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© 2024 Yankee Publishing, Inc.
New Hampshire Magazine® is published by Yankee Publishing, Inc., 250 Commercial Street, Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101, (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/ opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Yankee Publishing, Inc.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly, with the exception of February and April. USPS permit number 022-604. Periodical postage paid at Manchester 031039651. Postmaster send address changes to: New Hampshire Magazine, P.O. Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900
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16 Night Light
The aurora borealis lights up New Hampshire skies
Photo by Jared Plante Photography
18 Jewel of the North Country Whitefield began its history as little more than an afterthought By Jason Schreiber
24 Swimming with Sharks
Knowledge can help protect you from fretting
By Paul Marino
28 Rising Star It’s a jet-setting life for Elias Kacavas By Elisa Gonzales-Verdi
30 Within the Crystal Hills
38 The Great New Wave Surfers find their thrills, spills — and peace — riding the rocky sea. By Jill Armstrong, Photography by Brian Yurasits
46 Standout Summer Styles
Pulling from the rustic charm painted throughout the state and reflected in the bright, retro ambiance of the NASWA Resort in Laconia, summer fashion can be filled with a light-hearted air and a side of fun, functional flair. We’ve got the proof. Styling by Chloe Barcelou, Photography by Morgan Karanasios
56 Best of NH 2024
The results of the annual Best of NH Readers’ poll and the Editors’ Picks are your ultimate guide to exploring New Hampshire, from restaurants and resorts to shops and music venues.
NH native’s animated film breathes new life into Old Man’s story By Emily Reily
88 Barbecue Like a Pro This Summer
Kevin Cornish, owner of KC’s Rib Shack, gives his insider tips By Emily Reily
91 Calendar Summer events around the state are waiting for you
Compiled by Elisa Gonzales-Verdi
100 Connections
UNH’s Breakout Sports Star By Lynne Snierson
102 Health Tick Tactics
By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks
104 Live Free
Dinner with Adam Sandler
By Mike Cote
Special Advertising Sections
33 Ask the Experts
80 Best of NH Hall of Fame
94 Summer Fun
Volume 38, Number 5 ISSN 1532-0219
At the Y, we provide a secure environment for children while prioritizing foundational skills, social development, imaginative play, and motor skills for an adventurous learning journey. Programs* include:
• Infant & Toddler
• Preschool
• Pre-K
• Kindergarten
*Program ages, times & availability vary based on location.
THIS YEAR’S BEST OF NH PARTY marked my first anniversary as editor of New Hampshire Magazine. I joined Yankee Publishing last year just in time to spend my third day on the job helping my new colleagues stuff gift bags with magazines, almanacs and coupons.
Our party the next day at Flag Hill Distillery & Winery — the venue once again for this year’s party June 20 — kicked off with a special retirement gathering for founding editor Rick Broussard.
Among Rick’s responsibilities for the party since it debuted in 2001 was to orchestrate the evening’s entertainment. I took the easy path for this year’s celebration by inviting the incredible Scott Spradling Band for a return engagement.
By the time most readers see this issue, we’ll be sharing memories on social media about another great salute to New Hampshire’s best and brightest and thinking about how to outdo ourselves next year.
For 2025, I’d like to reach into Rick’s bag of tricks to crank it up to 11.
No, not Spinal Tap (though we’re excited about the upcoming movie sequel.) We’re talking to you, Taylor Swift.
You have a favor to return, and we’re calling on you to make good on it. Now that you’re a global superstar, don’t you think it’s time to pay off a debt that is more than 20 years old?
If that memory is a little fuzzy for you, ask your mom. Back in 2003, she approached Rick at the Best of NH Party and asked if her teenage daughter could perform a few songs.
Rick recounted the story in a 2011 column, “My Date with Taylor Swift.”
“We had a pretty loose schedule that year (we had dueling Elvises, as I recall) so I just asked, ‘Is she from New Hampshire?’ The woman said no, but she assured me I wouldn’t regret it.
“All I recall about the skinny teenager with the big guitar standing alone on the Verizon Wireless Arena stage was that she had a great name for show business. I’m terrible with names, but this one I remembered: Taylor Swift.”
Thanks, Taylor, for signing the photo taken by former New Hampshire Magazine art director Susan Laughlin. Former publisher Sharron McCarthy displays it in her office at Girls Inc., a nonprofit that champions the lives of young girls and helps them to become strong, confident women like you.
In honor of those girls — and that small act of kindness my predecessor once showed you — we’d love to invite you back.
We’ll have great food and beverages, and I know an assistant editor here who would be very interested in buying another one of your cardigans to add to her collection.
We’d even let you sing again, even though you’re not from New Hampshire.
BY
Morgan Karanasios is New Hampshire Home’s photographer, specializing in architectural and portrait photography. While she was a student in Dijon, France, she took photographs throughout Europe, and continues to develop her passion for photography. She photographed the cover for this issue as well as the main feature, “Standout Summer Styles.”
New Hampshire Magazine fashion editor Chloe Barcelou styled this month’s summer fashion feature, “Standout Summer Styles.”
Marino is a Newmarket native, multi-media storyteller writing about natural history, foraging and cuisine. He wrote this month’s Informer.
Jill Armstrong is a freelance writer who reports primarily on the outdoor industry in the Granite State. She wrote this month’s feature about surfing.
Assistant Editor Emily Reily wrote this month’s Living section about learning how to crush your barbecue game this summer from a local pro.
is a local surfer, a marine scientist at the Seacoast Science Center and a photographer. He shot this month’s
Time to lace up and stretch. The road awaits you. Are you properly hydrated?
New Hampshire Magazine plans to launch a new magazine in October that aims to capture the endurance and camaraderie of the Granite State’s running community. Run NH will feature profiles of New Hampshire’s most accomplished runners, roundups of local road races, and health and training tips for runners of all ages and abilities.
We’re fueled in part by our pride. Last year, Yankee Publishing fielded its first team ever in the Delta Dental Elliot Corporate Road Race, drawing participants from both our New Hampshire Group offices in Manchester and Yankee’s headquarters in Dublin. The Millennium Running event awarded Yankee the award for “Most Participants” by a small company.
The Manchester 5-k race, which takes place this year on Aug. 8, attracts 5,000 runners and walkers every year to a fast USA Track & Field certified 3.1-mile loop that starts at Stark and Elm streets. It’s the kind of community gathering that demonstrates the popular appeal of road races as a both a sport and a charitable tool: The Corporate Road Race raises funds for the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot.
We know runners at these events and running clubs throughout the state want to share their stories and get the word out about how to participate in one of the best ways to stay active, let off steam, enjoy healthy competition and make new friends. We want to hear from you. Send a note to mikecote@yankeepub.com.
Spot four newts like the one here hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a great gift from a local artisan or company.
To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name and mailing address to:
Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101
You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.
Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Isla Rose Mosher of Kingston, NH. June issue newts were on pages 6, 10, 43 and 45.
“I love your magazine. My papa and I read it together,” Isa wrote.
The prize is a gift certificate for $50 to use at the shop or restaurant of our choosing. Each month’s gift card will be different, which adds to the overall Newt fun. Let the hunt begin!
The view of Mount Chocorua, the southernmost peak of the Sandwich Range, is scenic on most days, but on the overnight of May 10-11, it was especially dazzling. Extreme solar flares sent aurora borealis dancing across the sky far beyond its typical reach. The accelerated particles of light shined beyond the mountain’s rocky summit and were reflected in Lake Chocorua as well.
Nestled in the shadows of New Hampshire’s majestic White Mountains, the area that encompasses the town of Whitefield was once described as a tract of land that no one wanted.
According to historical accounts of this Great North Woods community, incorporated in 1804, Whitefield was simply the leftovers after neighboring towns had set their boundaries.
For those who have made their permanent and summer homes here and warmly welcomed generations of visitors, it’s hard to imagine that this place — with all its natural splendor and breathtaking mountain views — could have been left behind.
“If you want peace and quiet, this is a good place,” said 83-year-old Rodger Vermette, who grew up in Whitefield and moved to Maine when he was 25, but like so many others, retired and came home.
In this town of 2,500 residents, the motto inscribed on the welcome signs along the roadside reads: “A friendly town with a beautiful point of view.” It’s an inviting message that conveys Whitefield’s neighborly personality and picturesque landscape.
With Route 3 winding its way through the center of town by the nearly 150-yearold iconic bandstand in King’s Square, some think of Whitefield as merely a passthrough town on the way north or south.
The Triangle Dairy Bar, a Dunkin,’ and a Mobil station with a Jiffy Mart sit at the busy intersection of routes 3 and 116. While they serve locals, they also serve as a pit stop for out-of-towners headed elsewhere.
But Whitefield offers much more than a temporary stop on a North Country journey. With stunning views of the Presidential Range, the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is the town’s crown jewel and continues to be a destination for vacationers seeking the glorious grand hotel experience.
The resort employs nearly 200 workers during its busy season and is one of the largest employers in town.
The hotel’s storied past dates back to a stormy night in 1865 when a stagecoach headed northbound from Boston to Montreal crashed, and its two wearied passengers sought refuge nearby at what was then a farmhouse owned by William and Mary Jane Dodge. The Dodges were kind enough
to take them in for the night and prepared breakfast in the morning.
Awe-struck by the mountains and enamored by the Dodges’ hospitality, the pair of passengers turned their unplanned visit into an extended stay. The chance encounter with the strangers made the Dodges realize that others might also like to enjoy their slice of paradise, and the following year they turned their farmhouse into an inn known as the Mountain View House.
Over the years, the hotel continued to expand, attracting former U.S. presidents, prominent writers, celebrities and other famous guests, but it closed in 1986 and faced an uncertain future.
The closure came at a time when Whitefield, which had been a thriving town with grocery stores, shops, pharmacies and other services, began to lose a vital part of its business community. Meanwhile, nearby Littleton was beginning to develop its industrial park with an eye toward becoming the commercial hub and tourist destination that it is today.
“We had these old stores that went out of business, and there wasn’t another generation to take them over. These older people had nobody to sell to. Nobody wanted them,” recalled 70-year-old Scott Burns, who is the seventh generation of the Burns family living on their property along Burns Lake. “Of course, it didn’t help when the Mountain View closed. That really set the tone for the town.”
The shuttered hotel was a blow to the town, but after failed attempts to reopen it and a series of purchases, it eventually found a new owner, underwent a $20 million restoration, and reopened in 2002. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to attract visitors from near and far while celebrating its past and deep roots in the town.
“I hope we’re responsible stewards of the area. I want to not just be a giant resort in the middle of a tiny town. I want to be part of the town, and we’ve really started to work on that,” said Lloyd Van Horn, the resort’s managing director. “We have a good portion of the community working for us. You can’t go into a store without seeing people who work here.”
Additional efforts are underway to preserve and breathe new life into other aging buildings and businesses — some of which could have been lost. Grandma’s Kitchen is a popular breakfast and lunch spot that closed its doors last November, but reopened under new management in
February. When Mac’s Market, Whitefield’s only remaining grocery store, closed in 2019, many in town expressed shock and sadness. The closure was short-lived thanks to new owner, Josh Dumont, who took it over a month later and reopened the store as Whitefield Market n Deli.
“We were quick to get the store back open. The community was in an uproar,” store manager Sue Mohla said. “Mac’s had closed very quickly, and people needed the local grocery store because some don’t have transportation. They love their little store.”
While the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is a big draw for a certain type of visi-
tor, Whitefield is also a place where summer cottages have given generations of families an escape.
That’s what first brought Sam Chase from upstate New York to Whitefield. The first Chases arrived in the 1820s, and by 1850 had built a homestead on Parker Road. His great-grandfather was part of the original family, and Sam remembers coming to visit when he was a young child. In 1967, his family began making regular visits in the summer.
“When we started coming up here in ’67, Whitefield was still a booming town,” he said.
He and his late wife eventually bought a piece of the farmland and built a summer vacation home in 1987, but after retiring from his job in New York, they decided to move to Whitefield and make it their permanent home in 1993.
The Chase farm property is steeped in history, most notably serving as home to the Chase Barn Playhouse, which opened in 1934. Will Chase, who was an arts critic for The New York Times, along with Lucy Chase Sparks, operated the theater in a barn and brought in performers from New York to entertain during the summer months.
The theater closed in 1962, but there was still interest in offering live entertainment in Whitefield. When Gibbs Murray and the late Tom Haas began exploring their options, Lucy Chase Sparks led them to property on Route 3, where they opened the awardwinning Weathervane Theatre in 1966 to offer professional plays and musicals. The 250-seat theater remains a popular venue
that continues to operate with a resident acting company that performs an alternating repertory with Broadway-style shows throughout the summer.
Theater hasn’t been the only entertainment in town. Locals recall how for more than four decades, a place called Newell’s Casino on Forest Lake was a hot spot with
a dance hall that attracted countless young people, and even celebrities like Bette Davis, who danced there in the 1930s, and later, with the rise of rock bands in the 1970s, Aerosmith.
Newell’s was popular at a time when cottages were popping up everywhere during the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s.
Visitors would come by train from Boston, New York, and other cities when the nowabandoned railroads were in operation. The Mount Washington Regional Airport — a public airport in Whitefield offering general aviation, business, and charter flights but no commercial flights — once provided daily service between Boston and Whitefield.
“Cottages were a big industry for Whitefield. We would get the same people back year after year after year,” Burns said.
The lake, which still has mostly seasonal cottages dotting the edge, was once known as Montgomery Lake until the Burns family succeeded in getting the Legislature to rename it Burns Lake in 1921. It was a bit of a race to change the name as another family in town was looking to have the lake carry their name.
“We beat them down there, and got it changed to Burns Lake,” said Burns, who is quick to correct anyone who refers to it as Burns Pond, as some do on occasion. In fact, he carries a small piece of paper in his wallet that documents the legislative action that formally changed the name to Burns Lake.
Tour historic houses on original sites, meet engaging costumed roleplayers, watch traditional crafts demonstrations, and explore beautiful heirloom gardens.
Plus! Year-round events, workshops, seasonal outdoor ice skating, and more.
Tuesdays, June 18-August 27
Tuesdays on the Terrace Concert Series
Listen to local musicians perform on the Kennebunk Savings Terrace
July 4
U.S. Naturalization Ceremony
Welcome new citizens as they take the Oath of Allegiance
September 12
Vintage & Vine Wine Festival
Sample wines and culinary delights while strolling the grounds & gardens.
October 24-27
Ghosts on the BankeFamily-Friendly Event
Trick-or-treat in Portsmouth’s oldest waterfront neighborhood.
December 6-8, 13-15, & 20-22
Candlelight Stroll
Experience the ambiance of the past, with live music, costumed roleplayers, and the festive spirit of the holiday season.
The Burns’ property used to be a working dairy farm, but these days, Burns and his sister, Sandy Burns McKay, 73, invest their time in a maple sugaring operation that has become their passion. “Sugaring to me is just something you grew up with, and either you like it or you don’t,” she said.
Like others, Burns and his sister moved
out of Whitefield at one point in their lives, but eventually returned. “This is home,” he said.
When Rodger Vermette moved away, he thought he would retire on the Maine coast, but found that it was far too expensive. That’s why he came back to Whitefield for retirement and now enjoys working at
Our Corner Store thrift store in the center of town.
Affordability is also what brought portrait artist Ralph “Stoney” Jacobs and his wife, Jeannie, from Boston to Whitefield in 1985.
“We just drove until we could afford a house, and also the house had to run the north-south line because he uses the north light in his paintings,” said Jeannie, a retired teacher who taught at the local school for 33 years.
Her husband, whose work has been purchased by Oprah Winfrey, has painted portraits of former Govs. Jeanne Shaheen and John Lynch; Donna Sytek, New Hampshire’s first female House Speaker, and the late Caroline Gross, the former House majority leader, all of which hang in the State House. He’s been approached about painting Maggie Hassan next to represent her time as governor.
“It’s nice knowing that my grandkids can go in there and say, ‘That’s Grampa’s painting.’ It’s nice to think about that. It’s a part of history,” said Jacobs, who also paints still lifes and landscapes in his studio and has been inspired by the nature that surrounds him in Whitefield.
The Jacobses have no regrets about their move to town.
