES/HOLIDAY-DINNERS WWW.VINTAGECHRISTMASNH.ORG WWW.STRAWBERYBANKE.ORG WWW.THEMUSICHALL.ORG

Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum

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SHOPPING

Café) and sub sandwiches (Meredith Sub Station), as well as ice cream and frozen treats (Ben & Jerry’s).

In addition to lake views and a cascading forty-foot waterfall, the Holiday Open House features horse-drawn wagon rides, strolling carolers, refreshments, and of course, Santa Claus.

Downtown Concord Presents Midnight Merriment What better way to kick off the holiday season than with an evening of touring downtown businesses, munching on warm s’mores, sipping cocoa, visiting with Santa, listening to carolers, and looking for that special something for that special someone.

Throughout the evening, Concord’s stores will offer a range of deals and promotions as well as host their own events. City Plaza will also be the site of the S’mores Station and a beard contest held by the Granite State Candy Shoppe.

When: December 1, 5pm–midnight Where: Downtown Concord WWW.INTOWNCONCORD.ORG/INDEX.PHP/EVENT/MIDNIGHT-MERRIMENT

Holiday Open House at Mill Falls at Lake Winnipesaukee Revel in holiday shopping at eleven stores offering an array of clothing, accessories, jewelry, gifts, décor, sweets, books, and fine arts and crafts, all set in Meredith’s distinguished resort/marketplace on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

When it’s time for a break and a bite, several distinct restaurants with water views and a range of menus are at hand. From casual to upscale settings, these eateries serve signature cuisine from Italian (Lago) to New England (Lakehouse), comfort food (Camp), pizza and more Italian (Giuseppe’s), breakfast and lunch (Waterfall

When: December 3, 1–4pm Where: 312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith WWW.MILLFALLS.COM

Starry Starry Weekend, Contoocook & Hopkinton With a tag line of, “One weekend, two villages, and three days of unique holiday shopping and events,” Starry Starry Weekend will enchant visitors of all ages. This is the Hopkinton area business’s annual holiday weekend with more than 20 destinations to choose from. Each day is filled with festive shopping, dining, and exciting events.

The villages will be sporting several holiday-themed pop-up shops. The Contoocook Train Depot and St. Andrews Church will both have goods from talented local artisans. On Saturday Contoocook United Methodist Church will feature a cookie walk and a pantry table with homemade food and gift items. Local artisans and crafters will be selling many handcrafted articles at several locations throughout the villages.

When: December 1 to 3 (times depend on the day) Where: Downtown Hopkinton and Contoocook WWW.EXPLORECONTOOCOOK.COM

Holiday Open House at Mill Falls

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Button Factory Open Studios, Portsmouth For more than three decades, resident artists have opened their studio doors at Portsmouth’s Button Factory on Islington Street—a landmark brick mill structure with a soaring central Gothic tower—to the public in early December to display and sell their wares.

“It is considered one of the oldest and most eagerly anticipated holiday arts events on the seacoast,” says Douglas Ostrander, a noted goldsmith with a working studio at the Button Factory. He adds, “Open Studios is an annual opportunity to visit artists in their studios and purchase their work. These artists and craftsmen have earned prominence in their fields and represent a range of disciplines, including painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, art furniture, custom picture framing, and bookbinding.”

When: December 2, 11am–5pm Where: 855 Islington Street, Portsmouth WWW.BUTTONFACTORYSTUDIOS.COM

ENTERTAINMENT Holiday Pops with the Pinkerton Chorus Members of the Pinkerton Chorale will sing their favorite holiday selections with the New Hampshire Philharmonic in the renowned Stockbridge Theatre.

When: November 26, 7:30pm and November 27, 2pm Where: Stockbridge Theatre, Derry WWW.NHPHILHARMONIC.ORG/CONCERTS/110THSEASON /110HOLIDAY.HTML

Capitol Center for the Arts Concord’s Capitol Center for the Arts is planning an active holiday season this year. Holiday shows include: • The Nutcracker – December 2, 2 and 7pm, and December 3, 2pm • Award-winning children’s musician – Laurie Berkner Holiday Show – December 9, 11am • Christmas with some of the state’s finest singers and musicians, Rocking Horse Studio – December 16, 7pm • Holiday Pops with Patty Barkas, CJ Poole, and Laura Daigle, narrated by Laura Knoy – December 17, 4pm WWW.CCANH.COM

The Christmas Revels: A Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice A young girl in search of her heritage is drawn into the mystical tales of her ancestors in this Nordic celebration of the season. Her quest unfolds through gorgeous traditional songs, dances, and pageantry performed by a cast of talented local singers and guest musicians and dancers. Don’t miss this ample helping of hygge (Nordic coziness, pronounced hoo-gah) to brighten up a dark winter night.

When: December 14–17 Where: Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth WWW.HOP.DARTMOUTH.EDU/ONLINE/CHRISTMAS-REVELS-2017

Holiday Pops at Capitol Center for the Arts

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Kevin Boyarsky Publisher of Around Concord and owner of New Hampshire Print & Mail, Concord I really enjoy Thanksgiving because our family reconnects over football games in the backyard. It’s great to put technology aside and talk to everyone.

I’m Jewish, and we do celebrate Hanukkah in our home. Many Jews have made it a bigger holiday so that their children don’t feel left out of the larger culture’s celebrations. I’m a member of the Concord Rotary, and we volunteer in various ways during this time of year—ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and volunteering at the Friendly Kitchen, a local soup kitchen.

Pastor Joe Bolduc

Adrianna Catlin

Trinity Baptist Church, Concord

Oncology Social Worker at the Payson Center for Cancer Care, Concord

One of our traditions here at Trinity is a Christmas concert, where we tell the story of Christ’s birth through music and sometimes drama. We stay focused on what the Word says about who Jesus is and why he came. At home, we have a crèche that we put out at the beginning of December. Little by little, throughout the month, we bring out the different pieces—the animals, the wise men, Mary, and Joseph. On Christmas morning, we wrap the baby Jesus figure and hide it in the Christmas tree. The kids look for the figure, unwrap it, and place it in the crèche. So the first gift they receive is Jesus.

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I tell patients that the holidays are an opportunity to celebrate traditions and create new ones. Focus on self-care. If that means declining party invitations and asking family to bring food for a potluck at your house this year, then so be it. For terminally ill patients, this could be the time to focus on legacy work and meaningful projects that can be passed on to family members. It’s really not about giving gifts—your presence is the greatest gift to others.

PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

“I really enjoy Thanksgiving because our family reconnects over football games in the backyard.”

Historic Theater: 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, NH Loft: 131 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH B2W Box Office: 603.436.2400 • TheMusicHall.org

CUT YOUR OWN TREE

/MusicHall @MusicHall /MusicHallNH

Rossview Farm They supply the saw, a shop to enjoy wood heat, and hot chocolate. You supply a keen eye for the perfect tree.

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

Our 2017 Broadway Holiday Musical

Back by Popular Demand!

THE MUSIC HALL presents THE OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE production of

Cost: $10 and up depending on the size of the tree.

Where: 85 District 5 Road, Concord

SERIES SPONSOR:

(603) 228-4872

Third Stone Farm The farm boasts twenty-four acres of balsam fir, Canaan fir, Fraser fir, and blue spruce in all sizes, even those tall enough to reach the ceiling of any house.

Third Stone also ensures that its tree farm is sustainably managed and follows organic principles, and they are members of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire.

Cost: $55 for most trees; additional $10 per foot above nine feet.

Where: 106 Garland Road, Barnstead

NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 17 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Groups save up to $14 per ticket, call 603.766.2203 for more info. Perfect for business outings & family gatherings!

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS IN PORTSMOUTH PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC HALL & STRAWBERY BANKE MUSEUM New England’s most authentic holiday tradition returns to Portsmouth.

(603) 957-1422

Forster 's Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shoppe The farm features ten acres of Christmas trees at various stages of growth, making it easy to find the just-right tree for your home.

Cost: All trees are $50.

Those over eight feet—they have hard-to-find eighteen footers—add an additional $10 per foot.

Where: 349 Mount Hunger Road, Henniker 888-FORSTER

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth; City of Portsmouth; Discover Portsmouth Center; Portsmouth Pro Musica; Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, Yankee Magazine; Z107

Photo: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com

II

ITALIAN KITCHEN

Operated by George Georgopoulos and family, Veano’s II offers all the traditional Italian favorites you love plus seafood, pizza, and more. Serving lunch and dinner, and now breakfast from Mon–Fri 7am–11am, Sat–Sun 7am–noon. Stop in for superb customer service, great food, and a warm friendly atmosphere— and don’t forget to check out our daily dinner specials!