“It’s been great,” Jeannie said. NH
Last summer, I got a text message from my fishing buddy, Dan Madigan, 40, who happens to be a shark biologist. “Tagged white shark,” it read. Attached was a map of the New Hampshire Seacoast with a zigzag, yellow line across it. When I read the message, I laughed equal parts relief and terror. The shark was a stone’s throw from my favorite diving spot. I had shot a 30-inch striped bass there just two days prior. I feared sharks so much and knew so little about them, that I worried I might have to give up my favorite Seacoast sport — spearfishing.
This particular shark was named Anne Bonny. She had been tagged by an OCEARCH team off the coast of Carolina and named after a 18th-century pirate who cached her loot thereabouts. The 9-foot juvenile was tracked that summer as she swam some thousand miles north to the Bay of Fundy, turned south again and veered at last into the shallow waters of Rye.
Before Anne Bonny rolled into town, my only shark safety plan was to pretend they didn’t exist. White sharks have patrolled our coast for something like 70 million years, but when I was growing up, it was easy to think of them as fictional. By the late 20th century, shark populations worldwide had been decimated by fishing pressure and loss of food sources. Any white sharks left in the Western North Atlantic didn’t frequent our shores because seals — their preferred food — had been eradicated from New England. Seals bounced back since the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, and federal laws have reduced fishing and bycatch pressure on white sharks. While most shark populations in the world are historically
low, the Western North Atlantic white shark population, according to estimates by a 2014 study, has rebounded.
In 2018, Cape Cod had its first recorded fatal shark attack in almost a century, and in 2020, Maine had its first ever. Each of those places attracts nearly 5 million people to its beaches annually. By comparison, that same year in Maine, 43 people drowned. Abundant or not, the odds of a shark attack remain negligible. Still, local shark phobia is having its own resurgence.
I was, however, out there stalking prey like any marine mammal. In my black wetsuit and fins, I may as well have worn a seal costume. Sharks within a half-mile could feel my movements with their specialized electrical-field sensors. Studies have dispelled the myth that sharks can home in on human blood, but there’s no doubt they home in on striped bass blood. Maybe I was asking for it.
According to the Global Shark Attack File, 7 percent of all shark attacks happen while spearfishing. In recent years, a fifth of those attacks are listed as “provoked.” Provocations, as you might expect, include meddling with sharks or even spearing them. But even a speared fish, thrashing around, can trigger a shark to confiscate the prey or defend its territory. Such attacks are also considered provoked.
I tried spearfishing again a few days later. It didn’t help that beachgoers excited by the news were dropping the s-word left and right. Before I could zip up my seal costume, one walker, a man around 60, stopped to share quick story.
“My sister found a big shark tooth on this beach when we were kids,” he said.
“She took it to a biologist at UNH years later. He said it was from a great white, 15 foot-long.”
I figured my best defense would be to mimic an apex predator and practiced sneering like a spaghetti Western actor. Worst case, if a shark did ambush me with jaws agape, I should have some last words ready. “Bon appetit, (expletive),” I decided I would say fearlessly.
But when my feet left the bottom that day, and I entered the sharks’ world again, I found myself as trepidatious as a monster movie victim. In the turbid, choppy water,
me: a piece of kelp, a smudge on my mask, the tip of my own fin. Hubris alone drove me onward away from shore, anxious and distracted. Instead of circumnavigating the surfers as usual, I veered in front and caught
bee-lined it for shore, where I proclaimed the “viz” no good as the reason for my very
I was afraid that I’d have to give up spearfishing, which I loved. Nothing tastes like fresh fish, and procuring it with your own wits and stamina does, of course, flood the brain with dopamine. But, on the majority of dives, I don’t even pull the trigger. Even if I see a legal fish, it has to be swimming
Nonetheless, when it’s clear and calm, I’ll find myself mesmerized by an undulating
cryptic baby flounder, and forget the troubles of life on land. The physical exercise is unsurpassed. Riding home after each dive, my windows down, a feeling of zen befalls me like an empty temple. If there’s a striped bass or tautog in the cooler to share with my
Though I feared sharks, I noticed that a lot of people didn’t. I could learn from them. Take Larkin Kjellberg, 18, an avid surfer and
“I know some of the big ones could eat me alive, and I love that,” she told me. “I love how small we are compared to nature.”
At surf camp in North Carolina, when
shape of a shark’s dorsal broke the surface near her. It turned out to be a mola mola,
Thought startled, she was back in the water
I didn’t let Lyme disease, thin ice or black
bears keep me indoors. The trick was simple: She was knowledgeable about sharks. We don’t fret the familiar.
Larkin, I found out, never surfs alone. There’s always someone in the water with her or on the beach. She wears bright colors so she doesn’t look like a seal, and she
doesn’t surf if it’s choppy or overcast. When paranoia strikes, she remembers the same breathing techniques that her mom taught her as a young child to help with anxiety: breathe in 8 counts, hold 7, breathe out 6.
If a shark approached her, she said, she would try be calm, composed, and look
straight at it. “I’d tell myself, ‘I am big. I am strong. I am not afraid of you.’ ” If hurt, she knows how to use her surf leash as a tourniquet.
Marathon swimmer, Alyssa Langlais, 44, was the first recorded person to swim, without a wetsuit, from mainland New Hampshire to the Isle of Shoals and back, a distance of over 13 miles. The Shoals in summer are home to some 400 seals and visited, presumably, by many white sharks.
“Hypothermia or a wave will take you out before a shark will,” she told me. Dozens of agitated seals surrounded her during a long swim last summer, yet she managed not to panic.
It helps to know her support crew is a shout away. Still, she’s swimming over apex predators that could, she knows, rush her from the depths below. When that farfetched thought crosses her mind, she concentrates on her breathing, her swim stroke, the very low odds of such an attack, and the reasons she’s out there in the first place.
“The beauty outweighs the hazards,” she said. I keep all that mind when I dive these days, usually with a camera instead of a speargun, and never alone. NH
If you see a plane overhead, there’s a decent chance that Elias Kacavas is onboard. The actor, a Manchester native and Central High grad, has spent the last few weeks on a press tour for the recently released second season of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” where he is a series regular as Greg Mantzoukas.
Kacavas has also booked roles in HBO’s “Euphoria” as Young Cal, and as Aristotle in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.” We caught him during an unexpected break in his packed schedule, which was somewhere in between playing a gig at the Rex Theatre in Manchester and being the grand marshal at the city’s Taco Tour. In a window seat at the Stash Box in Manchester, Kacavas took a moment to breathe and tell us about all he’s been up to, before having to catch his next flight.
New Hampshire Magazine: You graduated from NYU’s Strasberg studio and studied method acting. Do you still method act?
Elias Kacavas: When I was getting ready to audition for NYU, I made sure to read every book I could find on acting. Adler, Hagen, Strasberg, Meisner, Lola Cohen (which is a branch of Strasberg — she still teaches there). I read every one I could find, and there were pieces from all that worked for me, but overall, the method that I worked best with and connected with was Strasberg. I trained in that for two years, and when I dropped out, I continued to hold onto many of the facets that they teach over there, but I have pieces of everything.
NHM: When people think “method acting” they think of this really intense process. Is that what you do?
EK: The public conception of method acting is much different than what it really is. Method acting is really just using your real-life parallels with the character, and having that emotional transfer. It generates the most realistic and visceral emotions.
NHM: What made you want to get into acting?
EK: I grew up doing accents and impressions and playing the guitar for my parents when they had company over, and that was just a great expression of self. Basketball was the other one, and when I followed that route to its finish, I was looking for other options and potential career opportunities. I just had this strong instinct in my gut that performing was the right one.
NHM: Was it hard breaking into the industry? What’s your experience in LA been like?
EK: I still live in New York City. I think that it’s the greatest city on earth, but I will move to LA eventually. Just the business in general, the entertainment business, is tough. It’ll take your dreams and spit them out in the blink of an eye, and then it’ll give it back to you and start to change your life in the next. It’s so good to you at some moments, and it feels like its torturing you in others. Every job can change your life, so it’s an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve been fortunate enough to not have had a lot of bad dealings… thanks to my agents, managers and team for looking out for me in the right areas, and my parents put a good head on my shoulders and gave me a strong moral compass.
NHM: “Euphoria,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “Pretty Little Liars” have very established casts, with some big names. Was it ever intimidating walking onto those sets?
EK: “Euphoria” was pretty intimidating, but strangely seamless. I think, in part, because everyone was so welcoming, which was the easy part. They were all so excited for the young Cal storyline, so it was just really awesome.
My first day shooting, we had like 300 people in the gymnasium. I wasn’t that nervous because I was just made to feel so at home so quickly. I was pretty nervous for the first season of “Pretty Little Liars” because I had seen Bailee Madison. She had been doing stuff with Sandler and everybody, and it was her show and it was a reboot of a classic. We’re all trying to match that iconic style and live up to the name, and that was intimidating because it was
just a bunch of young kids running around and it was nuts!
For “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” Nia Vardalos made me feel so at home. She got me a little gift when I showed up in my hotel; it was a little dish made out of an olive tree, and it was really sweet. She left me a note that said “welcome home” and it was like — oh my goodness — moved me.
NHM: What has been your favorite role so far?
EK: The thing that I really hold close to my heart is the young Cal storyline on “Euphoria.” Not only did that allow me to put my foot in the door and open up a lot of opportunities for me, but it gave me the chance to really show what I had been working so hard at. I got a lot of chances to tell a really complicated character story and show what made him into the version that Eric Dane plays. There was so much weight to it, and there were so many people who have reached out and told me how that story, that little 15-minute segment, has changed their life.
NHM: So, you’re commuting between New York and LA? What does that look like for you?
EK: I’ve been riding the bull for the last three weeks. I had a film shoot in New York City, got out at 3 a.m., drove 4 1/2 hours here, then did six hours of press for “Pretty Little Liars,” and then Taco Tour, and then my band and I rehearsed for a gig at the Rex. Then, I had to fly out to LA on Tuesday for the “Pretty Little Liars” premiere, and then fly back at 4 a.m. to make it for show at the Rex. It’s been a jet-setting life, but it’s a lot of fun. I think living out of a suitcase a bit is what your 20s are for.
“Breathe (2 a.m.)” by Anna Nalik “Hospital” by Madison Cunningham “Norwegian Wood” by the Beatles Next on the Reading List: “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac Go-to Red Arrow Order: Mug of bacon and a veggie omelette
NHM: What do you miss most about New Hampshire while you’re traveling?
EK: The peace. It’s so peaceful here; it’s regenerative. It brings my batteries back to life.
NHM: So, in your crazy jet-setting lifestyle right now, you have 24 hours back home. What is your must-do New Hampshire itinerary?
EK: I would do a nature hike with my mom and my dog (a beagle, Vinny). If my brothers are home, (I) go to Castro’s for a cigar and have some Scotch with my dad. Maybe dinner at the Foundry, which is probably my favorite restaurant around town, or Fotia, the Greek place. That’s an excellent new restaurant. If my friends are around, I would invite some people over and we could sing and play music for a jam, and then maybe work out at the YMCA and grab a steam. Sounds like a pretty good day.
NHM: You’re in a band? What do you guys play?
EK: Rock ‘n’ roll. Our main influences are the Rolling Stones, Springsteen, Dylan, all the classics. I’ve been playing guitar for
seven years. I was a junior in high school, and I just became obsessed with it. It’s totally my passion. I’m better at acting, but music, for whatever reason, is my passion, and it keeps me going for sure.
NHM: Did you do any of the school productions in high school?
EK: I missed the opportunity to be a part of Central’s theater program, but when I was at Derryfield for middle school, I was Templeton the rat in “Charlotte’s Web.” It was my first credit, but after that I didn’t touch the stage for a long time.
NHM: What made you want to try again and go all in?
EK: I just believed it was the thing I was best at. At the end of the day, I believe I was able to express myself fully, and I was able to amuse people with my accents and impressions, and it gave me a sense of worth. There’s nothing else I want to do than the thing that makes me feel like I have purpose, so I took a chance on it.
NHM: So, at this point, what are your big goals and next steps?
EK: If you asked me in college, I would say to be a working actor, and I think that still holds. I think the main goal in this business is to be working, but ideally, I’d want to be someone who’s able to pick and choose my projects, and pick characters that really challenge me and ones I have a passion for telling.
NHM: Do you see yourself going down an indie film path?
EK: Absolutely, and I think that’s the route I’m taking now. That’s where you find the most interesting projects and characters, because you have to stretch your budget, and you can be more creative when you have that grounding. NH
Though film director Griffin Hansen of Goffstown doesn’t remember seeing the Old Man of the Mountain, its peculiar profile still left a strong impression on him.
“I wasn’t alive for most of the Old Man’s tenure. If I ever saw him, I wouldn’t remember it,” Hansen says.
But that didn’t stop him from being inspired by the ages-old glacier-carved rock formation that crumbled from Cannon Mountain in Franconia on May 3, 2003. The Old Man’s prominent, sharp-angled features has sparked copious origin stories by Indigenous people, witty observations from Daniel Webster and timeless poems by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Hansen’s visit to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky inspired him to write a love story between two star-crossed characters: the hard-working Sawyer and the beautiful Carrigain (who are only seen through their profiles), and a mysterious mountain.
On June 3, Hansen released his year-long project, the 8-minute animated film, “Within the Crystal Hills,” a colorful reinterpretation of the profile’s origin story.
Hansen storyboarded, directed and edited the film, with help from about 50 people — including Hansen’s grandmother and a longtime friend — and Hansen was quick to thank all of them.
Hansen recently talked with New Hampshire Magazine about making “Within the Crystal Hills,” a touching story with its own New Hampshire roots.
New Hampshire Magazine: How did you conceptualize the film?
Griffin Hansen: I grew up learning about the Old Man of the Mountain. I was a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design and working on an idea for a new film where I wanted to use shadow puppets. I was really inspired by the idea of geology mixed with shadow puppets after visiting Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Nothing really seemed to marry those two concepts, until I considered, of all things, the old man of the mountain.
NHM: What went into making this film?
GH: Animation is three important things. The first is writing. The second is what’s called storyboarding, and the third is animating. We did a straightforward narrative and a storyboard that is like a comic book that moves. When you meet your animators, you don’t have to tell them anything, you have to hand them this storyboard and they know exactly what’s going on. It takes about 50 people an entire year to make an eight-minute film like that. Animation is not for the for the impatient.
NHM: It’s easy to see how animated shadow puppets could explain how the Old Man could only be viewed as a profile.
GH: People who are from New Hampshire) say ‘he looks familiar.’ And it isn’t until the end that they put that piece together.
NHM: How was the music created?
GH: The music in the film was composed and performed by a music teacher from Bishop Guertin High school in Nashua, Ben Gorelick. Mr. Gorelick and I have been very close friends since we both went to summer camp together in Alton. He did it all himself on his keyboard and came up with every motif, every idea. We think on such similar wavelengths that I would say ‘this just needs to be darker.’ And he would know instantly what darker was for the both of us.
NHM: The melody Carrigain sings — is that something Ben came up with?
GH: The singing voice for Carrigain is actually our producer and cowriter Christina Caralis. Christina is a classically trained singer. I just told her that I wanted the line ‘I dream of a diamond in the hills’ song. And I said ‘just come up with 10 melodies for it.’
The version that you hear in the film is literally the first version she ever tried. It was sort of haunting, but so warm at the same time that I didn’t even consider any of the other ones.
When Sawyer hears that, he thinks that that means she wants a treasure, right? What he realizes later, is that he is the diamond in the hills, at least for her. And she already has it. I really love the idea of the same line taking on a different meaning depending on when you hear it in the film.
NHM: How did you get your grandmother to narrate?
GH: It wasn’t too hard. My grandmother (Francesca “Chex” Morrissey) is from Raymond, and she’s lived there for her whole life. She just has a fantastic Yankee accent. She’s never been a singer or a dancer or any kind of performer. To have my grandma just
read it pretty flat, and just like you’d expect her to read you a bedtime story, I believe really sort of aids in it.
I went back to (my grandparents’) house in Raymond, and in their living room — I
brought my microphone. And if you listen hard enough in the audio — we tried our best to cover it up — but you can hear the clock ticking in the background. You can hear my grandpa walking out the door with
“Within the Crystal Hills” premiered on June 3. Use your smartphone camera to capture the QR code above to watch the animated video, or watch at: youtube.com/watch?v=EKDWL9ZhMKs
the fire wood. To me, it adds to this sense of authenticity.
She and my grandfather, they both had seen (the Old Man) a dozen times. Like anybody from New Hampshire, they wouldn’t have any idea that it would be… it was just there, and then it wasn’t there one day, and now it’s so iconic.
NHM: What do you want people to know about animated films that aren’t kids’ movies? GH: I would hope that this film shows people that when they think about the stories that animation can tell, it doesn’t have to be pigs and bunnies per se. I’m sick of stories about New York and Los Angeles. Give me another story about iron workers in Franconia, New Hampshire — why not?
But the Old Man of the Mountain, that thing that fell down in 2003, in one of the least populated states in the country, a world where somebody wants to make that instead of another Minions movie, is one that I’m really happy to see, because it expands the idea of the stories that animation can tell.
NHM: What message do you want to convey in the film?
GH: Maybe you’ve found yourself in that situation before, where you’re saying ‘is just me enough for this person.’ I hope that this film instills an idea in people that that insecurity you feel about not being enough for somebody that you love a lot, is ill-founded, because while they might be used to caviar and diamond rings and stuff, there’s a reason that they love you. NH
QI want the security of a retirement community without having to move; what are my options?
AIt is important to know your options and secure your future with a life plan designed to fit your lifestyle. continuing care retirement communities or life plan communities offer independent living options focusing on active healthy living with the security of onsite health care services should they be needed in the future. However, you have the option to receive this same concept of care at the home you love with continuing care at home!
Q What is Continuing Care at Home?
AContinuing care at home are programs that offer a life plan without having to move. Enjoy the security of knowing you will receive services in your home when you need them, without the struggle of finding reputable and dependable care on your own. With the growing expense of health care, you will have the assurance of predictable costs for your future long-term care needs, and guidance navigating the complex health care system. Although the concept of continuing care at home is not new to the U.S., there is only one program like this offered in New Hampshire. Welcome to At Home By Hunt!
Someof the most important decisions for New Hampshire retirees to make include where and how they want to live, and whether to stay in their own homes or to transition to a retirement community. We reached out to some retirement living experts to learn about the planning process and what they have to offer so New Hampshire residents can ask the right questions as they enter this stage of their life journey.
QHow does At Home By Hunt work?
AAt Home By Hunt is an affordable alternative or supplement to long-term care insurance. It is a membership program affiliated with Silverstone Living, a nonprofit organization with two life plan communities in Nashua (Hunt Community and The Huntington at Nashua) and Webster At Rye providing skilled rehab, memory care, assisted living and nursing care in the picturesque town of Rye. As a member of At Home By Hunt, you can participate in the social and wellness groups offered at both of our communities, as well as care coordination and preventative care you may need within your own home. A one-time membership fee, and predictable monthly service fees, protect your assets for when you require more support and assistance. You will never be alone in your journey; a life plan coordinator, a health professional and your trusted advocate, is with you every step of the way To learn more about At Home By Hunt please visit silverstoneliving.org or call 603-821-1200.
— Kelley Kennedy, Executive Director, and Kristin Mattheson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Silverstone Living
New Hampshire Magazine, in partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, would like to thank our sponsors and attendees for making this year’s event a night to remember! We appreciate your support, and look forward to next year’s celebration!
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Grappone Conference Center, Concord
The sun is rising as I sit precariously on the back edge of my surfboard, waiting for a series of waves, known as a set, to roll in. Surfer Christina Dubin has graciously offered to take me out for a refresher session on this mellow September morning.
While I admire the cotton-candy pink hues filling in the clear sky, Dubin paddles hard into a wave, popping up and turning to the right before riding in toward the beach.
Deciding to go for the next wave, I turn the nose of my board toward the shoreline and lie flat across its surface, making small adjustments as I feel around for the “sweet spot” near the center. I begin paddling aggressively before the wave approaches, creating momentum with each stroke. As the wave arrives, I feel my board lift.
From the shore, I hear my friend Brian yell, “Go! Go! Go!” so I move through the sequence I’ve been taught: Place hands under shoulders, arch back, pop up into lunge.
But my timing isn’t quite right. Realizing I should have taken two or three more strokes before standing, I paddle gently back out to sea to sit and wait for another set to move in.
“It’s 99 percent paddling, right?” Dubin reminds me later. “That ride is such a small part of it, even though it’s what releases all the endorphins.”
I bob up and down in the water, waiting for the right wave, but it’s not clicking for me. Throughout the session, I find that I’m sitting too far out to catch those waves or paddling into the crest way before it starts to peel. Other times, I’m positioned too far forward on my board and end up pearling, or nosediving, tumbling into the crumbling white water.
Surfing, I’ve learned, is really about trial and error.
“It’s all about patience. Patience with yourself and then also being OK with whatever is there for you in the moment,” Dubin says. “Working with that and just getting out here.”
In his Pulitzer Prize winning memoir, “Barbarian Days: A
By Jill Armstrong / Photography by Brian Yurasits
Surfing Life,” war journalist and lifelong surfer William Finnegan shares a memory from his childhood as a 10-year-old Californian learning to surf. On a cold winter afternoon in Ventura, Finnegan stumbles back to his father’s car, exhausted and bleeding. His father won’t let him quit, demanding he go back out and catch three more waves. “In his version of the story, that was when I became a surfer,” Finnegan writes of that day.
When I arrived at Rye’s Jenness Beach to meet Dubin, the sky was still dark. And while it was only the first weekend in September, the air temperature was crawling toward 60 degrees.
In the lot that morning, I listened to surfers chat among themselves about the waves, sizing up the swell as they stood atop the concrete wall, wetsuits pulled only halfway up their bodies. I watched others spread dry wax in small circular motions across the surface of their boards, a technique for providing extra grip in the water.
Dubin and I met that morning for “dawn patrol,” a time when surfers head out extra early to catch waves. Some surfers — those who can avoid hitting the snooze button — prefer surfing in the early hours because it’s less crowded, amplifying the ocean’s tranquility.
“Surfing allowed me to experience the beach in a way I hadn’t before,” Dubin said. “Watching the sunrise, you know, being in the water, it's soul food. It's spiritual.”
With only a fling of sandpipers scuttling across the beach and a mere glimpse of the
sun revealed, our morning out on the water felt like a real-life reconnaissance mission, scouting uncharted terrain.
Eventually, I pop up into a standing position on my board and ride a wave halfway to shore. My arms are heavy, and my legs are wobbly as I struggle to find my balance. Mostly, though, I try to hold on to the moment as it unfolds, the energy of the water carrying me along. It’s a feeling that stays with me back on land.
There are plenty of opportunities for beginners to catch waves along the New Hampshire seacoast during the summer season when the weather is warm and the waves tend to be smaller and more manageable.
When I asked around, many surfers recommended I speak with Cropper — Dave Cropper, that is — owner of Cinnamon Rainbows surf shop in North Hampton.
“For people that want to learn how to surf, the biggest thing to do is just, you know, educate yourself, then you'll have such a better time,” he said from his temporary shop on Route 1. (The Ocean Boulevard location burned down in a fire last fall, but the crew hopes to be back in that original spot soon).
Between May and September when weather and conditions permit, novice surfers can rent a surfboard and a wetsuit, take a lesson or join one of the many weekly camps that run for kids or adults.
“Surfing, you can see a lot of people in the water on a good day, but there's etiquette and
rules in the water,” Cropper said. “So, you need to learn those so that everyone who is out there has fun and stays safe and doesn't just crash into each other.”
Surfing is different from other sports for a variety of reasons. For one, there aren’t officials out in the water enforcing the rules, like a court-side referee or ski patrollers on a mountain, so it’s important for beginners to educate themselves and not to overestimate their ability.
“The surf always looks bigger when you are in the water than it does on the camera,” he added.
Another detail that makes surfing unique is that no wave is the same. The ocean is constantly moving and changing, making the act of surfing incomparable to dropping into the same skate ramp every time or shooting free-throws from behind the same line. Surfing is all about learning how to read the water, which involves understanding the tides, the wind direction and the swell.
“Part of the fun about surfing is learning all this knowledge,” Cropper said. “Knowing when you think the waves will be good and where you should be.”
Cinnamon Rainbows, which has become a coastal staple, first opened in North Hampton in 1983. Cropper bought his first surfboard from the shop, and began working there shortly after. He took over Cinnamon Rainbows after high school and has been there ever since.
“It was a dream come true for me,” he said with an ear-to-ear grin. Running the shop on his own at the start, Cropper recalled how he would put a “Gone Surfing” sign in the window when the waves were good. He’d often see customers out surfing, asking when he might be back at the shop. “ ‘I’ll be back in an hour,’ ” he’d tell them. “ ‘See you there!’ ”
“It’s just so funny how simple it was,” Cropper said.
Another iconic venue directly across from Jenness Beach in Rye is Summer Sessions surf shop, run by brother-duo Ryan and Tyler McGill. The shop has been open for 21 years and is known for its rentals, lessons and especially its kids summer programming.
When I caught up with Ryan McGill on a gray and blustery day on the coast, he reflected fondly on the kids’ camps, explaining how the kids he taught when they were 9 and 10 years old have now become coaches at 19 and 20.
“We’re in this beautiful circle,” he said. “To see those kids growing up and having it be a part of their life is the most special part for us.”
For McGill, September is one of the most beautiful months for surfing in New England. The water is warm, and, for experienced surfers, hurricane season offers larger, more challenging waves. In New Hampshire, avid surfers vie for waves all year long, but the best times to catch waves — the months of November, December and January — come with the most extreme weather.
“You really have to be focused and love the sport to be able to put on the hood, put on the boots and gloves and jump out there in the snow,” McGill said. “And that I think is why people from around the world are
like, ‘You’re going out in 2 feet of snow?’ and you’re like ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s amazing.’ ”
Ryan and Tyler have traveled all over the world to surf, but they admit there’s something special about the nooks and crannies of New Hampshire’s coastline. “We just have to wait for the times that are right. And when they are, you kind of want to drop everything to be there and see it.”
In October, I return to the seacoast as a spectator. A highly-anticipated swell has been forecasted, one powered by Tropical Storm Philippe in the Atlantic.
I arrive again before sunrise and make my way onto a rocky beach. The ocean seems to be screaming as the tide pulls water back violently over the stone-covered floor
before the whitewater churns and slams powerfully onto the shore.
The waves are forecast to be double overhead, or twice the height of the surfer standing up, anywhere from 8 to 10 feet tall. The scene before me is intimidating, and I pull my hood over my head as I watch a lone surfer wade into the water, the sun a faint glow appearing on the horizon.
Eventually, more surfers file in, boards tucked under their arms. I notice duct tape holding one surfer’s boot together, and I smell a familiar blend of sunscreen and neoprene despite the thermometer barely reaching 50 degrees.
But this is the time for advanced surfers to be out on the water. It’s hurricane season, and the waves have been “firing on all cylinders,” as many have put it.
As the sun lifts high into the sky and the day grows warm, the crowd in the water multiplies. I watch riders on longboards drop steeply into waves and cruise gently down the line. Others make quick moves on shortboards before executing sharp cutbacks up the faces of the waves to slow their speed.
Well after sunrise, I find Ralph Fatello, a longtime New England surfer, surf photographer and surf blogger, who, at the age of 73, has been surfing for over 60 years. Somewhere along the line, he got interested
in photography, and for the last 20 years, he’s published a surfing blog every week on Sundays.
To say Fatello is a legend in the New England surf community would be an understatement.
“Every now and then I still get barreled,” Fatello says from our perch on the bouldered seawall. He’s referring to a barrel ride, which involves maneuvering inside the hollow part of the wave, an area covered completely by the wave’s curled lip. “I can grab a rail and kind of just crunch my 73-year-old-body
down into like 2 feet and get inside a little wave. That still is enough of a motivation to make me want to go out.”
We watch several wetsuit-clad figures ride barreling waves. One minute they seem trapped inside, and the next they are gracefully exiting the mouth of the barrel, legs slightly bent and arms hanging casually by their sides.
The sun is bright, illuminating the spit, or spray of water, that shoots out and upward from the inside of a barrel as the wave collapses.
There was a vibrant surf scene in New England in the 1960s with pros like Dewey Weber and Mike Doyle visiting the area to surf. When the shift from longboard surfboards to shortboards occurred, the area experienced a lull in surfing since the waves weren’t always prime for shorter boards. But in the 1980s, when board sports like snowboarding and skateboarding exploded in popularity, surfing made a comeback. And Fatello has been around for it all. Fatello first discovered surfing when his father pointed it out on a black and white
television set. “It was instantaneous. I was mesmerized by it. I’d never seen anything like that before.”
The first time Fatello went out surfing in 1963, he used an 11-foot paddle board that his babysitter brought back from her honeymoon in Waikiki. It was a hollow plank made of plywood. Oftentimes, Fatello and his friends would be scrambling as it took on water.
They also didn’t have leashes (devices that keep the rider attached to the board), so if a big set knocked him off his board, he’d
have to swim back into shore, grab it, and paddle back out.
Fatello laughs thinking about the wetsuits of that age. “We had to wear divers’ suits. You had a jacket that buckled between your legs like it was a beaver tail. And you wore these pants that would fill up with water. It was archaic.”
Surf equipment technologies today make it accessible for many beginners to get out on the water. Wetsuits allow surfers to be warm and comfortable, and softtop boards provide more stability and
buoyancy, making it easier to catch and ride a wave.
“The thing about surfing is that it just generates excitement and generates that positive energy that people want to be around,” Fatello says. “It's something good to be part of you know, especially when there's waves.”
After a brief pause, he adds: “When there's no waves, we're miserable. We're a miserable tribe.”
I spend hours with Fatello as he snaps photographs of his friends, capturing the memorable swell. Sea-soaked surfers come and go from our perch on the seawall, asking Fatello where to paddle out next, comparing the break at different known surf spots in the area, and reminiscing about the swell from Hurricane
Lee that kept many out for days on end last September.
For most surfers I’ve met, surfing isn’t just a sport for entertainment. It’s a way of life. Some even describe it as an addiction: When Mother Nature is calling, you drop everything and go.
To others, it’s something even more profound.
“I need to tell you that surfing saved my life,” Fatello tells me from behind his camera when we are alone again.
At the age of 17, Fatello joined the Marine Corps. By 18, he was sent to Vietnam where he served as a grunt infantryman for three years. When he returned from the war, he was in a very dark place.
“My mantra is, ‘Surfing heals all wounds,’” Fatello says. “And surfing saved my life.”
The two of us sit in silence, watching the sets roll in. I close my eyes and let the sunshine wash over my face. Not long after, the conversation starts up again, and Fatello points out that waves travel thousands of miles before arriving along the coast.
A surfer, he concludes, popping up in that exact place at that exact time, essentially rides the wave at the end of its life, which makes the moment special to capture on film.
Staring through his viewfinder, the lens pointed out to sea, Fatello continues without being prompted.
“That sensation of riding on a wave, surfing on a wave that’s this living liquid matter," he says. "There’s nothing like that. It’s just incredible, you know?”
I think I’m starting to get the picture. NH
We can’t talk about the vibrant New Hampshire surf scene without mentioning Cinnamon Rainbows and Summer Sessions. These shops have been synonymous with New Hampshire beaching and surfing since they first opened their doors.
This shop on Ocean Boulevard has been a staple of the New Hampshire surf scene since 1984. Whether you’re professionally hanging-ten or learning how to catch a wave, Cinnamon Rainbows offers a wide selection of boards and gear, as well as a steady stream of events.
Owner Dave Cropper grew up on the beach, and has worked at the surf shop since he was in high school. He took over the store from founder Todd Walker in 1989, when he was in his early 20s, and has loved every minute.
“I’ve been lucky enough to surf all over,” Cropper said. “Surfing in New Hampshire is cold and inconsistent. It takes a commitment, but you get good waves year-round, and the cold makes you appreciate the summer months.”
Even though a fire in 2022 caused Cinnamon Rainbows to temporarily relocate to North Hampton, Cropper is thankful that they have still been able to host events and run business as usual.