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NEW TAKES ON A TRADITIONAL NEW ENGLAND FLAVOR

BY ED FULLER

W

hat will be on your table this holiday season?

Like most folks, your menu for Thanksgiving or Christmas—or any other holiday you celebrate—will likely consist of turkey, ham, or a roast with gravy; stuffing; mashed, scalloped, or roasted potatoes; yams that are soft, sweet, and a little salty; roasted root vegetables; and pies, Christmas pudding, Bûche de Noël, and more pies for dessert.

Whether you are hosting at your home or contributing a side dish, you want your offering to be memorable and to recall well-worn and loved traditions. From the sullen teenager to the bright and chatty octogenarian at the table, everyone likes the turkey just so, the roasted potatoes crisp on the outside and soft inside, and the flavors reminiscent of celebrations past.

There is probably no more traditional or tried-and-true New England ingredient than maple syrup. It’s natural, healthy, and adds a smooth, buttery taste with just the right amount of sweetness. For the best flavor, make sure you are using pure maple syrup. When looking at the ingredients list, there should be only maple syrup, not refined sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. We recommend US Grade A Golden for a more delicate taste or US Grade A Amber for a richer taste.

COOKING AND BAKING WITH MAPLE SYRUP When substituting pure maple syrup for granulated sugars, use three-quarters of a cup of maple syrup for each cup of granulated sugar you are replacing.

Compensate for the added liquid by reducing other liquid ingredients by approximately one-quarter cup.

Using granulated maple sugar is even easier, as it can be substituted one-for-one in any recipe.

Fuller’s Sugarhouse, an iconic, familyrun, New Hampshire-based maple products producer, has shared a few recipes to help give your holiday menu that just-right flavor of the season.

Fuller’s Sugarhouse WWW.FULLERSSUGARHOUSE.COM

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MAPLE BACON POTATO SALAD No need to settle for mashed potatoes.

1 bag (1K lb) red potatoes 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt 6 slices bacon, chopped K medium onion, chopped ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup pure maple syrup ¼ tsp (about 1 clove) garlic, minced K tsp fresh thyme, removed from stem and chopped 1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Quarter potatoes and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with salt. Toss to coat all potatoes. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, turning halfway through cooking time if desired.

2. While the potatoes are baking, make the vinaigrette. In a medium pan, cook the bacon on medium-high heat until browned and crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on paper toweling to soak up excess grease. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of grease from the pan.

3. Sauté the onion in the remaining bacon grease until soft. Add the vinegar, pure maple syrup, garlic, thyme, and half of the bacon, and simmer over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until slightly reduced. Set aside until potatoes are cooked.

4. When the potatoes are cooked, toss with vinaigrette and garnish with remaining bacon and additional thyme if desired.

Serve warm.

MAPLE & BROWN SUGAR PORK TENDERLOIN Delicious as is, or add a little ginger–habanero jelly to the glaze to give it some heat.

2 lb pork tenderloin

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar or cider vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

K tsp dried thyme, crumbled

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

4 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp cold water

2 Tbsp brown sugar 1. Sprinkle the meat lightly with salt and pepper. Place in a slow cooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine garlic, mustard, honey, brown sugar, vinegar, thyme, and pure maple syrup; pour over the pork, turning to coat thoroughly.

3. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

4. Remove the pork to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Pour the juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

Combine the cornstarch and cold water; whisk into the reduced juices and cook for 1 minute longer.

5. Slice pork and serve with the thickened juices.

MAPLE CRÈME CARAMEL Light, sweet, and delicious—and if you don’t burn the caramel (keep an eye on it)—easy to make.

For caramel: 1 cup pure maple sugar

STRAWBERRY MAPLE BROWN DERBY Perhaps a bit unusual for a holiday drink, but the bourbon takes the chill off.

1K oz bourbon 1 oz grapefruit juice K oz pure maple syrup 3 chopped strawberries, plus more for garnish 1. Fill a cocktail shaker with bourbon, grapefruit juice, pure maple syrup, and chopped strawberries.

K cup water

For custard: K cup pure maple syrup 3 large egg yolks 1 large egg

1K cups whipping cream K cup whole milk

For caramel: 1. Preheat oven to 300° and lightly butter four O-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups.

2. Combine pure maple sugar and water in small, heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar melts. Increase heat; boil without stirring until the mixture is a deep amber color, brushing down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush and swirling the pan occasionally, about 10 minutes.

3. Immediately pour the caramel into prepared dishes. Using oven mitts, quickly rotate the dishes to coat the sides with caramel. Set aside.

2. Shake the mixture and then double strain into a serving glass. Garnish with a strawberry.

For custard:

Fuller’s Sugarhouse, located in Lancaster, New Hampshire, produces high-quality, awardwinning pure maple syrup and maple products.

For more recipes including holiday pies and cookies, visit www.fullerssugarhouse.com.

2. Divide custard among prepared dishes. Set dishes into a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

Add enough hot water to the pan to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Cover the baking pan with foil.

1. Whisk pure maple syrup, yolks, and egg in a medium bowl to blend. Combine cream and milk in a medium-sized, heavy saucepan and bring to boil. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolk mixture.

3. Bake custards until set in the center, about 55 minutes. Chill custards uncovered until cold, at least 5 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)

4. To serve, run a knife around sides of the dishes to loosen custards. Invert onto plates.

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PORT, A FABULOUS WAY TO END A HOLIDAY MEAL

BY DR . SAM GOLDMAN

A

s winter’s cold wraps its fingers around the region and we dream of beautiful snowy landscapes, I can’t help but let my thoughts turn to the holidays.

Whether it’s Thanksgiving with family and friends, football, and a large sumptuous meal (including bizarre family dynamics), or Christmas, Hanukkah, or another tradition with, well, a bit more of the same, there is, blessedly, alcohol.

And while I will enjoy my role as each meal’s sommelier, I am particularly looking forward to dessert this year.

This part of the meal is all about digestifs, after-dinner drinks to pair with dessert and then to sip afterward as a fantastic way to end a special dinner. One of my favorites is port. Traditionally produced in Portugal, port is often a sweet, typically red wine. It can be described as richer, sweeter, and more full-bodied than regular wine. It also has higher alcohol content, as it’s a fortified wine. This means that alcohol, usually brandy, is added to the grape juice during production.

When England and France were not getting along in the eighteenth century, imports of French wine to England were stopped, and England began importing wine from the Portuguese. To prevent it from spoiling during the long journey on British ships, brandy was added to increase the alcohol content, making the wine last longer and thus creating port.

Traditional port is produced in the Douro River Valley in the Northwest corner of Portugal. This is the perfect

Easter Seals Winter Wine Spectacular January 25, 2018 | Radisson Hotel, Manchester ES.EASTERSEALS.COM/SITE/CALENDAR?ID=51913&VIEW=DETAIL

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climate and region for olives, almonds, and the grapes that are used specifically to produce port. There also isn’t a single style of port; one can sample a variety of brands and styles such as tawny, ruby, vintage, and late-harvest vintage.

GOLDEN BROWN TAWNY PORTS Tawny port has been aged in wooden barrels, typically for ten to forty years, and the longer the port is aged in the barrel, the more expensive it becomes. Tawny ports will have a beautiful color of gold, brown, or amber. It will go great after your holiday meal with desserts such as pumpkin, apple, or pecan pies; figgy pudding; Bûche de Noël; rugelach; or sweet and delicious sufganiyot (a Hanukkah treat). Tawny pairs well with dark or milk chocolate, as well as with what some would call the opposite end of the dessert spectrum—after-dinner cheeses such as cheddar and blue.

My favorite tawny is from Sandeman. I met George Sandeman (the seventh-generation Sandeman) a few years back at the Easter Seals Wine Expo in Manchester. His company has been making port for more than two hundred years. He was very knowledgeable, approachable, and patient, even with some guests at the Expo who perhaps had had too much to drink. You can find ten-, twenty-, and even forty-year Sandeman Tawny Porto in many New Hampshire liquor stores. Their twenty-year port goes for $39.99 and is the color of light-brown sugar with a taste of toffee and butterscotch. Smooth and delicious, it’s one of my favorites.

For $19.99 you can buy Warre’s Otima Tawny Port. For the price, this is a steal, as it is smooth and rich tasting with caramel and walnut notes. Its color is a lovely blend of light red and toffee.

RUBY PORTS, A GOOD PLACE TO START

TICK IT UP A NOTCH WITH VINTAGE PORTS Vintage ports come from grapes that are all harvested in the same year rather than being a blend of vintages.