“We’re still able to have events and run the shop,” he said. “Three times a year, we have our ‘Surfing with Smiles’ program, where we offer free lessons for special-needs kids. We also have an annual event at the end of August with the Wounded Warrior Project.”
Summer Sessions owners Ryan and Tyler McGill live to surf and have been catching waves for as long as they can remember. While the brothers have surfed all over the world, there’s something special about New Hampshire, they say.
“It is hard to beat this surf community and the days when it is going off at the breaks you grew up at,” said Ryan on the Summer Sessions
website. “I have found where I want to be and what makes me happy ... it’s a pretty good feeling. There's nothing wrong with having surfing on your mind all the time.”
"Although I love being on the road, it is hard for me to imagine not being at home for the summer at the shop,” said Tyler in his bio.
Within the past year, Summer Sessions has expanded from their original location on Ocean Boulevard in Rye and opened a storefront in downtown Portsmouth on Congress Street. Both feature boards, fins, sunglasses, swimsuits, hats, comfy clothes and more.
— Elisa Gonzales Verdi
Now that you’ve stashed away your chunky knit sweater and L.L.Bean boots for the year, it’s time to break out some classic wardrobe staples (think lightweight chinos or polos) to pair with trending must-haves, without compromising your style. Pulling from the rustic charm painted throughout the state and reflected in the bright, retro ambiance of the NASWA Resort in Laconia, summer fashion can be filled with a light-hearted air and a side of fun, functional flair. Here’s proof.
Story & styling by Chloe Barcelou Photography by Morgan Karanasios Models: Margret Kovalcin & Mike Gross
ON HIM: Hang out in organic cotton drawstring Essential Short in birch ($98) with Pique Rose Floral Print Polo ($108), both by Faherty from Inside Out. The jungle print silk bomber jacket ($78) and Eagle decal chain necklace ($44), both from Cotillion Bureau, complete the look.
ON HER: Tropical silk slinky floral dress by Carmen Valvo ($135) and printed silk scarf ($28), both from Cotillion Bureau, layered with beaded and embroidered jean jacket by Ania ($139) from Adornments & Creative Clothing, paired with cotton Melon sunhat by Kooringal ($34), gold dangle earrings ($95) and stone wrap bracelet ($175) both by Chan Luu, all from Inside Out.
ON HIM: Buoys T-shirt made in the U.S. ($30) from SAULT. Acid wash jeans from Storm Rider by Lee ($48) and Hard Rock Café Boston embroidered jean jacket ($64), both from Cotillion Bureau. Bondi sneakers by Hoka ($164) from Bootleggers Footwear Center.
ON HER: Color-blocked bikini top with wrap tie ($68) and bikini bottom ($64), both from Sweetkama, floral pattern fanny pack by Hadley Wren ($24), baby blue woven Turkish towel ($24), and wooden sunglasses ($24), all from Rise, make for a night out on the docks. A coral 603 baseball cap by the Belted Cow ($28) from Inside Out, yellow bangle ($32) and round chunky earrings ($24), both from Cotillion Bureau, all steal the show. Arizona surf teal plastic Birkenstock Sandal ($49) from Bootleggers.
ON HIM: Start off strong with the green floral Bayberry swim trunks made of recycled plastic bottles by Fair Harbor ($78) paired with Seagull T-shirt ($34), and Live Free or Die baseball cap by Harding Lane ($38), all from SAULT. We can’t forget the leather flip flops by Olukai ($130) from Inside Out.
ON HER: The tropical jersey dropwaist dress in navy by Coline ($44) from Adornments & Creative Clothing, layered with Aztec pattern blanket jacket ($68) and striped bucket bag ($28), both from Rise, with Jester Lumbar fanny pack by North Face ($24) and color-blocked sneakers by Taos ($149), both from Bootleggers, are all ideal for exploring. The beaded navy chevron dangle earrings ($24) from Cotillion Bureau and Lake Winnipesaukee silver necklace ($40) from Lake Effect bring added personality to the look.
ON HIM: Hand-dyed coral cut-off shorts by Brooks Brothers ($118) from SAULT with coral Henly by Faherty ($148) and pink Lake Winnipesaukee baseball cap, ($25) from Lake Effect.
ON HER: Sweet Envie Maxi Slip dress by Lost + Wander ($98) from The Ivy Edit, with fuchsia linen jacket ($85) and SPF 50 sun hat ($38), both by Lulu-B from Lake Effect. Channel your inner Barbie with a daisy-printed silk scarf ($24) and white drip necklace ($18), coral bangle ($16) and Daisy pendant ($24), all from Cotillion Bureau. The Bogg Bucket Bag in Coral ($89) and pink patent Gizeh Birkenstock ($99), both from Bootleggers, and orange chevron Turkish towel ($24) from Rise are perfect extra “Barbiecore” details.
ON HIM: Athletic Straight Jean sustainably made by Candiani Denim ($229) from SAULT, with banana stripe button down by Lawns ($64) and leather rustic cowboy boot ($74), both from Cotillion Bureau.
ON HER: The Hiliary Green Gingham bikini top by For Love & Lemons ($78), Retro Daisy Berkley Bells Jeans ($158), Mila Watermelon Wedge by Free People ($148), all from The Ivy Edit, are reminiscent of a retro movie set. Add the crochet daisy pink halter top handmade locally by Gina Aquilla $56) and yellow daisy cardigan by Doe & Rae ($54), both from Rise, and the vintage beaded purse ($48), assorted bangles, green swirl earrings ($24) and sunglasses, all from Cotillion Bureau, and you’ve got yourself a complete summer lovin’ look.
ON HIM: Scandinavian hippie shirt from Mack II by Arrow ($135) from Cotillion Bureau. Pair the Island life chino pant in flint ($168) and Inlet Knit blazer in grey mélange ($198), both by Faherty, and the Kakaha brown leather loafer by Olukai ($130) from Inside Out to tie it all together.
ON HER: The locally made snappy turtle terrycloth pullover ($64) from Cotillion Bureau, paired with SPF seersucker pink skort by Lulu-B ($79) from Lake Effect, and funky patterned scarf ($20) from Rise with kitten sneakers by Bobs ($49) from Bootleggers make for the perfect lakeside outfit.
ON HIM: Rock N’ Stream vintage ‘70s wide-collar ($98) from Cotillion Bureau, layered with Basin Green rain parka by Patagonia ($229) and twill Easy Short in green by SKU ($108), both from SAULT. Green plastic Birkenstock Arizona sandal ($49) from Bootleggers.
ON HER: Printed funky bathing suit by Laundry ($130) from Rise, layered under upcycled vintage Sari silk wrap by Cofur ($165), geometric leather fanny pack ($48), beaded necklaces and silver, turquoise pendant necklace with layered bangle bracelets, all from Cotillion Bureau add a dose of sophistication. Eclipse Teva sandals ($74) from Bootleggers.
ON HIM: Corduroy East Short by SKU ($120) handwoven multicolored striped button-down by Original Madras Trading Co. ($148), both from SAULT, Olukai leather flip flops in toffee ($100), and handcrafted leather rope bracelet by Steel & Barnet ($60), both from Inside Out.
ON HER: Joni striped swim top in chevron stripe ($50) with cheeky bikini bottom ($46), both by Dippin Daisys from The Ivy Edit. Fuzzy white cloud soft shorts ($68) and zipped cropped sweater ($128) by UGG, with sheepskin covered Kipe’a Heau Tapa flip-flops by Olukai ($100), NH state trucker hat ($30) and Alelike leather rustic tan cross body bag by Bed Stu, ($185), all from Inside Out, are comfortable yet chic. Mother of Pearl leaf earrings ($14) from Cotillion Bureau and wooden sunglasses ($24) from Rise finish the mid-century modern look.
ON HIM: Trophy husband T-shirt in navy by Retro Brand ($39) paired with the Bungalow swim trunk made from recycled plastic in Blue Grotto by Fair Harbor ($78), and Harding Lane Pine Tree baseball cap ($38), all from SAULT, are ideal to layer under the soft teal flannel button-down by Faherty ($178), from Inside Out. Don’t forget blue Hopara sneakers by Hoka ($134), from Bootleggers.
ON HER: Leopard silk skirt in turquoise by Coline ($39) and patchwork blue kitten heel from L’ Artiste by Spring Step ($129), and teal lace and fringe scarf ($14), all from Adornments & Creative Clothing. Put the patchwork silk handkerchief Cassandra top from Love & Lemons ($139) by The Ivy Edit together with the teal linen jacket by Lulu-B, ($88) from Lake Effect for a fun twist. Top the ensemble off with a felted white cowboy hat ($42) from Rise.
A special thanks to NASWA Resort for the location of all the photos in this story, along with the shops that provided clothing and accessories that made our summer fashion feature happen.
Cotillion Bureau
65 Bow St., Portsmouth / 603-319-6680 / cotillionbureau.com
Inside Out
46 Market St., Portsmouth / 603-294-9913 / insideoutportsmouth.com
SAULT New England
10 Market Square, Portsmouth / 603-766-9434 / saultne.com
The Ivy Edit
43 S. Main St. Suite 2, Hanover / 603-277-9147 / theivyedit.com
BootLegger’s Footwear Center
314 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith / 603-279-7463 / bootleggersfootwear.com
Lake Effect
51 Main St. Unit 2, Meredith / 603-937-4294 / nhlakeeffect.com
Adornments & Creative Clothing
Mill Falls Marketplace, Meredith / 603-279-4349 / adornmentsnh.com
Rise
71 Main St., Meredith / 603-677-7048 / Facebook
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Winery A to “Z”
The 20th anniversary of Zorvino Vineyards is winding through everything they do, including two special anniversary releases. Zanello Family Reserve — a nod to the namesakes of the 80-acre winery and wedding venue, founder Jim Zanello and his daughter, Amy — is a red blend of six grapes aged for 16 months in oak barrels. The Vermentino, a first for the Sandown winery, is a white wine that marketing director Tom Zack describes as similar to a Vinho Verde, “a nice, crispy” wine. zorvino.com
Put your tastebuds up to bat at Behind the Plate in Portsmouth for a home run culinary experience. Menu options range from trash can mac to salads to wraps and dogs, and a variety of options for the “Little Leaguers” in your family. Whether you eat in-house, host a party or event of your own, or have the team cater an event in your home — the team is ready to serve you a grand slam. behindtheplatenh.com
Coffee and houseplants. Do you need anything more? Blooms & Brews Cafe in Deerfield offers takeout and online ordering with a full in-house espresso bar complete with homemade syrups, and other beverages like house lemonade and London fog. They also have a full breakfast and lunch menu along with their houseplants and goods made by local artisans. bloomsandbrewscafe.com
BAKERY ★ OVERALL WINNER
Frederick’s Pastries
Amherst / pastry.net
BAKERY CONCORD AREA
The Crust and Crumb Baking Co.
Concord / thecrustandcrumb.com
BAKERY
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Blue Loon Bakery
New London / blueloonbakery.com
BAKERY
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Polish Princess Bakery
Lancaster / polishprincessbakery.com
BAKERY LAKES REGION
Yum Yum Shop
Wolfeboro / yumyumshop.com
BAKERY MANCHESTER AREA
Bearded Baking Co. Manchester / beardedbaking.com
BAKERY MONADNOCK REGION
Flag Leaf Bakery Antrim / flagleafbakery.com
BAKERY NASHUA AREA
Crosby Bakery
Nashua / crosbybakerynh.com
BAKERY SALEM AREA
Klemm’s Bakery Windham / klemmsbakery.com
BAKERY SEACOAST REGION
Bearded Baking Co. Manchester / beardedbaking.com
BAKERY
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Mystic Sugar Bakery North Conway / mysticsugarbakery.com
BARBECUE
KC’s Rib Shack
Manchester / ribshack.net
BREAKFAST PLACE ★ OVERALL WINNER
Polly’s Pancake Parlor
Sugar Hill / pollyspancakeparlor.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
OVERALL MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Tucker’s
Merrimack / tuckersnh.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
CONCORD AREA
The Post
Concord / postrestaurantnh.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery
Hanover / lousrestaurant.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Full Send Bar and Grill
Pittsburg / fullsendbarandgrill.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
LAKES REGION
The Farmer’s Kitchen Farmington / farmerskitchen-nh.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
MANCHESTER AREA
The Purple Finch Café Bedford / purplefinchcafe.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
MANCHESTER AREA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
MaryAnn’s Diner Manchester / maryannsdiner.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
MONADNOCK REGION
The Riverhouse Café Milford / damngoodgrub.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
NASHUA AREA
The Yolk Grill Pelham / theyolkgrill.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
NASHUA AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner Nashuar / redarrowdiner.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SALEM AREA
Maddie’s Salem / maddiesnh.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SALEM AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
MaryAnn’s Diner Salem / maryannsdiner.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SEACOAST REGION
The Airfield Cafe North Hampton / theairfieldcafe.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SEACOAST REGION MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
The Friendly Toast Portsmouth / thefriendlytoast.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Mystic Sugar Bakery North Conway / mysticsugarbakery.com
BREWERY ★ OVERALL WINNER 603 Brewery Londonderry / 603brewery.com
BREWERY CONCORD AREA
Northwoods Brewing Company Northwood / northwoodsbrewingcompany.com
BREWERY
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille New London / flyinggoose.com
BREWERY GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Coös Brewing Company Colebrook / coosbeer.com
BREWERY
LAKES REGION
Kettlehead Brewing Co.
Tilton / kettleheadbrewing.com
BREWERY MANCHESTER AREA
Pipe Dream Brewing Londonderry / pipedreambrewingnh.com
BREWERY
MONADNOCK REGION
Modestman Brewing Keene / modestmanbrewing.com
Looking for a Harry Potter cake for a birthday party? Or a food-themed cake just because, or a Winnie the Pooh cake for a baby shower? The team at Sweetened Memories Bakery in Durham can do it all and more. Known for their delicious flavors, cupcakes, cookies and inspired custom cakes, they are here to bring their creative joy to you and make your memories even sweeter. Check out their weekly cake menu for quick in-person grabs as well as their gluten-free menu for cookies, cakes and cupcakes. sweetenedmemories.com
This year, the Littleton Food Co-op celebrates 15 years of feeding the local community. The heart of the co-op is to serve its members and support local growers and producers, encouraging healthy life choices and promoting environmental sustainability. Stop in to pick up local dinner ingredients for the night, grab a quick breakfast sandwich or come by for events like free hard cider tastings. (No membership is required to shop.) littletoncoop.com
Since 1996, the Bagel Mill has been providing daily fresh-baked bagels, sandwiches and tasty pastries to Peterborough and beyond. Known as one of the best kept gems in town, the bakery loves to serve up coffee, a boutique breakfast or lunch and cozy atmosphere all in one spot. Choose from bagel options like apple crunch, multigrain or spinach and top it off with toppings like bacon scallion or strawberry spread, or take it up a level and make it a whole sandwich. You won’t leave here hungry. bagelmillnh.com
N’Awlins Grille in Concord wants to bring a little Southern spice to your life. This speakeasy-themed restaurant is fancy hotel-esque, complete with detailed caricatures of jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, fake snakes and spiders in dangling Spanish moss, craft cocktails and featured dishes like fried frog legs, snow crab clusters and shrimp and grits. Enjoy your meal while you listen to jazz from local artists and you will feel like you’re in an old New Orleans club. Facebook
with a Twist
Dairy-free and vegan soft pretzels? Sign us up for one (or two). Seacoast Pretzel Company in Rollinsford and Wolfeboro makes handmade Bavarian soft pretzels that are twisted from the finest ingredients with no preservatives added. Since they are dipped in food-safe lye, they have the perfect soft-on-the-inside texture and hard, crispy exterior. Their classic flavor may be the best, but check out their garlic parm, cinnamon sugar and everything, too! seacoastpretzelcompany.com
BREWERY
NASHUA AREA
Spyglass Brewing Co.
Nashua / spyglassbrewing.com
BREWERY
SALEM AREA
Kelsen Brewing Company
Derry / kelsenbrewing.com
BREWERY
SEACOAST REGION
Throwback Brewery
North Hampton / throwbackbrewery.com
BREWERY
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Schilling Beer Co.
Littleton / schillingbeer.com
BREWPUB
Woodstock Inn Brewery
North Woodstock / woodstockinnbrewery.com
BREWPUB MULTILOCATION LOCAL
With the opening of many rooftop bars around the state, The Rooftop at The Artisan in Salem aims to make its mark as a sophisticated destination where “creative cocktails and perfectly paired plates take center stage.” As part of the Tuscan Brands group, the restaurant and bar is the ideal setting to soak in a vibrant atmosphere (including exclusive 21+ ambiance after 9 p.m. on weekends) and panoramic views of Tuscan Village. Stop by on Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for Brunch & Beats. therooftopattheartisan.com
Thirsty Moose Taphouse
Manchester / thirstymoosetaphouse.com
BURGER ★ OVERALL WINNER
Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery
Raymond / tuckaway.com
BURGER
OVERALL MULTILOCATION
Lexie’s Restaurants
Exeter / peaceloveburgers.com
BURGER CONCORD AREA
The Barley House
Concord / thebarleyhouse.com
BURGER
CONCORD AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery
Concord / t-bones.com
BURGER
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Little Brother Burger Company
New London / littlebrotherburgercompany.com
BURGER
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Buck Rub Pub & Lodge
Pittsburg / thebuckrub.com
BURGER
LAKES REGION
Patrick’s Pub & Eatery
Gilford / patrickspub.com
BURGER
LAKES REGION MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery
Laconia / t-bones.com
BURGER MANCHESTER AREA
New England’s Tap House Grille Hooksett / taphousenh.com
BURGER MANCHESTER AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery
Bedford / t-bones.com
BURGER
MONADNOCK REGION
Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen
Milford / papajoeshumblekitchen.com
BURGER NASHUA AREA
Buckley’s Great Steaks
Merrimack / buckleysgreatsteaks.com
BURGER NASHUA AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery Hudson / t-bones.com
BURGER SALEM AREA
Copper Door Salem / copperdoor.com
BURGER
SALEM AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery Bedford / t-bones.com
BURGER SEACOAST REGION Hop + Grind Durham / hopandgrind.com
BURGER WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Black Mountain Burger Co. Lincoln / blackmtnburger.com
BURRITO
Dos Amigos Burritos Concord / dosamigosburritos.com
BURRITO
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
California Burritos Nashua / californiaburritosnh.com
BUTCHER SHOP
Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond / tuckaway.com
CAKES
Bearded Baking Co. Manchester / beardedbaking.com
CAKES
MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Frederick’s Pastries Amherst / pastry.net
CHICKEN TENDERS
The Puritan Backroom Manchester / puritanbackroom.com
CHINESE RESTAURANT Lilac Blossom Nashua / lilacblossom.us
CHOCOLATIER
Van Otis Chocolates Manchester / vanotis.com
CLAM CHOWDER
Petey’s Summertime Seafood Rye / peteys.com
COCKTAILS
Copper Door Bedford / copperdoor.com
COFFEE ROASTER Rare Breed Manchester rarebreedcoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP ★ OVERALL WINNER
Union Coffee Company Milford / unioncoffee.co
COFFEE SHOP
CONCORD AREA
Revelstoke Coffee
Concord / revelstokecoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Cafe One East Warner / cafeoneeast.com
Pressed for Time is your gourmet mobile café. Build your own breakfast sandwich or try the Gobble Gobble or Squealin’ scrambler with hash browns and an Americano to get your day started. Check out their website to see where they are at today (usually Seacoast Sport Cycle in Derry)! pressedfortimecoffee.com
Inspired by the treasures of the world, The Vault feeds the hearts of Gorham with hometown pride. Owners Christian Corriveau and Luke Ijams and executive chef Sarah Leon aim to create a space for you to enjoy an evening of comfort food, artisanal elixirs and funky, but not fancy, meals and memories. We’re here for the fusion of it all, and you will be too. thevaultnosherie.com
Live Free Food in Berlin is a local, specialty to-go handmade goods (think deli-meets-cottage style bakery). Their breakfast and lunch menus include items like an egg and cheese on house brioche, creamy tomato soup or a bacon and goat cheese sandwich. A variety of baked goods, coffees and teas round out your experience of “scratch food made with love.” livefreefoodstore.com
Micro Mama’s is your gut’s most loved and trusted friend, but don’t take the Weare-based company’s word for it. Their living probiotic and prebiotic fermented kimchi is not only nutrient-dense and good for you (not to mention in glass jars, not plastic), but it tastes good, too. Blends range from mild to zesty to cinnamon and even immune root tonic. Pick up a jar or two at your local specialty store or Whole Foods. micromamas.com
COFFEE SHOP
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
The Granite Grind Lancaster / facebook.com/thegranitegrind
COFFEE SHOP
LAKES REGION
Wayfarer Coffee Roasters Laconia / wayfarerroasters.com
COFFEE SHOP
MANCHESTER AREA
Hometown Coffee Roasters
Manchester / hometownroasters.com
COFFEE SHOP
MONADNOCK REGION
Prime Roast
Keene / primeroastcoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP
NASHUA AREA
Bonhoeffer’s Cafe & Espresso Nashua / bonhoefferscafe.com
COFFEE SHOP
SALEM AREA
O’Shea’s Caife & Tae Londonderry / osheasnh.com
COFFEE SHOP
SEACOAST REGION
Blue Harbor Coffee Co. Hampton / blueharborcoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Mad River Coffee House Campton / madrivercoffeeroasters.com
CRAB CAKES
Surf Seafood Nashua / surfseafood.com
CUPCAKES
Frederick’s Pastries Amherst / pastry.net
DELICATESSEN
Biederman’s Deli Plymouth / biedermans.com
DINER ★ OVERALL WINNER
Tilt’n Diner Tilton / thecman.com
DINER
CONCORD AREA
Northwood Diner Northwood / Facebook
DINER
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Four Aces Diner West Lebanon / 4acesdiner.com
DINER
LAKES REGION
George’s Diner
Meredith / georgesdiner.com
DINER
MANCHESTER AREA
Airport Diner Manchester / thecman.com
DINER
MONADNOCK REGION
Peterborough Diner
Peterborough / peterboroughdiner.com
DINER
NASHUA AREA
Suzie’s Diner
Hudson / suziesdiner.com
DINER
NASHUA AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
MaryAnn’s Diner Salem / maryannsdiner.com
DINER
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner Manchester / redarrowdiner.com
DINER
SALEM AREA
The Bacon Barn Londonderry / baconbarndiner.com
DINER
SALEM AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
MaryAnn’s Diner Salem / maryannsdiner.com
DINER
SEACOAST REGION
Roundabout Diner and Lounge Portsmouth / roundaboutdiner.com
DINER
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Littleton Diner Littleton / littletondiner.com
DISTILLERY
Flag Hill Distillery & Winery Lee / flaghill.com
DOUGHNUTS
NH Doughnut Co. Bedford / nhdoughnutco.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING
The Nest Family Cafe Londonderry / thenestfamilycafe.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
T-BONES Great American Eatery Bedford / t-bones.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT ★ OVERALL WINNER
Pickity Place Mason / pickityplace.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT CONCORD AREA
Revival Kitchen & Bar Concord / revivalkitchennh.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT CONCORD AREA MULTILOCATION LOCAL
The Common Man Concord / thecman.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
The Refinery Andover / refinerynh.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Rainbow Grille & Tavern Pittsburg / rainbowgrille.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT LAKES REGION
Fratello’s Italian Grille Laconia / fratellos.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
LAKES REGION MULTILOCATION LOCAL
The Common Man Plymouth / thecman.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT MANCHESTER AREA
Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery
Raymond / tuckaway.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
MONADNOCK REGION
Greenleaf Milford / greenleafmilford.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
NASHUA AREA
Surf Seafood Nashua / surfseafood.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
SALEM AREA
Copper Door Salem / copperdoor.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
SEACOAST REGION
Surf Seafood Portsmouth/ surfseafood.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery Woodstock / woodstockinnbrewery.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION MULTILOCATION LOCAL The Common Man Claremont / thecman.com
FINE DINING RESTAURANT
Copper Door Bedford / copperdoor.com
GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen and Juice Bar Londonderry / troysfreshkitchen.com
GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS
MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
110 Grill
Manchester / 110grill.com
ICE CREAM ★ OVERALL WINNER
Lago’s Ice Cream Rye / lagosicecream.com
ICE CREAM
OVERALL MULTILOCATION
Hayward’s Ice Cream Nashua / haywardsicecream.com
ICE CREAM
CONCORD AREA
Johnson’s Dairy Bar Northwood / Facebook
ICE CREAM
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Sanctuary Dairy Farm Ice Cream Sunapee / Facebook
ICE CREAM GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Moose Alley Cones Pittsburg / partridgecabins.com
ICE CREAM
LAKES REGION
Jordan’s Ice Creamery Gilford / Facebook
ICE CREAM
MANCHESTER AREA
Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream Derry / moosplace.com
ICE CREAM MONADNOCK REGION Sundae Drive Brookline / Facebook
ICE CREAM
MONADNOCK REGION MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Kimball Farm
Jaffrey / kimballfarm.com
Tarts, croissants and doughnuts — oh my! Kaye Place in Concord offers a rotating menu of delectable hand-crafted pastries, cakes, macarons and breads that are made fresh daily. Kaye bakes each item with an abundance of flavor and fun like her raspberry cheesecake, pain au chocolat, pecan sticky croissant bun and more. Facebook
With locations in Dover and Durham, HiFi Burritos is a community-focused restaurant serving up healthy, funky and fun cuisine rooted in traditional Mexican flavors, including delicious tacos and burritos. Their very own Meredith spins records every Taco Tuesday, too. Bring your own vinyl, and they will give it a whirl. hifiburritos.com
Potter’s House Bakery and Café serves a higher purpose beyond making great food: The Rochester business has made it their mission to provide on-the-job work experience for people with special needs. Each staff member is given opportunities to learn valuable skills that can be applied to future careers. Stop by and grab some doughnuts, bagels and sandwiches (and maybe a cake for the road, just because). pottershousebakeryandcafe.com
Manchester Distillery was built to create spirits that salute the Queen City’s heritage and celebrate its future. Each of their artisanal gin and vodka products are made in their 2,400-squarefoot production warehouse. They also have a tasting room with an outdoor patio that you can enjoy and even rent for special events. manchesterdistillery.com
Wrap City Potato Chip Company’s kettlecooked chips are the perfect combination of salty and sweet, though we would err more toward sweet (and almost addicting because of it). The Londonderry-based company started making the chips in the back room of their first Wrap City Sandwich Company store in 2015, and now the carmelized russets are famous all by themselves. Each browned batch, produced these days at the company's plant in Derry, is made with simple ingredients and no perservatives. wrapcitychips.com
ICE CREAM
NASHUA AREA
King Kone
Merrimack / kingkonenh.com
ICE CREAM
SALEM AREA
Peach Tree Farm Salem / Instagram
ICE CREAM
SALEM AREA MULTILOCATION
Jay Gee’s Ice Cream Salem / jaygees.com
ICE CREAM
SEACOAST REGION
Memories Ice Cream Kingston / memoriesicecream.com
ICE CREAM
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Super Secret Ice Cream Bethlehem / supersecreticecream.com
INDIAN RESTAURANT
Shalimar India Portsmouth / shalimarindia.com
IRISH PUB
The Peddler’s Daughter Nashua / thepeddlersdaughter.com
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Villaggio Ristorante Manchester / villaggionh.com
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
YouYou Japanese Bistro Nashua / youyoubistro.com
LOBSTER ROLL
Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery Raymond / tuckaway.com
LOBSTER ROLL
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
The Beach Plum
North Hampton / thebeachplum.net
LOCALLY SOURCED MENU Pickity Place Mason / pickityplace.com
MAC AND CHEESE
Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese Manchester / mr-macs.com
MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT Amphora Derry / amphoranh.com
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Hermanos Cocina Mexicana Concord / hermanosmexican.com
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
La Carreta Nashua / lacarretamex.com
NH BREWER’S IPA
Spyglass Brewing Company Nashua / spyglassbrewing.com
NH BREWER’S LAGER
Schilling Beer Co. Littleton / schillingbeer.com
NH BREWER’S SOUR BEER
Pipe Dream Brewing Londonderry / pipedreambrewingnh.com
NEW RESTAURANT
Stash Box Manchester / stashboxnh.com
OUTDOOR DINING
The Crown Tavern Manchester / thecrownonhanover.com
PIZZERIA ★ OVERALL WINNER
La Festa Brick & Brew Pizza Dover / lafestabrickandbrew.com
PIZZERIA CONCORD AREA
Constantly Pizza Concord / constantlypizza.net
PIZZERIA CONCORD AREA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL Sal’s Pizza Manchester / sals.com
PIZZERIA
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Charlie Mac’s Pizzeria Warner / charliemacsofwarner.com
PIZZERIA
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Ashland / sals.com
PIZZERIA GOURMET
900 Degrees
Neapolitan Pizzeria
Manchester / 900degrees.com
PIZZERIA GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION 1840 Restaurant Pittsburg / 1840nh.com
PIZZERIA LAKES REGION
Tilton House of Pizza Tilton / tiltonhouseofpizza.com
PIZZERIA MANCHESTER REGION MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Manchester / sals.com
PIZZERIA MANCHESTER AREA Alley Cat Pizzeria Manchester / alleycatpizzerianh.com
PIZZERIA MANCHESTER AREA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Manchester / sals.com
PIZZERIA MONADNOCK REGION Zizza Pizza Milford / zizzapizza.com
PIZZERIA MONADNOCK REGION REGION MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Milford / sals.com
PIZZERIA NASHUA AREA
Pizzico Ristorante Nashua pizzicorestaurant.com
PIZZERIA NASHUA AREA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Manchester sals.com
PIZZERIA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
The Flatbread Company North Conway / flatbreadcompany.com
PIZZERIA
SALEM AREA
Granfanallys Pizza Pub Salem / granfanallys.com
PIZZERIA
SALEM AREA MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Sal’s Pizza Derry / sals.com
PIZZERIA
SEACOAST REGION
The Community Oven Epping / thecommunityoven.com
PIZZERIA
SEACOAST REGION
MULTILOCATION REGIONAL
Otto Pizza Exeter / ottoportland.com
PIZZERIA
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Elvio’s Pizzeria Moultonborough / elviospizzeriamoultonborough.com
RESTAURANT WITH BEST BEER LIST
New England’s Tap House Grille Hooksett / taphousenh.com
RESTAURANT WITH BEST BEER LIST
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Thirsty Moose Taphouse Manchester / thirstymoosetaphouse.com
RESTAURANT WITH BEST WINE LIST
PRIME at Sky Meadow Nashua / skymeadow.com
SANDWICH
Biederman’s Deli Plymouth / biedermans.com
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Surf Seafood Nashua / surfseafood.com
SPORTS BAR
Billy’s Sports Bar & Grille Manchester / Facebook
SPORTS BAR
MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Thirsty Moose Taphouse Manchester / thirstymoosetaphouse.com
STEAKHOUSE
Buckley’s Great Steaks Merrimack / buckleysgreatsteaks.com
TACOS
Los Reyes Street Tacos & More
Derry / losreyesstreettacos.com
TACOS La Carreta Nashua / lacarretamex.com
THAI RESTAURANT
Sweet Ginger Merrimack / sweetgingerthai.com
VEGETARIAN
Green Elephant
Vegetarian Bistro & Bar
Portsmouth / greenelephantnh.com
WINGS
Stark House Tavern
Weare / starkhousetavern.com
WINGS
Wing-itz
Hampton / wing-itz.com
Previously located in Kingston, Fresh AF Bakeshop is moving to a new location in Plaistow (at a site still under construction). The bakeshop uses their big dessert energy to serve up sweets with a side of sass and a selection of rotating cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, macarons, tarts and more (including gluten and dairy-free options). Coming soon will be the addition of take-out options like breakfast sandwiches, lunch specials and chicken pot pies. freshafbakeshop.com
Regular visitors to the North Woods know all about Grampy’s Drive-In — an unassuming restaurant that serves good food in a cozy environment. Despite the name, there is no movie theater: The show is all in the food. Grampy’s has two locations, 2658 North Main St. in Pittsburg and 72 Trooper Leslie G Lord Memorial Highway in Colebrook, and is open seasonally, seven days a week. Its tagline is “eat here, get gas, too” and honestly, what more do you need when you’re surrounded by such beautiful scenery? The menu includes several homemade items, including clam chowder, fresh chicken salad, and fried dough. Facebook
Bao 155, one of Portsmouth’s newest culinary hotspots, serves up fluffy, steamed buns filled with a delicious sweet or savory filling. Their Fried Nutella Bao — a lightly pan fried bun stuffed with warm Nutella and drizzled with strawberry jam — is in word: transcendent. bao155portsmouth.com
Port City Pretzels in Portsmouth prides themselves as making “the people’s pretzel." With flavors like tasty ranch dill, cinnamon sugar and feisty hot, each bag is a true taste of home with no palm oil, artificial butter or high fructose corn syrup, making for the perfect guilt-free indulgence. (Available at local retailers including Walmart, Hannaford and Market Basket.) portcitypretzels.com
As technology in the form of cell phones, hand-held devices and virtual gaming continues to grow, entertaining board games and tabletop games are enjoying a renaissance. Black Moon Games in West Lebanon has emerged as a must-stop spot for people who love to pursue this entertainment alone and with others. Grab a game or puzzle and play around in their comfy new game space or reserve the Lunar Lounge for a private game. black-moon-games.com
Looking for a spot to retire and keep moving while you do? The Huntington at Nashua in Nashua, a Silverstone Living Community, consists of 16 new-build luxury apartments that allow you to continue your independent lifestyle but with more fun and less worry. Enjoy fitness classes, scenic trail walks, locally sourced restaurant-style meals every night and more. silverstoneliving.com
Here’s a great place to find your BFFs – best fiber friends. Smitten Yarn Co. in Rochester is a community gathering spot for knitters, crocheters and fiber artists. The familyowned Rochester business offers beginner and technique classes for new artists and a free maker’s group for more experiencd artists who want to work on projects and share inspiration with other makers. smittenyarnco.com
You don’t need to know how to throw clay and own a kiln to make your own pottery. At You’re Fired in Bedford, Concord and Salem, you can let your creative side shine by painting your own. This family-friendly spot has something for everyone, and you and your younger family members will have a blast painting a mug, plate or whatever your creative heart desires. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, they host a BYOB Ladies Night that’s perfect for unwinding with your girlfriends after work. yourefirednh.com
Glow Hair Braiding offers women, men and children braiding styles inspired by owner Sarah Dak, a native of Sudan who opened her Manchester salon on Chestnut Street after she could no longer accommodate demand in her Bedford home, “It’s a major part of my identity as a Black woman,” she told 603 Diversity magazine last year. “It was my passion and love for braiding that made me open the shop.” glowhairbraiding.net
ANTIQUE OR VINTAGE SHOP
Antiques on Elm
Manchester / antiquesonelmmanchester.com
AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Grappone Automotive Group
Concord / grappone.com
BARBERSHOP
Homegrown Barber Co.