They can be tawny or ruby but must be aged no more than two and a half years before bottling. Vintage ports are made for aging in the bottle, which can be anywhere from ten to forty years until you open the bottle.

Vintage ports are known as the upper echelon of ports and are clearly more expensive. Given the long aging process, they should be decanted before drinking. Good things come to those who wait, and these wines are smoother and full-bodied, with complex tastes of sugar, cinnamon, and toffee and will make any holiday dessert very special indeed.

For an excellent opportunity to taste a variety of ports or other similar fortified wines from other countries, consider going to the Easter Seals Winter Wine Spectacular on January 25 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester.

Whatever you’re planning for dessert after the holiday feast, tick it up a notch and add a delicious port to make the meal even more memorable.

PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

Ruby port, as opposed to tawny, is aged in steel. It is more fruit forward with no wood notes in the taste. These are typically known as entry-level ports. They are very reasonable in price, and if you’re looking for a taste test, I would suggest starting with a ruby port before any other types.

These ports go well with fruits, berrybased pies, and of course, chocolate.

For $9.99 at your local liquor store, you can buy Cockburn Fine Ruby Port.

It’s the color of cherries and has the vibrant taste of fresh fruit.

“The larger message is about bringing light into the world at a dark time of the year.”

Rabbi Robin Nafshi Temple Beth Jacob, Concord The Jewish community shares the good spirit and feeling toward one another during this time of the year, but from a strictly religious point of view, Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday. Its message is one of remembrance. The larger message is about bringing light into the world at a dark time of the year. This year, that’s doubly important because there’s been so much darkness, from the violence in Charlottesville and Las Vegas to natural disasters in the US and elsewhere.

Mark Barker Clerk, Concord Friends Meeting Quakers don’t traditionally celebrate Christmas, but many Friends come to Quakerism from other faith communities and do exchange simple gifts. It’s hard not to get caught up in that culture. We try to de-emphasize the holiday’s commercialization, and we remind each other that every day should be as special and holy as Christmas Day. Quakers have a well-known acronym, SPICES: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship of Environment or Service to Community—that captures our core testimony. It’s how we look at life.

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IDENTITY, TRADITION, AND INNOVATION Deliciously breaking with a Thanksgiving custom

BY SUSAN NYE

I

like to say that I moved to Switzerland for an eight-week internship and forgot to come home . . . for almost two decades. It’s more or less true, but like most clever lines, there’s more to it.

One thing’s for sure, my quip is a telling reminder of my historic role within the family menagerie.

As a kid, I was the dizzy one, the dreamer. You know the kind. I was the kid who never returned her library books and forgot to head home when the streetlights came on. Let’s face it—if I didn’t know enough to go home when it was too dark to see the bottom of the sledding hill, how could anyone expect me to make it back from a foreign country?

Truth be told, although my family probably didn’t realize it, by the time I moved abroad, I was no longer that dizzy kid. They may still not realize it. However, I am more than happy to admit to being a dreamer.

Within a few months of moving to Switzerland, Thanksgiving came close. The Swiss do not celebrate Thanksgiving, and to add insult to injury, they frequently confuse it with Halloween. Even half a world away, I could not, would not ignore the day of thanks.

Out went the invitations to a dozen or so unsuspecting new friends and colleagues.

Unsuspecting because I decided to serve an authentic New England feast. Some families ritualize Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner. For my family, it was Thanksgiving. Generation after generation, decade after decade, none of the women in my family had ever dared to mess with the menu. The men hadn’t messed with it either. In fact, except to help lift the turkey in and out of the oven, they had stayed clear of the kitchen.

As in 1621, the vegetables were hardy and the turkey was local.

Salad, or anything green for that matter, never graced our family’s Thanksgiving table. The spread always included a huge mound of mashed potatoes, a big pot of butternut squash, Nana Nye’s Cape Cod turnips, and a bubbling casserole of creamed onions.

Along with plenty of gravy, there was homemade cranberry sauce, a simple bread stuffing and oyster dressing. The meal

ended with a duo of pies, apple and pumpkin. Never pecan, that was for Christmas. No one ever felt the need for change. It just seemed right to have the same menu year in and year out.

About a week before my Swiss Thanksgiving party, I sat down with paper, pencil, and two cookbooks— Irma Rombauer’s Joy of Cooking and my grandmother’s copy of the iconic Boston Cooking-School Cookbook by Fannie Merritt Farmer. What else would you, could you expect?

As I worked on my shopping list, it hit me. For my first big dinner party in my newly adopted country, I was going to serve a brown—all right, make that brown and beige—dinner. Even the dessert, apple pie, was brown. Then again, there would be cranberry sauce. So, change that. Barely arrived from the land of fast food, weak beer, and bad coffee, this newbie cook was going to serve a brown dinner with jam. Whether my guests truly cared or not, I had promised authentic, so I plunged ahead.

A poultry farm in Arkansas shipped frozen turkeys to Switzerland. I had never cooked a turkey, but along with a warning to remove the gizzards, there were directions on the shrinkwrap. My mother’s old standby, Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix, was nowhere to be found, but there was a fabulous bakery on every corner. The nearest butternut squash was an ocean away, but Cinderella had left a slew of pumpkins. The market had plenty of potatoes, onions, and apples. They even had cranberries. It was hunting season. Who knew the Swiss served cranberry sauce with venison? My goodness, I could do this.

The night before the party, fortified with a glass of wine, Fanny, and Irma, I chopped and stirred until well past midnight. The next morning, I was up at dawn for more chopping and stirring plus peeling and mashing, stuffing, trussing, and basting.

Finally, with the turkey just about done, the doorbell rang. I greeted my guests nervously and explained that our authentic feast would be, in a word, monochromatic. Thankfully, everyone was polite, even curious. Not a disparaging word was heard, but lots of questions were asked. To this day, I am convinced my guests didn’t see it as a dinner party but an anthropological adventure.

Although Thanksgiving at my house became an annual tradition, once was enough. That was the last time I served my grandmother’s Thanksgiving dinner. Living abroad unfettered by family expectations, I stopped boiling turnips and squash and skipped the creamed onions.

“The Swiss do not celebrate Thanksgiving, and to add insult to injury, they frequently confuse it with Halloween.”

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Instead, I was lucky to discover wild mushrooms and served them in soup.

Wild rice went into the stuffing. For the first time, a dash of green found a spot on the plate. The wine was French, and I experimented with pumpkin mousse and apple tarts.

From year to year, my menu changed a bit and developed. But then, so did I. Extensive travel throughout Europe, into the Middle East and Africa, and eventually Asia ensured that. One step at a time, I figured out who I was and who I wanted to be.

No, I couldn’t defy nature. I didn’t wake up one morning six inches taller and a heck of a lot smarter. While I never lost the Yankee that is deep within me, new experiences led to a more global perspective. And I never stopped dreaming.

Of course, neither my story nor my holiday feasts end there. I eventually found my way back to New Hampshire.

No longer a neophyte cook, I returned ready to share my more adventurous approach to Thanksgiving dinner.

Questions were immediately raised.

Perhaps I was dreaming when I supposed my family would be delighted with my newfangled feast.

I admit it was only a distant cousin to our Nana’s tables, but it was delicious and only vaguely exotic.

All kinds of discussions quickly ensued. You’d have thought years of negotiations with Russians, Israelis, and South Africans, to name but a few, would have helped. It didn’t. Is there anyone or anything more obstinate than family? I smiled, made a few compromises, and pretended I’d make more.

Some families ritualize Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner. For my family, it was Thanksgiving. It still is to some extent. However, when it comes to food, nothing undermines tradition like delicious innovation.

ROOTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SINCE 1957.

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BY RAY CARBONE | PHOTOS BY ALLEGRA BOVERMAN

the best thing on ice:

Black Ice Pond Hockey WILL IT BE THE NO REGRETSKIES, SCARED HITLESS, OR TEAM AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE THAT TAKES HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WINTER?

t’s always been a neighborhood thing.

I

Back in the 1860s, the boys at St. Paul’s School played a game called shinny. There were no rules, set positions, or even standard pucks and sticks. It was a free-for-all out on the ice, much like a game of sandlot football.

The school’s tradition was that as soon as the first black ice (smooth, hard ice) covered ponds in November, the students, masters, and staff were released for a black ice holiday. That meant everyone outside, on skates, and on the pond.

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For the game, half the student population would often face off against the other half. The kids used sticks, branches, and anything else to move the ball or rock or chunk of wood or whatever else served as the puck across the ice to the jury-rigged goals at either end of the pond.