Londonderry / homegrownbarber.com
BARBERSHOP MULTILOCATION LOCAL
The Polished Man
Bedford / thepolishedman.com
BEER STORE
The Beer Store • Manchester / thepackienh.com
BICYCLE SHOP
S&W Sports • Concord / swsports.net
BICYCLE SHOP MULTILOCATION LOCAL
Trek Bicycle • Nashua / goodalesbikeshop.com
CATERER
Celebrations Distinctive Catering
Manchester / celebrationsmenu.com
CBD SHOP
Clearly Balanced Days
Belmont / clearlybalanceddays.com
CIGAR SHOP
Twins Smoke Shop
Londonderry / twinssmokeshop.com
COMIC BOOK STORE
Double Midnight Comics
Manchester / dmcomics.com
DAY SPA
Innovations The Salon & Spa
Merrimack / innovationsnh.com
EVENT VENUE (LARGE)
Manchester Country Club
Bedford / manchestercountryclub.com
EVENT VENUE (SMALL)
Oscar Wedding Barn
Hooksett / oscarbarnweddingvenue.com
FARMSTAND
Lull Farm • Hollis / livefreeandfarm.com
FLORIST
Ford Flower Co. • Salem / fordflower.com
FORMAL DRESS SHOP
Madeleine’s Daughter
Bridal Boutique
Portsmouth / madeleinesdaughter.com
GARDEN CENTER
Wentworth Greenhouses & Garden
Rollinsford / wentworthgreenhouses.com
GOURMET TO GO
Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop
Manchester / angelaspastaandcheese.com
HAIR SALON (SPECIAL OCCASION)
Salon Vinlie • Derry / salonvinlie.com
HAIR SALON
Salon Vinlie • Derry / salonvinlie.com
Part outdoor retailer, part taproom and part community space, Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth focuses on the great outdoors. Their space is designed for you to explore, connect, celebrate and sip all while surrounded by high- quality and high-impact gear and apparel from local, sustainable and mission-oriented brands. You’ll feel like you’re preparing for your next adventure in an aprés mountain bar. treelineoutfittersco.com
Homebody in Concord is on a mission to make your home a happy place and help you create beautiful, unique spaces. Explore their curated selection of home décor, gifts and baby products (many locally-made) for a last-minute hosting gift or baby shower gift. Shop online or stop in, and they will help you put together the perfect gift. homebodynh.com
Tucked along Merry Hill Road in Nottingham, The Barn at Merry Hill is an intimate gathering space for weddings, parties, graduations and everything in between. The barn was built in 1862 and renovated in 2023 by the team of the award-winning Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery. This gathering space is for anyone looking to celebrate in a historic New England setting, with first-class hospitality and cuisine. barnatmerryhill.com
Maria Chronas, who has been operating City Tailor at 179 Hanover St. in Manchester since 1990, has spent more than three decades altering wedding dresses, replacing zippers on jackets and altering hemlines on pants. When she’s not vacationing in her native Greece, Chronas keeps her shop open Tuesday through Friday plus a half-day on Saturday (when she closes at noon.) You can call her at 603-622-6882, but don’t bother looking for a website. She’s old-school.
Vienne Cheung Brown’s mantra for VienneMilano was simple: thigh-high stockings that don’t fall down. The Windham resident refers to her line of imported Italian hosiery — which sell for an average price of $25 but can top $120 — as “affordable luxury.” Most popular color? Black, of course. viennemilano.com
Quilters celebrate — Contoocook QuiltWorks in Hopkinton is ready to help you put the finishing touches on that project you’ve worked so hard to piece together. Co-owners Hester Campbell and Ruth Fischer love beautiful stitches that will enhance your quilt top. They use their longarm sewing machine to quilt together everything from table runners to queen blankets, or you can make something completely custom. They just ask that you bring your quilt top and backing, and they will help you choose stitch patterns, thread colors and batting. contoocookquiltworks.com
Gone are the days where you have to smell aisles full of candles before you find the scent you’re looking for. At Sea Love in Portsmouth, create your dream candle at their candle bar. They have more than 100 fragrances for you to mix and match and choose from to create a candle that is uniquely you. Their skilled team will walk you through mixing scents and melting wax, and will help you figure out how much of each fragrance you want in your candle to create a harmonious blend. You even get to pick your candle’s jar and design the label. sealoveportsmouth.com
Ellie and Piper in Manchester is a fun community of party lovers who like to celebrate in style. The team loves to help you commemorate life milestones, trips around the sun and festive holidays, all while finding the magic in every day. Shop their extensive curated selection of premium party goods, home décor and small gifts online, or hire them for event design and styling or for custom balloon-styling services. ellieandpiper.com
Wellness is always in season. Back in Thyme Wellness and Herbs in Chester carries nutritional supplements, organic loose teas and herbs, handmade natural body products and gifts. Owner Heather Peloquin, a registered nurse who also is certified in nutrition therapy, clinical weight loss and other disciplines, has spent her career exploring alternative approaches to health care. Her business offers nutrition and herbal classes and individual consultations. backinthymewellnessandherbs.com
A place with 22,000 square feet of antiques and a working model train set? New Hampshire’s largest antique store really does have it all. You never know exactly what you’re going to find at the Laconia Antique Center. With more than 150 dealers, the Antique Center has unique and hard-to-find antiques and collectables that include railroad memorabilia, vintage fishing and hunting equipment, postcards, furniture, silver, ephemera, and so much more. laconiaantiques.com
HOME DÉCOR SHOP
Junction 71
Merrimack / junction71.wixsite.com/mysite
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Gibson’s Bookstore
Concord / gibsonsbookstore.com
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FITNESS CENTER
Hampshire Hills Athletic Club
Milford / hampshirehills.com
INVITATIONS
Ashley Elizabeth Designs
Pelham / ae-invitations.com
JEWELER
Bellman Jewelers • Manchester / bellmans.com
JEWELER FOR ENGAGEMENT RING
Bellman Jewelers • Manchester / bellmans.com
KID’S CLOTHING SHOP
M&C Clothing and Gifts
Amherst / mcclothingandgifts.com
MEDICAL SPA
JSJ Aesthetics • Salem / jsjaesthetics.com
MEN’S CLOTHING SHOP
George’s Apparel
Manchester / georgesapparel.com
OUTFITTER/GUIDE SERVICE
Lopstick • Pittsburg / lopstick.com
PET BOARDING
Take Five Dogcare • Lee / takefivedogcare.com
PET GROOMER
Mac & Copper’s Pet Supply Outlet
Portsmouth / macandcoppers.com
PET SUPPLIES STORE
Mac & Copper’s Pet Supply Outlet
Portsmouth / macandcoppers.com
PET TRAINING
No Monkey Business Dog Training
Concord / nomonkeybusinessdogtraining.com
RESORT/HOTEL SPA
Known for their curated bartending experiences and farm-to-table culinary delights, Concord-based Pours & Petals’ camper mobile bars add a blend of vintage charm and elegance to any event. Owner Erin Doonan elevates any event with unforgettable curated details from personalized, decorative cookie flavors to bloom bars, and even handcrafted luxury lemonades (a fan favorite). poursandpetalsevents.com
Spa at Omni Mount Washington
Bretton Woods / omnihotels.com
SECONDHAND CLOTHING SHOP
M&C Clothing and Gifts
Amherst / mcclothingandgifts.com
SKI SHOP
Ken Jones Ski Mart
Manchester / kenjonesskimart.com
SPECIALTY FOOD STORE
Angela’s Pasta + Cheese Shop
Manchester / angelaspastaandcheese.com
TATTOO PARLOR
Arrows and Embers
Concord / arrowsandemberstattoo.com
TOY STORE
Whirlygigs Toy Shop
Exeter / whirlygigstoyshop.com
WINE SHOP
Wine on Main • Concord / wineonmainnh.com
WINERY OR VINEYARD
LaBelle Winery • Amherst / labellewinerynh.com
WOMEN’S CLOTHING SHOP
Gondwana & Divine Clothing Co.
Concord / gondwanaclothing.com
YOGA STUDIO
Humble Warrior Yoga
Manchester / humblewarriorpoweryoga.com
The Wright Museum has been a staple in Wolfeboro and the Granite State for 30 years. The nonprofit museum recognizes and honors the contributions and legacy of World War II-era Americans through interactive exhibits, lecture series and a comprehensive look at how both the battlefront and the home front provided an enduring impact on American society. Special exhibits and anniversary events this year include a traveling “Women in Uniform” exhibit. wrightmuseum.org
Little Bit of Everything ↑
RS Butler’s Trading Co. in Northwood, the heart of New Hampshire’s Antique Alley, is the place to go when you don’t know what you want. Every visit to this laid-back antique and curio shop features something kitschy and unusual. Do you need an old license plate or maybe a pair of cowboy boots? Vintage furs or motorcycle jackets? A big bonus is the music section, which features concert T-shirts and lots of vinyl from across the decades. rsbutlerstradingco.com
If you’ve been to Portsmouth in the last 45 years, you know The Press Room is the cutting edge of the Seacoast music scene. The downtown staple has been there for every night out for music lovers and party goers. Great bar and good vibes aside, its weekly rotating roster includes indie acts, jazz jams, touring DJs and glow-party-themed nights. pressroomnh.com
ART GALLERY
Two Villages Art Society
Contoocook / twovillagesart.org
METEOROLOGIST
Hayley LaPoint
Manchester / wmur.com
MUSEUM
Currier Museum of Art ↓
Manchester / currier.org
MUSIC VENUE (LARGE)
Bank of NH Pavilion
Gilford / banknhpavilion.com
MUSIC VENUE (SMALL)
Tupelo Music Hall
Derry / tupelomusichall.com
NH PODCAST
Bear Brook
Concord / bearbrookpodcast.com
NH RADIO MORNING SHOW
Greg and the Morning Buzz
Manchester / wheb.iheart.com
NH RADIO TALK SHOW
Good Morning NH with Jack Heath thepulseofnh.com
RADIO STATION
WZID, 95.7
Manchester / wzid.com
THEATER/PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
The Palace Theatre
Manchester / palacetheatre.org
TV NEWS ANCHOR
Erin Fehlau, WMUR
Manchester / wmur.com
TV NEWS REPORTER
Ray Brewer, WMUR
Manchester / wmur.com
TV SPORTS ANCHOR
Mike Cronin, WMUR
Manchester / wmur.com
Lady Sara Richard, a Manchesterbased fine artist, illustrator and writer, loves all things Victorian —funerary mourning customs, art nouveau and art deco. She has created comic book covers and book illustrations for publishers like Simon & Schuster, DC Comics and has even been featured in British Vogue and Vanity Fair. The 10th great-granddaughter of one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, Richard fuels her fascination with what’s behind the veil. She portrays her intrigue through painting wildlife and human figures who may have already passed on and remain in liminal space. One day she hopes to shake hands with them on the family tree. sararichard.com
Fans of fine art, crafts and jewelry made by local artisans will love N.W. Barrett Gallery in Portsmouth. Since 1985, the gallery has been curating handmade pieces of art, décor and jewelry. The work of more than 500 artisans is regularly on display in the two-story gallery. Tour showcases of delicate jewelry, browse fine art and envision how you could redecorate your space with beautiful wall hangings. nwbarrett.com
The Tillotson Center in Colebrook is located within the restored Balsams Barn, which was built to house the coaches and horses that belonged to the nearby Dix House. Built in 1909, the Balsams Barn has served as a meeting hall and community center since the 1930s. After Louise Tillotson purchased the building in 2006, it was turned into an art and performance center featuring a 171-seat theater and an art gallery that offers live theater, movies, music and more. tillotsoncenter.org
Named after the Three Sisters Garden — the practice of planting three sister crops (corn, beans and squash) side by side — The Three Sisters Gallery in Gorham is a place for the arts, artists and community to come together and nourish each other. Owner Deidre Blair, an artist and oil painter, created the gallery to be a community hub where anyone can gather and purchase local art, or attend classes and events to further their art education. the3sistersgallery.com
Chris’s Nostalgia Shop is a hidden treasure for music fans in the Great North Woods. The record store, tucked inside a cozy home just off Route 3 in Whitefield, features music from nearly every genre in popular music, from The Who to The Talking Heads to Frank Sinatra, in every format — including vintage 8-track. Concert merch like T-shirts and Beatles rarities are here as well. With a knowledgeable and easygoing staff, shopping at Chris’ Nostalgia Shop is like visiting an old friend who shares the same taste in music as you. Facebook
After spending 30 years in the corporate world, music lovers Nils Nelson and Jennie Wesco opened Full Circle Vinyl in Meredith in July 2023. Their shop carries new and “pre-loved” records, as well as two listening stations for customers to experience tunes before they buy. They also offer turntables, speakers, vinyl frames and more. Tune into their social media accounts for daily “on this day” music history posts. fullcirclevinyl.com
The NH Music Collective in Gilford helps musicians looking for booking, development and production help. Their team also helps artists learn how to best present themselves on social media and offers music lessons, graphic marketing and more. nhmusiccollective.com
The Loading Dock in Littleton acts as a creative space for the performing arts, and its versatile lineups aren’t defined by just one genre. The volunteer-run venue’s booked acts, along with its frequent open mic events, make every visit a unique sonic experience. theloadingdocknh.com
Pillar Gallery + Projects in Concord is an exhibition space set for emerging and mid-career artists to curate thematic group exhibitions that pull from the diversity of the northeast’s artmaking. Their maximalist approach to curation allows them to span a range of cultural backgrounds and artistic voices as well as a wide range of materials and studio processes. No creative is left behind. pillargalleryprojects.com
“All the doctors I have seen in my network have been excellent. I appreciate Harvard Pilgrim very much.”