A FIRST In 1880, a schoolmaster named James P. Conover returned from a business trip to Montreal with some long, purposefully shaped sticks and a small, octagonal, leather-covered wooden block to serve as the puck. Then on

caption

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IT SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE I KNOW IS THERE. FROM THE RINK MONITORS TO THE CONCESSION PEOPLE, THEY’RE ALL FAMILIAR FACES FROM GROWING UP IN THE CONCORD AREA. — MARK HODGKINS, PLAYER

November 17, 1883, the St. Paul’s School community turned out to watch the first organized game of ice hockey in the US. It was the beginning of Concord’s long love affair with the sport, an affection now celebrated annually at the 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship. The three-day event is both the city’s unofficial winter carnival and a kind of New Hampshire Old Home Day on ice. Players, family, friends, and visitors enjoy the casual fun of the games while catching up with old friends and reveling in the chilly holiday.

More than one hundred teams will participate in this year’s 1883 Black Ice Championship, and most have ties to the Concord area.

Each will play four games over the first two days to determine the best two teams in each of six divisions. The top teams will meet on the final day to determine the champions. Throughout the event, the competition will be fierce but friendly.

MORE THAN A GAME It’s the kind of atmosphere that draws people like Jeff Reagan back to Concord from their current homes in New York City. “My dad grew up playing hockey in Concord, and he taught me how to play,” Jeff says. “I played into high school. I always come back; it’s always fun.”

He adds, “It’s not the most glamorous event. Most of the time when you go on a vacation, you go someplace that’s warm or you’re seeing something you’ve never seen before. But I get to see my parents and my family, and I play on a team with a lot of my friends I grew up with—guys I’ve been friends with since middle school and high school.”

Mark Hodgkins of Contoocook tells a similar story. He and his teammates are usually familiar with many of the one-hundred-plus volunteers and at least half of the hundreds of other players. “I’ve been involved with the men’s leagues ever since I got out of youth hockey,” he says, “so I know a lot of the guys who are the volunteers, the organizers, and a lot of the other people. It seems like almost everyone I know is there. From the rink monitors to the concession people, they’re all familiar faces from growing up in the Concord area.”

The loose camaraderie even extends to new friends, Mark says.

“We’ve been in the same division since we started, and we’re starting to recognize and become friends with some of the guys from teams that aren’t from the area. The team that just beat you, you start joking around with them, and it’s just a joyful atmosphere, a

fun environment.”

Tom Wright, who has been working with the city’s parks and recreation department for forty years and has been part of the 1883 Black Ice Championship from its beginning, loves the renewal of old friendships. “It is local, and it’s like a reunion,” he says.

WHY NOT CONCORD? INDEED, WHY NOT ?

The idea for the 1883 Black Ice Championship started in 2010, after Chris Brown, a local businessman who serves as founder and chief organizer of the program, got together over a couple of beers with other players in his men’s league. They were talking about the success of the New England Pond Hockey Classic, which had kicked off in the Lakes Region the previous year.

“And we said, ‘Why not Concord?’” he recalls. “We have such a rich hockey heritage. There’s St. Paul’s School, where they had the first organized game of hockey in America. And Hobey Baker, probably the most renowned amateur hockey player ever, and then there’s all the people who’ve played in the Olympics and in professional hockey who were from Concord.”

The first challenge was coming up with a memorable title. “We thought of Hobey Baker, of course,” Chris says, referring to the famous St. Paul’s School athlete, “but we figured somebody’s got to have the name registered, his family or some college hockey organization.”

Jim Hayes, executive director of the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Museum, suggested using black ice in the title. “It was a term that was popular at St. Paul’s. Black ice was the first good ice of the season, before it gets all the white marks all over it from skating.” To commemorate the year of the first organized game, 1883 was added.

From the start, one of the biggest goals of the 1883 Black Ice Championship was to help support neighborhood hockey. “The Black Ice Association is a nonprofit group,” Chris says. “We’ve donated well over $250,000 back to the community in the first seven years of the tournament.”

The association helped to pay for the dredging of White Park Pond, which stabilized its skating area. It also donated funds to reestablish a skating area at Rollins Park. “That was the first time there was a skating area in South Concord in twenty years,” Chris says. The tournament is now looking to raise $450,000 to fund half the cost of a new skate house adjacent to the pond. It would replace an older structure that’s been shuttered for years.

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CONCORD’S RICH HOCKEY HISTORY

gather for the school’s first

captain, Baker regularly leads

1924 CHS Athletic Director/

away game at a rink in New

his high school teammates to

Coach Delly Callahan (also

York City. Around the same

convincing wins against the

active in Concord’s Sunset

time, an alumni group buys the

top collegiate teams in the

Baseball League) announces

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, CONCORD HAS PLAYED A

old St. Nicholas Ice Company

country. The annual award for

a plan to start an interschool

SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOCKEY IN AMERICA.

and converts it, creating the

the best college hockey player

hockey league in the

BELOW IS A TIMELINE OF THE CITY’S HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS.

St. Nicholas Rink. The rink

in America is named after

elementary grades, with the

becomes a landmark and, for

Baker.

goal of developing hockey into

many years, the location of

a major high school sport.

1856 St. Paul’s School

side to seven. Soon afterward,

the school’s annual New York

1914 Player substitutions are

Games are played at White

opens. That first winter, the

the number is reduced again

game. The games continue for

now allowed during games.

Park. Later that year, the CHS

prep school students play

to the current standard of six.

more than seventy years. In

shinny, an early version of

School staff create a system to

1926, they move to Madison

1919 Concord High School

an official school team, play at

hockey. Within a few years,

flood an area of the campus to

Square Garden and are dubbed

(CHS) sponsors a boys’ team

St. Paul’s School.

they’re calling the game

create a dependable ice rink.

the Garden Game.

that plays at White Park.

1888 St. Paul’s School

1900s The Concord

1921 Concord teenager

mentioned in a Concord

1880 A St. Paul’s School

names alumni Malcolm

Monitor reports on two teams

Douglas N. Everett is named

Monitor story, noting “the

master returns from Canada

Gordon—known as the father

of youngsters playing hockey

captain of the Colby Academy

boys, as well as the girls, were

with some sport-specific

of American hockey—as its

at White Park: the Concord

(now Colby-Sawyer College)

fortified with hockey sticks.”

equipment and a list of rules.

hockey coach. Gordon has

Young Sluggers and the Young

hockey team in New London.

a remarkable twenty-year

I.O.C.

He later attends Dartmouth

1928 Everett is named to

Independents, forerunners of

1925 Girls’ hockey is first

hockey.

1883 The first organized

career, helping to standardize

College, where he displays

the 1928 Olympic team, but he

game of hockey in the US is

rules and leading numerous

1903 Hobart Amory

remarkable skills. After

is unable to raise the funds to

played at St. Paul’s School.

students to fall in love with the

Hare (“Hobey”) Baker, age

graduation, Everett declines

travel to Switzerland.

Rules become formalized,

game. It’s not an exaggeration

eleven, enrolls at St. Paul’s

offers from three NHL

directing a total of eleven

to say that the St. Paul’s

School. Baker develops into

teams, choosing to go into

1931 The Sacred Heart

players per side.

alumnus evangelized the

an astounding player and

the insurance business. He

(Sacre Coeur) Hockey Club,

gospel of hockey across the

becomes known at the school

continues playing hockey

associated with Sacred Heart

country.

for his “night flights” across

locally and for the University

Catholic Church, is formed,

1884 With input from the St. Paul’s School masters, rules

52

the pond ice, skating swiftly

Club of Boston’s team, one

and the city’s golden age of

continue to develop, dropping

1895 St. Paul’s School

along while precisely steering

of the best amateur clubs in

men’s hockey begins. For most

the number of players on a

alumni, students, and friends

the puck in the dark. As team

North America.

of the next decade, the Hearts

W W W. A R O U N D C O N C O R D . C O M

IT ’S ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD There was never much of a question of where to hold the 1883 Black Ice Championship. “White Park played a prominent role in the evolution of ice hockey in the city of Concord,” says Jim Hayes. “It became the primary skating facility for hockey, particularly in the north and west ends of the city, up until the Douglas N. Everett Arena opened in 1965.”

The White Park location gives it a neighborhood flavor that distinguishes the local tournament from similar pond hockey events scattered around North America. “A lot of them have become vacation destinations,” Chris says. “They’ve done a wonderful job creating this kind of thing in the Lakes Region. You’re bringing your team in for a weekend and they’re going to see the area.