–Harvard Pilgrim member
Top doctors and a local health plan: A great combination for New Hampshire. Harvard Pilgrim’s robust coverage includes access to high quality doctors and specialists throughout the Granite State. Combined with unparalleled customer service and flexible programs, members can experience superior health care – right in their own neighborhood.
Learn more at HarvardPilgrim.org
REMIX Skate & Event Center in Manchester, New Hampshire’s newest skating rink, features inline and tradtional roller skates, and a food menu with a full bar, making it the perfect spot for nights out and special events, from 10-year-old birthday celebrations to bachelorette parties. Roll on by for one of their themed nights, like Friday night flashbacks or ’90s skate parties. skateremix.com
Known as “America’s Bike Park,” Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield boasts an extensive downhill and cross-country trail network tailored to riders of all levels through private lessons, skills clinics and even a one-day kids’ camp. You’ll need a front-suspension mountain bike with front and rear disc brakes for the easier terrain, but the park recommends a full-suspension “freeride specific” bike for the gnarly stuff. (Rentals available.) This high-octane experience requires all participants to sign a waiver. highlandmountain.com
What doesn’t Beech Hill Farm & Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton do or have? This ninth-generation historic family farm is here to give you a true New Hampshire experience. Their carefully renovated barns now serve as an ice cream bar (with 75 New England made flavors), country store, gardener’s barn, farm museum, picnic area and activity barn for concerts and group gatherings. Their famous corn mazes and resident animals, like an alpaca and a peacock, round it out to make it the perfect spot for everyone in the family to enjoy. beechhillfarm.com
BED AND BREAKFAST
Inn at Ellis River Jackson / innatellisriver.com
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESORT
RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain
Lincoln / riverwalkresortatloon.com
GOLF COURSE (PRIVATE)
Manchester Country Club Bedford / manchestercountryclub.com
GOLF COURSE (PUBLIC)
Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club
North Hampton / sagamoregolf.com
NH SPORTS TEAM
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Manchester / milb.com/new-hampshire
SKI RESORT
Loon Mountain
Lincoln / loonmtn.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
★ OVERALL WINNER
Canobie Lake Park ↓ Salem / canobie.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
The Exchange Andover / Facebook
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
GREAT NORTH WOODS
Bear Rock Adventures
Pittsburg / bearrockadventures.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
LAKES REGION
Gunstock Mountain Resort Gilford / gunstock.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
MERRIMACK VALLEY
Mel’s Funway Park
LItchfield / melsfunwaypark.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
MONADNOCK REGION
The Inn at East Hill Farm
Troy / east-hill-farm.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
SEACOAST REGION
Hampton Beach
Hampton / hamptonbeach.org
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Storyland Glen / storylandnh.com
Vacation Cabins ↓ Pittsburg, New Hampshire, known to some as “the final frontier” and the most northern town in the state, is home to Tall Timber, a four-season camping resort with vacation cabins, room rentals, ATV trails, and great hiking and fly fishing. Each of their bedroom retreats range from rustic lakeshore cabins to luxury cottages with private porches, Jacuzzis and decks that give you a scenic view of the spring-fed lake. Whether it’s fishing, hunting, snowmobiling or just relaxing by the water, they definitely have something just right for you. talltimber.com
Too hot for the beach? Rainy and you don’t know what to do? Head to Tycoon Arcade in Manchester for family-friendly, throwback kind of fun. The upscale arcade features more than 100 pinball machines and classic and modern arcade games that all benefit Toys for Tots. The more tokens you buy, the more board games they will donate to kids and families in need from Glimmerhold, their game store. Let the good times roll! tabletoptycoon.com/pages/arcade
At The Elliot, we know every beat counts. That’s why our highly-skilled team of providers have the experience and expertise to offer you the best in comprehensive cardiovascular care. We treat all forms of heart and vascular disease, including heart failure, valve disease, rhythm abnormalities, and high blood pressure. Get heart healthy at The Elliot.
Our services include:
• Electrophysiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Non-Invasive Cardiac Testing & Heart Tests
• Cardiac Device Clinic
Learn more at ElliotHospital.org/HeartHealthy or call (603) 627-1669.
• Heart Failure Infusion Program
• Cardiac Rehab
• Anticoagulation Clinic
GOLF360 in Manchester is a haven for virtual golfers to putt around on a rainy day. Partake in a golf league or sign up for lessons from nationally-recognized coaches. Need help with fitting your golf clubs? They can help with that too. Host a party at one of their simulators, and they will give you a fridge for your beverages plus comfortable seating and televisions for an afternoon of fun. golf360academy.com
Indoor Ascent in Dover is the perfect place for new climbers to start their climbing journey around a strong sense of community and connection. With more than 9,000 square feet of wall space, a new 45-foot wall with 15-foot overhangs, 20 top-ropes including cracks, chimneys, slabs and more, there is something for every ability. Instructors are also available for guidance. indoorascent.com
Live animal exhibits? Natural science education programs? A public garden, trails and boat rides? The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness truly has it all. Spend a day among black bears, mountain lions, river otters and more, or take a self-guided 2 ½-hour tour of the animal exhibit trail and end the day at the Howling Coyote gift shop. The center even offers live outreach programs and the Blue Heron School, a nature-based Montessori early learning center with a child-focused approach. Everyone in the family will find something to delight in here. nhnature.org
Southern New Hampshire Health is your Home for Lifelong Heart Health
Foundation Cardiology and Foundation Vascular Surgery work together to provide a full spectrum of cardiovascular care, close to home. Whether it’s a basic procedure, an advanced diagnostic test, or sophisticated angioplasty, our highly trained providers can help you manage and prevent conditions related to heart and vascular disease. We listen to your needs and review your medical history so we can recommend the treatment approach that’s best for you. From preventive strategies to advanced interventions, trust Southern New Hampshire Health to be your partner in maintaining a healthy heart at every stage of life.
To learn more visit us at: SNHHealth.org/Cardiology
When you’re hungry and looking for recommendations on new and old favorite places to dine or exciting dishes to discover, then look no further than The Roaming Foodie on Instagram. In each post, New Hampshire-based photographer Joey Calcavecchia takes followers along on his New England food journeys sharing his must-try dishes along the way. Head on over to one of his favorite spots below for the perfect summer-loving dish.
Lee Circle Grocery (LCG) on Wheels in Lee
“This spot is great. It's a no-frills spot located in the Lee traffic circle selling delicious hot dogs.” Facebook
Industry East in Manchester
“Jeremy and Dan always have creative and yummy hot dogs here, like the big mac dog or award-winning chili dog.” industryeastbar.com
Gilley’s Diner in Portsmouth
“Who doesn't love Gilley's? They're a staple in Portsmouth for late-night eats. Grab a hot dog or chili dog, and you'll leave happy.” gilleysdiner.com
Birdfood Baking in Bedford
“Trina, the owner of Birdfood Baking, makes my favorite donut in the state and is always having fun with her creations.” birdfoodbaking.com
Leavitt’s Country Bakery in Conway
“An old-school gem that has all your favorite traditional donuts and they're made fresh every day.” leavittsbakery.com
Northwood Brewing Company in Northwood “If you love crullers, you'll want to go here immediately." northwoodsbrewingcompany.com
Brother's Donuts in Franklin “These are probably the best donuts in the state and you gotta make sure to get there early to get them.”
Buxton’s Restaurant in Derry buxtonspizza.com
Vallarta Tacos and Burritos in Salem vallartatacosburritos.com
Identity Coffee Lab multiple locations identitycoffeelab.com
Mountain Moose Noodles & Asian Street Food in North Conway mtmoose.com
On May 14, Joey was involved in a serious car accident on I-93 and, as this issue goes to press, is still recovering at Tufts Medical Center. He is a dear friend of ours and a crucial part of our New Hampshire community. We are wishing him all of the best and sending him our love and prayers. If you can, please consider donating to his gofundme page — gofundme.com/f/help-the-roaming-foodiebounce-back
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Know that you can dine, shop and explore with confidence — all of these advertisers are certified as the best, either as voted by our readers or selected by the editors of New Hampshire Magazine. You can’t go wrong with these current and past Best of NH winners.
Congratulations once again to all of our past and present winners.
July 4 cookouts are a staple of the summer holiday, along with parades, fireworks and afternoon get-togethers. But good barbecue might be the most important ingredient of all. Can you imagine biting into a juicy rib with just the right amount of fat, flavor, spice, tenderness and smokiness?
Whether on a small scale or large, a Fourth of July barbecue usually involves the basics: hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill; corn on the cob; mashed potatoes and coleslaw.
But if you’d like to step up your barbecue game this year and serve some serious chops, we’ve got the lowdown on a simple, no, foolproof way to do it. While barbecue is as American as apple pie and just as varied, you don’t need to be a world-class pitmaster to deliver good food at your Independence Day picnic or gathering.
Kevin Cornish, owner of KC’s Rib Shack in Manchester, wasn’t brought up on any particular style of barbecue, “unless you can call burnt Kraft original BBQ sauce on chicken a style,” Cornish says jokingly in an email.
But he got hooked on barbecue after reading a story about All American Bar-Be-Que in Putney, Vt.
“I’ll never forget pulling up and seeing Curtis (the chef) outside under a tin roof, cooking ribs and chicken on a chain link fence that had been stretched across a 300-gallon oil drum that had been cut in half — the kind you would find in the basement of your house,” says Cornish, whose restaurant has been a perennial Best of NH readers’ pick winner for more than two decades.
To baste his meat, Curtis used a floor
mop dipped in barbecue sauce from a bucket, proving that anything is possible in the world of barbecue.
“I loved the food and the aura that surrounds BBQ. I returned home from Vermont that day with a newfound passion for barbecue,” Cornish says.
As Cornish sees it, barbecue is simply
taking meat that’s normally considered tough, and cooking it at a low temperature over a long period of time to make that meat delicious and mouth-watering.
The food at KC’s Rib Shack was borne from years of barbecue research and perfecting his own style, influenced by several of the most common barbecue styles in the
U.S. His beef brisket is Texas-style and his pulled pork is North Carolina style. Their dry-rubbed spare ribs, a customer favorite, are made Memphis-style. For those extra hungry for barbecue, their QQ Pladda is made with four different meats, two sides and cornbread, and serves up to three people.
One rack of ribs
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoons paprika
Sprinkle over ribs, shaking off excess. Cook at 250˚ for about three hours, or until tender when you twist between the third and fourth biggest rib. I take my fingers and push up on one and down on the other. The two should push away from each other with ease. Add sauce if you want and cook for another five or 10 minutes or eat them just how they are with maybe some sauce at the table.
Two bags of coleslaw mix
1 cup mayo
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
¼ tablespoon dry mustard
¼ tablespoon celery salt
½ tablespoon black pepper
½ tablespoon onion powder
Whisk until blended and smooth. Add to shredded cabbage with some carrots and purple cabbage for color.
Recipes courtesy Kevin Cornish, KC’s Rib Shack
If you’re new to barbecue, Cornish says not to worry — just focus on the essential ingredients: salt, pepper, meat and wood.
Those two spices play a big role in the savory dish.
“I can make pretty much any piece of meat taste great with just salt and pepper. That’s what all the top BBQ joints in the country use. Basically salt, pepper and maybe a little garlic, but that’s it,” says Cornish.
The cooking process is another vital component.
“The magic comes in the slow cooking over low heat. I tell people just starting out to try a pork butt. Keep the temp between 225 and 250 and cook for about 12 hours for an 8-pound roast. Cook until the internal temperature of the roast is about 205 degrees. Let that cool off a little bit and it will literally fall apart in your fingers,” says Cornish.
– Kevin CornishIf you don’t have a smoker or other type of barbecue cooker, that’s OK too. A gas grill can work just fine.
“You can even take foil packs of damp wood chips and toss them on top of the burner to create some smoke, but I used to experiment cooking BBQ with my gas grill all the time back in the day,” he says.
Regardless, the temperature should be kept below 250 degrees.
“I would regulate the temperature with only one of the burners and put the food on the other half away from the direct heat. Put a small oven thermometer in the gas grill next to where your meat is to keep an eye on the temp,” Cornish advises.