“Ours is like that, but having it at White Park—I think a lot of people learned how to skate on that pond. I grew up playing hockey, and the first time I ever skated was on that pond. So to come back and play at an event like this, it kind of completes the circle in a lot of people’s minds.”

The park also has some social and historical significance. It’s only about three miles from St. Paul’s campus; it’s the site where the students played that first game of hockey; and Armenia S. White—widow of Nathanial White, the founder of American Express—donated the park to the city a year later.

Ever since White Park opened, its pond has drawn kids from the neighborhoods around it and from St. Paul’s School. “I would say that the pond has helped the game to kind of cross lines,”

compete with the Concord

Hockey Team plays a tune-

Olympian, opens. Its schedule

where he currently serves as

returns in 2002 and helps the

Hockey Club and the Millville

up game against the Sacred

is soon filled with skating

general manager. The New

team to earn silver. Mounsey

Bruins to claim the title of best

Heart Hockey Club on the

activities for all ages, including

Hampshire Women’s Select

is later inducted into the NH

in the city while also facing off

locals’ ice. After two periods,

several hockey programs.

Hockey Team starts with a

Legends of Hockey Hall of

against talented teams from

the Hearts are leading 5–3,

Today, it is still the city’s only

group of eleven-to-thirteen-

Fame; in 2013, she’s named

other parts of New England

but they eventually lose to

indoor public rink.

year-old girls, many from

number three on a list of the

and Canada.

the Olympians 8–6. The US

1932 Everett is again named

Concord. The girls play against

Greatest 10 (Women) Players

team goes on to win the silver

1969 Bishop Brady High

several prep school teams,

to ever play in New England.

medal.

School initiates a hockey team,

frequently besting the high

St. Paul’s School alumnus Jeff

kicking off a longtime rivalry

school students. The team

Giuliano is called up from the

with CHS.

ages along with the players,

minor league Manchester

and several go on to play

Monarchs to NHL’s Los

women’s college hockey.

Angeles Kings. Giuliano has

to the US Olympic team. This time, he makes the trip to

1959 CHS revives its hockey

Lake Placid, New York, where

team after an absence of ten

he leads his team to a silver

years. The Concord Youth

1977 St. Paul’s School

medal.

Hockey program begins, with

student Lee Blossom transfers

a thirteen-year professional

boys’ teams at several age

to CHS for his senior year and

1993 CHS starts a girls’

career, spending time in North

1933 CHS officially

levels. It becomes the Concord

leads the Crimson Tide to its

hockey team.

America and Europe.

sponsors a boys’ hockey team.

Youth Hockey Association in

first official state title.

The Concord Monitor notes

1968.

1994 Concord Youth Hockey

2011 The 1883 Black Ice

1982 CHS graduate Kent

Association starts several

Pond Hockey Championship is

back “after a lapse of several

1962 A new men’s league

Carlson is drafted by the NHL’s

multiage girls’ teams.

inaugurated.

years.”

is established. Over the next

Montréal Canadiens. He later

twenty-five years, several

plays for the St. Louis Blues

1996 Women’s hockey

2013 Bishop Brady initiates

1936 Twenty-six young

amateur leagues form and

and the Washington Capitals.

pioneer Tara Mounsey

a girls’ varsity team, combining

women are reported to be

disband, including the Can-

graduates from CHS. In her

its best players with those

playing in a local girls’ youth

Am League, the Granite State

1984 St. Paul’s School

senior year, she leads the boys’

from Trinity Christian School.

league.

League, the Industrial League,

graduate Don Sweeney is

team to a state championship

that the sport was brought

and the Capital City Hockey

drafted by the Boston Bruins.

and is named Player of the

1938 CHS wins the first of

League. They go on to play all

He instead attends Harvard

Year.

two state scholastic titles. The

or part of their seasons at the

University, where he wins

second is won in 1946.

Everett Arena.

accolades as a college player.

1998 Mounsey plays on

Hockey, supplied most of this information. Special thanks also to

Jim Hayes, executive director of the New Hampshire Legends of

Sweeney later plays with the

the first US Olympic women’s

1952 On their way to Oslo,

1965 The Douglas N. Everett

Bruins for fifteen years, then

hockey team, which wins the

staff at St. Paul’s School for their

Norway, the US Olympic

Arena, named for the famous

moves on to the front office

sport’s first gold medal. She

assistance.

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caption

IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’VE GOT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS’ WORTH OF EQUIPMENT OR TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS THAT YOU USED TO GET SOME SECONDHAND SKATES. THERE IT’S JUST, ‘LET’S GO DOWN AND PLAY.’ — CHRIS BROWN, FOUNDER AND CHIEF ORGANIZER

Chris explains. “White Park is right in the middle of the city, and there was a very blue-collar neighborhood on one side and a very white-collar one on the other. They’re kind of split by the park.

But everyone was drawn to the park. You could see people hanging out there each day.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve got five hundred dollars’ worth of equipment or twenty-five dollars that you used to get some secondhand skates,” he says. “There it’s just, ‘Let’s go down and play.’”

NO BET TER WAY TO SPEND A WINTER DAY Today, the 1883 Black Ice Championship has revived the neighborhood. This winter, it starts on Friday, January 26, with a few early games on the eight pond rinks. Gather around to watch the Moosetaches play the Stinky Socks, or the No Regretskies face off against the Dogs on Linoleum. Later, you can stop off for a hot chocolate and a sandwich at Cimo’s South End Deli concession tent. Afterward, head over to the Youth Hockey Rink to watch the five-to-seven-year-old Mites from the Concord Youth Hockey program try their best to stay on their skates.

If you’re looking for a friend’s team, you can pop into the Body Armor Players Tent on the edge of the park. It’s a kind of giant locker-room that becomes a gathering center for players, coaches, and friends. Historic photos of Concord teams from other eras, on

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W W W. A R O U N D C O N C O R D . C O M

loan from the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey collection, add a classic touch.

Back at the park, you can see the construction of ice sculptures or let your kids interact with Max, the Manchester Monarchs’ mascot. Around 4pm a bonfire will be lit, and not long afterwards, the live music starts.

Meanwhile, the Sock Swamp Rats play the Scared Hitless on one rink while the Moose Knucklers face off versus the Against Medical Advice team on another. The day wraps up with an Atlas Fireworks display on Eastman Field in the park.

On Saturday, January 27, the whole thing happens again, with the Pond Jovis playing the Schnockered squad in the men’s division, while the GAL-oots and the Babes of Glory compete for the women’s prize. On Sunday, the twelve teams that finished best in the divisions play for the illustrious Hobey Baker Stick Awards.

The sticks are made locally from ash wood and crafted by WS Dennison Cabinets of Pembroke. Mark Ruddy, a local hockey player with an artistic flair, finishes each one off with hand lettering and stain to give them a vintage appearance. When they’re finished, they probably don’t look much different from the original sticks brought back to St. Paul’s from Canada in 1880. That’s the kind of thing that happens when people pull together for the good of the neighborhood.

WINTER IS COMING.

T

he ninth annual 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship will be played January 26 to 28 on the pond at White Park in Concord. For more information, visit www.blackicepondhockey.com.

The 603 Brewery, one of the event’s sponsors, annually produces its Black Ice American Ale, which is available throughout the Concord area. It was awarded a silver medal at the 2016 Best of Craft Beer Awards.

Concord native Jeff Reagan, a regular at the event, created a short film documentary called Black Ice. It was shown at the 2014 Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival at Red River Theatres and can be viewed at vimeo.com/150952463; the link is private, so for the password, write to Jeff at jeffreagan0@gmail.com.

Information about the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey is available at www.nhlegendsofhockey .com.

Information about St. Paul’s School and its role in the history of hockey is available at www.sps.edu/page/ about-sps/sps-history.

For more information about hockey in the Concord area, contact the city’s Everett Arena, www.concordnh.gov/ arena.

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BY KRISTIN SCOTT PHOTOS BY KEVIN HARDMAN

O Brother, Where Art Thou Style?

MAKE YOUR MARK WHILE LOOKING GOOD

M

en of any age should care about clothes. Style, especially when it is distinctively you, is the first and most lasting impression someone has of you. And yet many men fall into the hipster traps—Gap, J.Crew, Urban Outfitters—while others bore themselves into middle-age submission with Brooks Brothers or L.L.Bean.

These are okay, but why not make more of an individualist’s mark and look good?

The key is finding people (blogs, magazines) and stores (local, striving to stand out among the humdrum) that can spark your creativity, as well as give a little head wag if it isn’t working. Concord in particular and New Hampshire in general can offer a wellspring of unique ideas.

Winter is a great time of year to express your personal style. The cold weather means additional layers of clothing, which means more opportunities to experiment with fashion. One could wear a classic peacoat while rocking a modern shirt underneath. Each layer shows something new about the wearer’s personal, perhaps even idiosyncratic, style.

Do you have a pattern or color or even an era of fashion—1920s, say—that you’ve wanted to try? If so, start with the right shoes, scarf, and/or hat to set the stage. This will allow you to try it out on a smaller scale before buying the shirt, pants, or jacket of a similar style. Plus, better to ease one’s wife or partner into the new, expressive you.

Luckily, more and more stores are catering to the fashion-forward male. This means you should have an easier time acquiring the look you want close to home while dipping a toe in to get an idea of what’s right for you. The outfits below should offer food for thought as well as examples of the range of outfits and pairings you can find around Concord.

WWW.BRITCHESCONCORD.COM

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WWW.INDIGOBLUESANDCO.COM

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The Portfolio Business Classic

by Britches of Concord In an era where casual Fridays have morphed into casual Mondays through Fridays, a sharply dressed man can really stand out. Britches of Concord creates custom suits to cater to their patrons’ personal styles. Business attire is really making a comeback this winter season, and the important element of incorporating this into your wardrobe is to ensure that it’s measured correctly to your body type.

A three-piece suit distinguishes the wearer from the crowd. One can look great even without the jacket because the vest is there to keep the outfit looking dressy. In addition, the vest can provide a slimming effect. The fabric of this outfit is a winterweight wool with a brushed flannel-like feel to it. The matching vest with lapels has front pockets to hold your favorite accessories such as a pocket watch. Finish off the outfit with a dressy boot so you can stay warm while looking good this winter.

• Single-breasted, three-button suit

by Southwick Clothing Company.

(Pricing varies due to customization.)

The pinstriped suit is a classic. The colors of the suit allow you to use it as a canvas for the rest of the outfit. Pair it with a fun-colored shirt that will stand out against the darker colors of the suit. There are many ways to add a fashion-forward flair to a timeless look. Try a button-up shirt with a collar of a different color (as pictured). To really push your fashion

WWW.BRITCHESCONCORD.COM

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ACCESSORIZE YOUR OUTFIT While women may have more to choose from, men still have countless accessories to incorporate into an outfit.

When choosing an accessory, start with the question, “Do I want this to blend in or stand out?” For example, a brown watch can perfectly match a similar color shoe or belt. This ensures a cohesive look to an outfit.

On the other hand, a bold pattern or color can be the star of the show. For example, vibrant reds and oranges are a must-have for this winter season. Choose a scarf or winter hat in these colors to add a bold statement piece to your outfit.

Accessories are not just something you wear. They can also serve a purpose. This can be a pocketknife, bottle opener, or a nice pen. Any of these accessories will make you look good in any situation. For example, a pocketknife may be one of the most versatile accessories one can buy. There are a variety of versions to choose from, but the idea is to express a sense of refined handiness, not necessarily outdoor skill.

Whatever the accessory, think about what you do on a daily basis and that will guide you to the one you need.

comfort zone, pair a fun-patterned or colored bowtie with the suit.

• Navy blue chalk-stripe suit in a super 120 wool fabric by Britches’ made-to-measure collection.

(Prices vary due to customization.)

This blue suit is made to measure, and the fabric is a year-round weight. Work with Britches to make this or any suit your own. They will help you customize any part of the suit to find your certain je ne sais quois. For example, they can help you pick out an individualized fabric for the inside of the coat, which can provide a unique aspect for a dressed-up outfit.

Another great way to make a classic suit your own is to add a pocket square. This can be any type of fabric, and as a detail, it shows that the wearer really cares about how he looks.

• Double-breasted super 130 wool, mid blue windowpane patterned suit by Trinity Apparel Company.

(Prices vary due to customization.)

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Professional Casual

by Indigo Blues & Co. and J.Hilburn There is always an occasion that calls for a collared shirt, whether it’s a day at work, a family gathering, or a night out with friends. Business casual is a great way to dress your best for those occasions.

Start with your shirt of choice and build the outfit from there. The color of the shirt will dictate the type and color of pants you will wear.

This grey-checkered top pairs nicely with the grey of the pants because a pattern with a solid color is exciting to the eye but not overwhelming. This color shirt in tartan embodies a classic business-casual look, which is a trend this winter season. In addition, the top is made of a heavier fabric to keep you comfortable during any New Hampshire snowstorm. The shoes are also a great way to spice up the outfit. Choosing shoes with a pattern or multiple colors can tie into several parts of the outfit. This particular pair has two colors, the black that pairs nicely with the darker pants and the brown that pairs with the belt. Repeating colors ensures that this is a cohesive outfit that will have you looking ready for any gathering.

• Grey/blue brushed twill tartan by J.Hilburn ($135) • Charcoal twill solid by J.Hilburn ($195) If you’re looking to spice things up, choose a shirt with a bit more color. This plaid shirt incorporates an array of colors that allow the wearer to choose whatever color sweater would pair best. For this outfit, a blue sweater was chosen.

Because of the number of colors on the top half of the outfit, khaki pants add a nice base to really let those tops shine. It’s also important to keep fabric in mind during the colder season. The two tops have fabrics that complement each other well. The cotton button-up is moisture wicking to ensure that you don’t get too warm under all the layers. The zip-up is made from 100 percent merino and insulates you from the cold.

WWW.INDIGOBLUESANDCO.COM

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• Ventilair LS Shirt by Toad&Co ($79) • Men’s Shak Classic Zip-Up by Ibex ($165) • New Grey Americano Chino by J.Hilburn ($145) Socks from Darn Tough Vermont • Shoes pictured are not sold at Indigo Blues. Similar shoes available: Allen Edmonds Strand by J.Hilburn ($395) LeeAnne Vance, one of the owners of Indigo Blues & Co., is also a personal stylist for J.Hilburn. A personal stylist can be a great option for someone who needs an honest opinion or maybe doesn’t have the time to shop for himself. LeeAnne’s goal is to help clients feel great about their outfits. She can help you decipher a dress code—fancy ranch? Gatsby chic? Eat Pray Love semiformal?—select the most flattering suit (she is gentle, but honest), and help you find clothes that fit your lifestyle and body type. She can be found at jhilburn.com/aboutme/10559.

DRESS FOR THE SEASON Dressing for the season is an important part of fashion. There’s no need to wear a lighter jacket in winter when there are so many great clothing options to keep you warm! To use jackets as an example, one could purchase a faux fur coat, a puff jacket, an athletic jacket, down coat, or knee-length wool coat.

With all these great options, you don’t have to force your fall jacket into duty during winter. You can purchase something that is comfortable, stylish, and warm to see you through New Hampshire’s coldest days.

WHERE TO FIND THE CLOTHES Britches of Concord 1 Eagle Square Concord, NH (603) 225-4184 WWW.BRITCHESCONCORD.COM Mon–Fri 10am–6pm Sat 10am–5:30pm Sun closed Indigo Blues & Co. 902 Main Street Contoocook, NH (603) 660-9290 WWW.INDIGOBLUESANDCO.COM Mon–Wed 10am–5pm Thu 10am–6pm Fri 10am–6pm (Wine-down to the Weekend 4–6pm) Sat 10am–4pm Sun 11am–3pm Runner’s Alley 142 North Main Street Concord, NH (603) 715-5854 WWW.RUNNERSALLEY.COM Mon–Wed 10am–6pm Thu 10am–8pm Fri 10am–6pm Sat 10am–5pm Sun 11am–5pm

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Workout Wear

by Runner’s Alley Fashion can take many shapes and forms and practical attire is included. For a New England winter, clothes are designed for form and function. At Runner’s Alley, patrons can expect to find just that. These outfits will keep you protected from the elements while burning those calories and looking stylish.

Wearing all black allows the shoes to do the talking. This blue and gold Saucony is the star of this sleek workout ensemble. Athletic gear doesn’t have to be just for a workout. For example, the shoes can be paired with jeans for a trip to the store or hanging out with the guys.

While athletic gear can be a vehicle for fashion, it also ensures your comfort during an outdoor activity. The running tights are made from fabric that is meant to keep you warm while wicking aware moisture. To accompany the tights, the Canopy Jacket has a hood to protect your from the elements. When you don’t need the hood, it snaps back to stay out of your way and ensure that you focus on your run.

WWW.RUNNERSALLEY.COM

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SHOP ONLINE TODAY FullersSugarhouse.com

• Breath Thermo Layer Tight by Mizuno

OR visit our Country Store in Lancaster, NH

($69.99)

• Freedom Shoe by Saucony ($159.99)

Industry Experts Agree…

BEST IN NH – BEST IN THE WORLD!

• Distance Top by Brooks ($148)

• Canopy Jacket by Brooks ($120) If your workout takes you out during inclement weather, this is the jacket for you. It has water-resistant and breathable fabric to keep you comfortable no matter what you encounter.

In addition, the subtle pattern on the jacket adds a little flair to the outfit. The pants are a little looser than tight, allowing more flexibility in your workout. You may have noticed that this outfit is all about comfort, and the shoe is no exception. The sole has great cushioning to ensure comfort for your foot no matter how long your run is.

Maple Gift Bag #3

Gifts of Gold Gift Box

Maple Candy

Decorative Glass

We have a large selection of gift baskets, boxes and samplers.

Or you can build your own customized baskets.

Fuller’s Sugarhouse & Country Store | 267 Main Street | Lancaster, NH 877-788-2719 | FullersSugarhouse.com

• Zap Training Jacket by Sugoi ($165) • Glycerin 15 shoe by Brooks ($149.99) • Spartan pant by Brooks ($95)

• Ghost Long Sleeve by Brooks ($55) So men, there’s nothing wrong with bringing a little style into your life and using your clothes to express what is unique about you. Even better, you can find all you need in and around Concord.

Serving New Hampshire since 1960 Installation & Service Plumbing Systems | Heating Systems | Water Systems Backflow Preventers | Water Heaters | Drain Cleaning | Gas Piping

3 Bow Bog Road, Bow NH 03304 | 225-6929 | www.bowph.com MBE #0000478 | Well Pump License #76

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EVENT CALENDAR

|

THEATER

•

MUSIC

•

DANCE

•

LECTURE

•

ART

What's Happening In & Around Concord

December 2, 3

Eastern Ballet Institute’s The Nutcracker Capitol Center for the Arts, 2 & 7pm Sat; 2pm Sun CCANH.COM

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www.aroundconcord.com

Through December 24 December 5

Fall Art Exhibit

Bill McKibben

With the seasons changing, so does the gallery exhibit, with a host of new paintings and sculptures in a variety of rich and varied styles for all to enjoy.

Millbrook Gallery & Sculpture Garden THEMILLBROOKGALLERY.COM

Midnight Merriment

STEVE LIPTAY

December 1

Bill McKibben discusses his debut novel, Radio Free Vermont, in which a band of Vermont patriots decide that their state might be better off as its own republic.

He will be joined onstage and in conversation with Virginia Prescott, host of NHPR’s Word of Mouth and the 10-Minute Writer’s Workshop.

Capitol Center for the Arts, 7pm ccanh.com

Downtown Concord, 5pm–midnight December 1–3, 8–10, 15–17

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sun HATBOXNH.COM

Through January 7

The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: Prints and Posters from the Museum of Modern Art

AUTO

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

Currier Museum of Art WWW.CURRIER.ORG Reine de joie (Queen of Joy) (1892) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901). Lithograph, sheet: 59 7/16 x 39 7/16 in. (151 x 100.1 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rodgers, 1961. Photograph by Thomas Griesel.

Granite State Glass - Concord, NH 143 Loudon Road Concord, NH 03301

603-224-8897

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CALENDAR December 1–3

Narnia The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sat & Sun WWW.WINNIPESAUKEE PLAYHOUSE.ORG

December 5

Fahrenheit 451 Capitol Center for the Arts, 10am CCANH.COM

December 13, January 17, February 7

Andrew Pinard: Discovering Magic

December 5

Hillary Clinton at Gibson’s Bookstore

Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com

December 2, 3

December 4

Concord Dance Academy Holiday Spectacular

Gibson’s Book Club Reads Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple

Audi, 1 & 6pm Sat; 1pm Sun WWW.CONCORDCITYAUDITORIUM.ORG

Gibson’s Bookstore, 5:30pm WWW.GIBSONSBOOKSTORE.COM

Hillary Clinton will sign copies of her new book, What Happened.

Gibson’s Bookstore, 1pm WWW.GIBSONSBOOKSTORE.COM

Delicious baked goods made in-house by our talented Pastry Chefs!

Made with 100% natural ingredients.

Call 603.225.6840 or stop by our store to place your order!

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December 9

Laurie Berkner Holiday Show Capitol Center for the Arts, 11am ccanh.com

December 9, 16

December 10

Christmas at Canterbury

Symphony New Hampshire Holiday Pops Concert

Christmas at Canterbury is a chance to experience the delights of Christmas in a simpler era. Join us inside the historic Shaker buildings to watch an old-time nineteenth century magic show, meet Santa, make Christmas crackers, decorate cookies, and more. Enjoy hot cider and singing carols as we light the village Christmas tree.

Canterbury Shaker Village, 3–8pm www.shakers.org

December 16–30

Snow White The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sat & Sun www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org

December 5, January 16, February 6

Tales Told Inspired by The Moth series, audience members will put their names in a hat and will be called up at random to tell a true, original story. Audience members will act as judges, with a winner to be announced at the end of the evening.

Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com

Audi, 3pm www.concordcity auditorium.org

S

erving Greater Concord and New England for 50 years.

December 7

Snowflake Social Concord Food Co-op, 4pm concordfoodcoop.coop December 9

Hatbox Performance Lab Hatbox Theatre’s educational series for theatre artists and the public looking to explore the theatrical arts and expand their capabilities.

Hatbox Theatre, 2pm hatboxnh.com

INSURANCE • BONDS • BENEFITS

...an Assurex Global Partner

1-800-238-3840 • www.rowleyagency.com

December 9

Turning Pointe Center of Dance: The Nutcracker Ballet Audi, 2pm www.concordcityauditorium.org

45 Constitution Ave., W I N TConcord, E R 2 0 1 7/ 2NH 018 | AROUND CONCORD 67 and offices in Portland, ME and Bennington, VT

CALENDAR December 14

Buzz Ball 2017 Join Greg and the Morning Buzz for this wonderful holiday treat featuring New England’s best entertainment including guest musicians, comedians, and actors.

Capitol Center for the Arts, 7pm ccanh.com December 15

New Hampshire School of Ballet: The Nutcracker Audi, 7pm www.concordcityauditorium.org

December 22

Oak Ridge Boys Capitol Center for the Arts, 8pm ccanh.com

December 16

Christmas with Rocking Horse Studio 2017

January 26

Capitol Center for the Arts, 7pm ccanh.com

Paula Poundstone Capitol Center for the Arts, 8pm ccanh.com

December 17

Holiday Pops

December 12

The Money Tree When Shasta’s father loses his job, she is devastated to learn that plans for her upcoming birthday party must be significantly downsized.

She and Simon meet a mysterious traveler who gives them a seed that will make a tree grow leaves of money.

Capitol Center for the Arts, 10am ccanh.com December 12

The Bolshoi Ballet in HD: Le Corsaire Capitol Center for the Arts, 6pm ccanh.com December 13

Friends of the Audi Holiday Open House

Tru

Discover more of what's happening W W W. A R O U N D C O N C O R D . C O M

December 28

One of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, who also happened to be one of its most complex personalities, Truman Capote was considered a transcendent star whose dalliances and extravagant lifestyle were matched only by his writing and flair for the dramatic. Tru is a one-man play adapted from the words and works of Truman Capote and takes place in the writer’s New York City apartment at Christmas in 1975.

Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sun hatboxnh.com

Audi, 6pm www.concordcityauditorium.org

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Capitol Center for the Arts, 4pm ccanh.com

January 11–14, 18–21

Music Out of the ’Box: Mark Shilansky with Fugue Mill Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com December 29, January 27

Greg Boggis Presents Standup Comedy Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com December 30

The Met Live in HD: Hansel and Gretel Capitol Center for the Arts, 3pm ccanh.com

www.aroundconcord.com

January 13

January 8

Get the Led Out

Gibson’s Book Club Reads Kindred by Octavia Butler

Capitol Center for the Arts, 8pm ccanh.com

Gibson’s Bookstore, 5:30pm www.gibsons bookstore.com January 9

National Theatre Live in HD Rebroadcast: Follies Capitol Center for the Arts, 6pm ccanh.com January 14

NH Writers Project Hatbox Readings Hatbox Theatre, 6pm hatboxnh.com December 30, February 24

January 5–7

Theater Sports Improv

Granite State Playwrights Workshop

Theater Sports is a type of improv where two teams compete in rounds to win points. The teams are given parameters and one minute to huddle before they present their scene. At the end of two scenes, the audience votes.

Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com

Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sun hatboxnh.com

January 25

Music Out of the ’Box: David Ross Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com

January 7

The Bolshoi Ballet in HD: The Taming of the Shrew Encore Capitol Center for the Arts, 3pm ccanh.com

Shop Local In & Around Concord

UNIQUE SHOPPING

Fuller’s Sugarhouse

Concord Photo Service

Goldsmiths Gallery, LLC

267 Main Street Lancaster, NH (877) 788-2719 www.FullersSugarhouse.com

31 N. Main Street Concord, NH (603) 225-5891 www.concordphotoservice.com

Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–3pm

Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–5:30pm, Closed Sun

2 Capital Plaza - 57 N. Main Street Concord, NH (603) 224-2920 goldsmiths-gallery.com facebook.com/GoldsmithsGalleryNH Tue–Fri 10am–5:30pm Sat 10am–4pm, Closed Sun & Mon

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CALENDAR February 13

National Theatre Live in HD Rebroadcast: Young Marx Capitol Center for the Arts, 6pm ccanh.com February 22

Music Out of the ’Box: Trade Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm hatboxnh.com January 30

February 24

Clementine

Best of Boston Comedy

Whether she’s cutting the glue out of her best friend’s hair, concocting a scheme to prevent her teacher from moving to Egypt, or riding the service elevator, Clementine’s antics are sure to make you laugh.

Capitol Center for the Arts, 10am ccanh.com

January 27

February 10

The Met Live in HD: Tosca

The Met Live in HD: L’Elisir d’Amore

Capitol Center for the Arts, 12:55pm ccanh.com

Enjoy the best of Boston comedy without the ride to Beantown! This show features Dave Russo, Mike Koutrobis, and Rob Steen.

Capitol Center for the Arts, 8pm ccanh.com

Capitol Center for the Arts, 12pm ccanh.com

January 28

State Ballet Theatre of Russia Presents Sleeping Beauty Capitol Center for the Arts, 3pm ccanh.com

February 11

The Bolshoi Ballet in HD: Lady of the Camellias Capitol Center for the Arts, 3pm ccanh.com

February 5

February 26

The Met Live in HD: La Bohè me Capitol Center for the Arts, 6pm ccanh.com

Gibson’s Book Club Reads The Importance of Being Earnest

by Oscar Wilde

February 25

Rock Around the Clock: The Fab ’50s Featuring CJ Poole and Laura Daigle on vocals and dancers from the New England School of Dance backed by the Clayton Poole Orchestra.

Audi, 4pm ccanh.com

Gibson’s Bookstore, 5:30pm www.gibsonsbookstore.com February 7

Mr. Popper’s Penguins Capitol Center for the Arts, 10am & 12pm ccanh.com

February 2–4, 9–11, 16–18

Macbeth Hatbox Theatre, 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sun hatboxnh.com

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www.aroundconcord.com

most entrées under $10 most entrées $10–$25 most entrées over $25

Dining Out In & Around Concord

DINING GUIDE II

Constantly Pizza

ITALIAN KITCHEN

Veano’s II Italian Kitchen

39 S. Main Street, Concord, NH (603) 224-9366 www.constantlypizza.net @ConstantlyPizza Great food at great prices and selection can’t be beat!

Specializing in catering – office parties, rehearsal dinners, showers, anniversaries, retirements, special events, and more.

Check out our website for our full menu.

Open Mon–Thu & Sat 11am–10pm, Fri 11am–11pm; Sun Noon–9pm

30 Manchester Street, Unit 1, Concord, NH (603) 715-1695 Operated by George Georgopoulos and family, Veano’s II offers all the traditional Italian favorites you love plus seafood, pizza, and more. Serving lunch and dinner, and now breakfast from Mon–Fri 7am–11am, Sat–Sun 7am–noon. Stop in for superb customer service, great food, and a warm friendly atmosphere—and don’t forget to check out our daily dinner specials!

Alan’s of Boscawen 133 N. Main Street, Rte. 3, Boscawen, NH (603) 753-6631 www.alansofboscawen.com Alan’s of Boscawen, a family-owned restaurant, has been a local favorite in the Concord area for over 33 years providing great food, catering, and dining experiences. Featuring live entertainment Fri & Sat 8:30pm–12am. Open daily, including breakfast Sat & Sun. Celebrate your wedding, shower, or graduation with us.

Off-site catering available for any event. Call for details!

Makris Lobster & Steak House Route 106, Concord, NH (603) 225-7665 www.eatalobster.com An experience you wont forget! Enjoy fresh seafood and steak at an affordable price. Comfortable setting for all ages.

Banquets and catering available!

Open Tue–Sun 11am–9pm (8pm on Sun)

The Gas Lighter Family Restaurant 204 N. Main Street, Concord, NH (603) 228-8854

HAPPY HOLIDAYS This Greek-style spot has been a tasty Concord establishment for over 40 years. The menu offers a selection of budget-friendly meals for lunch & dinner including traditional Greek favorites. Also offering an extensive selection of beer & wine. Open Mon–Sat 11am-9pm.

Revival Kitchen & Bar 11 Depot Street, Concord, NH (603) 715-5723 www.revivalkitchennh.com @revivalkitchennh Casual upscale dining with farm to table influence. Reviving Old World classic dishes using local meats, produce, and dairy. Unique and classic cocktails and every wine available by the glass.

Open Tue–Thu 4–9pm, Fri–Sat 4–10pm; closed Sun & Mon.

ADVERTISERS INDEX A&B Lumber/Belletetes........ Outside Back Cover

Concord Orthodontics .................................3

League of NH Craftsmen ........................... 21

The Centennial Hotel.................................. 17

Concord Pediatric Dentistry .......................7

Makris Lobster & Steakhouse .................. 71

The Gaslighter Family Restaurant ........... 71

Able Insurance Agency .............................. 13

Concord Photo Service....................... 25, 69

Merrimack County Savings Bank ..............8

The Hodges Companies ........................... 25

Alan's of Boscawen ...............................15, 71

Constantly Pizza .......................................... 71

Mill Falls Marketplace .................................11

Annis & Zellers............................................ 55

Endicott Furniture ..........................................2

Nathan Wechsler........................................ 47

Banks Chevrolet ..............Inside Back Cover

Fuller's Sugarhouse .............................63, 69

Pats Peak........................................................ 31

Bow Plumbing & Heating ........................ 63

Goldsmiths Gallery ....................................69

Revival Kitchen & Bar ................................. 71

Century 21 Circa 72..................................... 13

Granite Restaurant & Bar .......................... 71

Rumford Stone ...............Inside Front Cover

Charter Trust Company ...............................9

Granite State Glass .................................... 65

Serendipity Day Spa....................................19

Valpey Financial Services ............................5

Cobb Hill Construction ............................. 23

H.R. Clough .................................................. 55

Shaheen & Gordon, PA............................... 15

Veano's Italian Kitchen ........................41, 71

Concord Food Co-op..................................66

Johnny Prescott Oil ........................................1

Sugar River Bank .......................................... 17

Vintage Kitchens ........................................ 23

The Music Hall .............................................41 The Rocks Estate ......................................... 21 The Rowley Agency ................................... 67 Upton & Hatfield ..........................................11

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact (603) 538-3141 or publisher@aroundconcord.com.

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LAST WORD

JAMES BUCHANAN

Hygge: Danish for achieving a quality of coziness and contentment that is calming and restorative.

Warm fire, wool socks, candles, mulled cider, the scent of dinner slowly cooking, Miles Davis’s "So What," kids, wife, family and friends happy and well.

Hygge is umami for the soul.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK We are looking to showcase the talents of local photographers, artists, poets, and creative souls who call the greater Concord area their home. Submit your work for consideration for this page in a future issue.

editor@aroundconcord.com 72

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REAL PRICES. HUGE INVENTORY. ALWAYS IN STOCK.

THE ALL-NEW 2017

CHEVROLET SILVERADO

BANKS CHEVROLET 137 MANCHESTER ST. CONCORD, NH 603-229-4176 BANKSAUTOS.COM

Around Concord 30 Terrill Park Drive Concord, NH 03301

PRSRT STD US Postage

PAID

Manchester NH Permit 197

Enhance the natural beauty of your home with Marvin Windows and Doors.

Bring your home to life with design possibilities at Belletetes and A&B Lumber.

Pembroke, NH 129 Sheep Davis Road

224.7483

Sunapee, NH 21 Sargent Road

Andover, NH 24 Ten Penny Lane

735.5544

www.belletetes.com

763.9070

LU M B E R B A R NS Division of BELLETETES, INC.

Moultonborough, NH 121 Whittier Hwy

253.4404