No barbecue would be complete without a generous helping of sides like creamy macaroni salad, cool, crisp, tangy coleslaw, sweet corn on the cob, soft, moist cornbread, or any other side that tickles your fancy. Cornish’s coleslaw recipe includes shredded cabbage, dry mustard, sugar, mayo, cider vinegar, onion powder and a few more spices. Blend until smooth and refrigerate. NH
July 13, 27; Aug. 10, 24
Lynda Cohen Performing Arts Series > Originating from her love of music and the mountains, Lynda Cohen imagined a series where people from far and wide can come together nestled among the mountains of Crawford Notch to enjoy live tunes. Performers include Donna and Rick Nestler with Rik Palieri, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen and Bryan Bowers Band. Free. 7 to 9 p.m., AMC Highland Center, Bretton Woods. (603) 466-2727; outdoors.org/events/lynda-cohen-performing-arts-series
July 1
James Taylor and His All-Star Band > On the first of July, spend an evening with folk legend James Taylor. Prices vary. 8 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford. (603) 293-4700; banknhpavilion.com
July 3
Emerging Artist Benefit Concert: Jason Mraz
> A two-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree, Jason Mraz is most famously known by his hits “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up.” His nonprofit, the Jason Mraz Foundation, supports programs focused on inclusive arts education and the advancement of equality. Your ticket includes a pre-concert gathering in The Music Hall Lounge, beginning at 5 p.m. Select winners from the Emerging Artist Grant Program will perform on the stage at the Lounge as entertainment for the party. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served, and there will be a cash bar. $150-$500. 7 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth. (603) 436-2400; themusichall.org
July 3
Kidz Bop LIVE > Gather the kids for a night they won’t forget. Sing along and dance the night away to the Kidz Bop covers of today’s top hits. Prices vary, 7 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, (603) 293-4700; banknhpavilion.com
July 7
Loon Mountain Race > This Granite State event is the race to end all races. It is 6.03 miles, 10.62 kilometers, has an elevation gain of 3,125 feet and an average slope of 14 percent. It has a reputation as one of the country’s toughest mountain races, in large part due to the kilometer ascent of North Peak, known as Upper Walking Boss. “The Boss,” as it’s colloquially termed, is around a kilometer of grassy slope with angles that exceed a 40 percent grade. Voted as one of the five classic vertical trail races in the U.S., this race is no joke. If you are feeling daring this summer, be sure to check this one out, but make sure you register in advance — there’s no race day registration. $60. 7:30 a.m., Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln. loonmountainrace.com
July 9- Aug. 1
New Hampshire Music Festival > Classical music lovers rejoice: Venues throughout Plymouth and Wolfeboro come alive to celebrate 71 festival years with the sounds of orchestras, choruses and professional soloists on instruments and voice. The fest plans to run over three weeks this year, and feature performances at the Silver Center for Performing Arts at Plymouth State University and in various locations in the Lakes Region and farther north. Prices, times and locations vary. Plymouth. (603) 238-9007; nhmf.org
July 11-14
Hillsboro Summer Festival > From live music and a parade to a fairway full of carnival rides, this legendary festival is packed with activities. This year, there will also be a beer tent, 5K road race, skillet toss, tractor pull and more. For a free spectacle, stick around till dusk on Saturday night. Free. Times vary. Grimes Field, 29 Preston St., Hillsboro. (603) 464-0377; hillsborosummerfest.com
July 12-13
The Prouty > If you enjoy outdoor recreation of just about any kind, then you’ll find something to suit your tastes at this annual mega-fundraiser for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Cyclists can opt for 20- to 100-mile rides on the road or the 200-mile, two-day Prouty Ultimate; walkers can traverse anything from a 3K stroll through Hanover to an 11K walk in the woods; rowers can hit the Connecticut River for 5 to 15 miles, and for the first time ever, there will be a mountain bike route! Don’t like any of those? They also need volunteers. Prices, times and locations around Hanover vary. (603) 646-5500; theprouty.org
July 13
Keep NH Brewing Festival > For a beer fest that’s all New Hampshire, all the time, look no further than this annual fête. The event features more than 50 Granite State breweries and more than 120 craft beers on tap, making it the largest single collection of N.H. breweries found at any event this year. $20-$65. noon to 4 p.m., Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 15 Loudon Road, Concord. (334) 603-2337; nhbrewers.org
July 13
American Independence Festival > If you didn’t get all the patriotism out of your system on the Fourth, then try this later homage to America. Activities at this 33-year-old fest include battle reenactments, lawn games, live music and enough kids activities to keep the little ones entertained all day. Free. All day. American Independence Museum, 1 Governors Ln., Exeter. (603) 772-2622; independencemuseum.org
July 14
Brunch and Bubbles > Bring friends and family to Flag Hill to experience Brunch and Bubbles. This luxurious brunch features their delicious Sparkling Cayuga White. You will also have fun with a makeyour-own Mimosa Bar. $25-$65, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Flag Hill Distillery & Winery, 297 North River Road, Lee. (603) 659-2949; flaghill.com
July 17-28
Chicago at Interlakes Theatre > A tale of fame, fortune, and “all that jazz,” with one show-stopping song after another, this six-time Tony Awardwinning musical is set amidst the razzle-dazzle
decadence of the 1920s and tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife who maliciously murders her lover. Prices and times vary, Interlakes Theatre, 1 Laker Lane, Meredith. (603) 707-6035; interlakestheatre.com
July 19
16th Annual CLM Benefit Concert > This benefit concert — featuring Bob Seger cover band Hollywood Nights — raises critical funding to support uninsured children, adolescents and adults with direct access to comprehensive emergency, clinical and medical services, case management, substance use treatment and community-based counseling support. $45-$65. 5 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry. (603) 437-5100; tupelohall.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
July 20
Kent Axell Psychological Illusionist > Enjoy an evening of mischief and madness watching this Las Vegal illusionist at the Palace Theatre. $29. 7:30 p.m., The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester. (603) 668-5588; rextheatre.org
July 24-28
North Haverhill Fair > The North Haverhill Fair features a boatload of events. Crowd pleasers include concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, horse, pony and oxen stone boat pulling, a demolition derby, tractor and pulling events with transfer sleds, dairy, sheep, goat and dog shows for 4-H, an open horse show and art, photography, arts, crafts and flower shows. Prices and times vary. 1299 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill. (603) 989-3305; nohaverhillfair.com
July 26-Aug. 4
Freedom Old Home Week > Every summer the community of Freedom is one of only five NH towns that celebrates an “Old Home Week.” Freedom’s 125th Old Home Week will feature a lawn party, a parade, an ice cream social, a 5K and more. Free. Times vary, Freedom. freedomoldhomeweek.com
July 26
Sail Portsmouth 2024 > Five tall ships plus the Gundalow will sail up the Piscataqua River to kick off Sail Portsmouth, and lead a flotilla of vessels, both civilian and commercial fishing boats, plus military and municipal craft. The Parade of Sail will feature an impressive lineup including the Barque Eagle, Ernestina-Morrissey, and Denis Sullivan. They start at the mouth of the river and turn around at the Memorial Bridge, then turn around and head to their mooring sites. After docking, two tall ships will be open to the public for tours. Prices and times vary. Portsmouth Commercial Fish Pier, 1 Peirce Island Road, Portsmouth. sailportsmouth.org
July 26
Nu Metal Night > From Kinetic City Events, the creators of Live Free or Cry (New Hampshire’s longest running emo night) comes: The Psycho Social Nu Metal Night. featuring your favorite Nu Metal covers from live bands: Dangerous Nights and Nu Kids on the Block. $18.75. 8 p.m., Bank of New Hampshire Stage, Capitol Center for the Arts, 16 S. Main St., Concord. (603) 225-1111; ccanh.com
July 27
New London Historical Society Antique Show & Sale > Get ready for the 56th annual Antique
Show and Sale on the New London Historical Society’s grounds. Goosefare Antiques and Promotions of Saco, Maine, is helping bring more than 50 quality dealers to the show. Proceeds from the event will help the historical society. $8. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., New London Historical Society, 179 Little Sunapee Road, New London. goosefareantiques.com
July 27-Aug. 4
Sunflower Festival > Coppal House Farm’s annual Sunflower Festival is a special event put on every summer to celebrate their beautiful sunflower fields. The farm harvests the sunflowers every fall to press the seeds into culinary oil — but they’re a sight to behold while blooming. Oilseed sunflowers bloom and begin to turn their heads after only 12 days, so this week-long festival is a special, ephemeral time for flower lovers. Enjoy a sunrise in the sunflowers, an artisan craft fair, live local musicians, local food vendors and a series of mini-events while gazing on the sunflowers’ natural beauty. $10-$14. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, Coppal House Farm, 118 North River Road, Lee. nhsunflower.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
July 27
New England Hot Sauce Fest > Last year was so spicy, they’re doing it again! Spicy Shark presents a New England destination and celebration for hot sauce lovers. Featuring hot sauce samples from more than 20 craft companies, music, food trucks, food challenges (including a hot pepper eating contest and a hot wing contest), craft vendors, Smuttynose Brewing Co. beer, bouncy houses and more.
Don’t miss out on the spicy-sweaty fun. Proceeds support the Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center. $13-$17. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Smuttynose Brewing Co., 105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton. newenglandhotsaucefest.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
July 27
25th Annual Chocolate Fest > Enjoy an evening of chocolate temptations in Town Square accompanied by a free outdoor concert as the sun sets. Pack a picnic, or just bring a bottle of your favorite red or white libation and enjoy an indulgent evening in the square, on a blanket or with your toes in the sand. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Town Square, 33 Village Road, Waterville Valley. waterville.com
July 27
Hebron Fair > This fair boasts that it’s the place to be for the last Saturday in July. Festivities include more than 100 craftspeople, pony rides, children’s games, white elephants, delicious foods, baked goods, plants and a silent auction. It’s held on the picturesque Hebron Common at the north end of Newfound Lake and will happen rain or shine. Free. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hebron Common, 16 Church Lane, Hebron. (603) 409-7143; hebronchurchfair.org
July 27
13th Annual Summer Psychic and Craft Fair > Come enjoy a fun-filled day with the whole family. Inside with the cool AC, get a reading from one of the many talented psychics, experience the wonder of Aura Photography and shop from lots of gorgeous hand-crafted items. Then make your way
to the parking lot where many more vendors and artisans will be peddling their amazing offerings. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weirs Community Center, 25 Lucerne Ave., Laconia. fairsandfestivals.net
July 28
15th Annual Sunrise Ascent on Mount Washington > Get your hiking shoes and cameras ready for this sunrise hike. Before dawn, teams ascend the Mount Washington Auto Road to reach the 6,288foot summit. Each team includes an athlete with a disability and a crew, who support the athlete as they climb to the summit. After the teams complete their hike, roadrunners help transport athletes and their crew back down to the base area. Volunteers help throughout the event, with setup, registration and the celebratory after-party at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road. Together, the teams are inspired by the beauty of the sunrise, the majesty of the Presidential Range and the determination shared among them. The goal for this event is to raise over $100,000 to help fund the operating budget of Adaptive Sports Partners. Donations accepted. 2 a.m., Auto Road, Gorham. (603) 823-5232; adaptivesportspartners.org
Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Elisa Gonzales Verdi (egonzalesverdi@nhmagazine.com) or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.
New Hampshire’s attractions, beaches, wineries, galleries and more are ready to welcome you for an epic season of warm-weather excitement. The following advertisers are a great resource for starting your summer plans.
She is now known as the Queen of American Hockey, but once upon a time Ellen Weinberg-Hughes held court in the town of DurhamBY LYNNE SNIERSON
Then known as Ellen Weinberg, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes grew up in Dallas as a two-sport star playing soccer on a team that was one of the best in the country. While doing so, she was also competing on the boys’ ice hockey squad because of her talent and tenaciousness, coupled with the lack of opportunity for girls.
Heavily recruited by colleges around the country to play soccer, she chose the University of New Hampshire and arrived on campus in the fall of 1986.
“In those days there were only about 35 programs in the country that were offering scholarships for women’s soccer. Back then, UNH’s program was ranked in the top 20 in the United States, and it was the first year of offering women’s scholarships,” she recalls. She aspired to also play ice hockey in college and felt that UNH afforded the best opportunity, but there was no guarantee she would make the team that was a powerhouse under legendary former head coach Russ McCurdy.
“He offered to give me a chance. He said when you’re done with your soccer season after Thanksgiving, come out to the rink and I’ll give you a full week to get up to speed, because this will be the only way to be fair because the other women have been here skating since September. On my first day after I got off the ice, Coach McCurdy said, ‘What size skates do you need? You’re on the team,’” she says.
But wait. There’s more. Though she had never played lacrosse, once her hockey season was over, she made that varsity team as well.
“We went to the Final Four that year. We lost in the semi-finals. The year before they won the national championship (1985), and nobody ever thinks of UNH as having won the women’s lacrosse national championship,” she says.
Weinberg-Hughes not only excelled in all three sports, but she also captained the soccer and hockey teams. During a redshirt season recovering from injury, she did a broadcast internship and gained experience that would later prove invaluable.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 1990 and with her college athletic ability completed, she remained at UNH to pursue her master’s degree while serving as a graduate assistant coach for both the women’s soccer and hockey teams.
At that time, it was hoped that women’s ice hockey would become an Olympic sport in 1994, though inclusion in the Winter Games would be delayed until 1998. Weinberg-Hughes made the National U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and played in the 1992 World Championship, winning a silver medal while being named to the tournament All-Star Team.
Once her playing days were done, she went into broadcasting, working for ESPN covering Women’s World Cup soccer and the 1998 Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, which won gold. She married Jim Hughes, the former Providence College men’s ice hockey standout and a well-respected coach
During their incredible journey, the Weinberg-Hughes family spent three years in Manchester while Jim was an assistant coach and an executive with the American Hockey League Manchester Monarchs and Ellen was raising their three young sons.
“Ellen and Jim were a wonderful part of the Monarchs family,” recalls Jeff Eisenberg, who launched the Monarchs and is CEO and president of EVR Advertising. “Ellen was a presence. I was always struck by her. She’s smart, committed and personable. She’s a unique and quality individual.
“The kids grew up to be amazing NHL athletes. They are all unbelievable, but Ellen and Jim put them in a position to be successful. It takes a dynamic duo to pull this off. They were so involved,” he says. “It does not surprise me at all that Ellen completed the circle on this whole family, and that’s something that would not have happened without her.”
Eisenberg says he watches their games and roots for all three, “Absolutely. It’s a really cool story, and it’s cool to be connected to it in any way.”
and executive with National Hockey League teams, including the Boston Bruins.
Ellen and Jim are parents to Quinn, Jack and Luke, who inherited quite a legacy. Quinn, 24, is the first American born captain of the Vancouver Canucks. Jack, 22, is captain of the New Jersey Devils. Luke, 20, also plays for the Devils. Quinn and Jack are All-Stars, and at press time Luke was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the league’s top rookie.
Amazingly, all three are NHL first round draft picks and Jack was the overall No. 1 selection in 2019. Even more remarkable, they are the only American family to have three brothers selected in the first round, so they are known as the Royal Family of American Hockey. Ellen is considered the queen.
“We don’t see ourselves that way. We are very humble,” she says. “We know of all the
great American families who came before us. We look at all the great American players who have put USA Hockey and American players on the map. There are so many whom we look up to. We’re just reaping the benefit of all the people who came before us. Both my husband and I came through and are a byproduct of USA Hockey. We have three young sons who are passionate about the game and are looking to have long, sustainable careers like the American players in the American families who came before them.”
Ellen was enshrined in the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame, is a 2024 inductee into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and she sits on the board of USA Hockey Foundation. She is also the development consultant to the Women’s National Team.
“I give UNH so much gratitude and so
much credit. They were so far ahead of their time and in the forefront of the women’s sports movement,” she says. “To think about how many Division 1 programs there are across the country for women athletes now. I think it’s above 350. It’s a school like UNH that forced the hand of others. UNH will always hold a special place in my heart. I think it’s an incredible hidden gem. My best
“I give UNH so much gratitude and so much credit. They were so far ahead of their time and in the forefront of the women’s sports movement.”
— Ellen Weinberg-Hughes
and dearest friends today are still UNH Wildcats. I get together every year with them. They’re my Wildcat teammates and my dormmates from Sawyer Hall in my freshman year.”
UNH Director of Athletics Allison Rich says, “Ellen was an amazing, three-sport student-athlete at UNH, epitomizing the greatest attributes of our Wildcats. She made the most of her time here, earning induction into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame. Ellen remains very engaged with and gives back to her alma mater. She is a true Wildcat for Life. We are proud of her accomplishments, happy for her family’s continued success in the NHL, and thrilled to know she looks back so fondly on her time at UNH.”
Her reputation as a trailblazer and her influence as a role model reach far beyond New Hampshire.
“It’s fun to see where the world of sports has gone for women. I’m super proud of that,” Weinberg-Hughes says. “There were a lot of women before me who were incredible athletes, but they never had the opportunity to put on a USA jersey for hockey. I was very fortunate to be able to do that.” NH
Three summers ago, our son’s hair stylist found a particularly sneaky tick buried in the nape of my son’s thick brown hair. We have no idea how long it had been hiding there, and now we’re careful to inspect for ticks — and schedule regular haircuts.
While we can’t completely avoid ticks, taking precautions and acting quickly can help us from contracting tickborne diseases.
Data tracked by the EPA shows that Lyme disease cases nearly doubled between 1991 and 2018, with New England states experiencing the largest increases in cases, thanks to an abundance of deer ticks in our region, brought on by warmer winters.
“People are more aware that it’s a growing problem, and it’s related to our climate getting hotter,” says Renee Broze, a nurse
practitioner at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center’s Immediate Care. “The ticks don’t die off in the wintertime if we don’t have a lot of deep freezes. Looking back this past winter, I can’t remember any time that we experienced significantly low temperatures.”
By following these effective protective measures and understanding how and when you should act, you can stay healthy and enjoy the outdoors this summer.
There are simple things you can do to protect yourself, whether you’re hiking, gardening or doing yard work, according to Maddie Miller, MPH, public health information officer at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
• Use an EPA-registered repellent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a tool that lets you search for repellents, such as those that contain DEET and work best against ticks.
• Stay on cleared trails and out of tall grass when possible.
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, a hat and closed-toe shoes.
• Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks.
• Wear light colors that make it easier to see ticks on clothing.
• Check yourself and your pets for ticks when you come back inside.
• Shower after returning indoors.
• Dr y the clothes you wore in the dryer on high heat to kill any ticks that snuck in.
• If you do find any ticks, remove them promptly.
If you need help, ask a family member to help you check for ticks, and be sure to look in the hidden spots.
“Pay close attention to the skin on your trunk and around your ears and hair line, where ticks particularly like to attach,” Broze says.
First of all, don’t panic. You also shouldn’t try to rush the process, either.
“Put the tweezers at a 90-degree angle and get them as close to the skin as possible,” Broze says. “And then it’s not a quick movement; it’s a slow one.”
• Grasp the tick’s mouth parts close to the skin with tweezers or a tick spoon.
• Pull the tick slowly upward using a gentle, straight-up motion.
• Cleanse your hands and the area around the tick.
• Apply an antiseptic to the site.
• For photos and step-by-step directions, you can check out this CDC resource: cdc.gov/lyme/removal/index.html.
Sometimes, a piece of the tick breaks off and stays stuck in the skin. Broze suggests putting antibiotic treatment on it and says the small piece usually works itself out over time. If you’re having trouble removing a tick, health care providers can help remove them for you, she says.
You may get a tick bite and not experience any symptoms, or only notice the bite after finding an embedded tick. Once a tick falls off, you might see a small area of redness that could be itchy or sore.
It’s impossible to know if you were bitten by a tick carrying one of several diseases, including Lyme disease. Depending on the location, anywhere from less than 1% to more than 50% of the ticks in an area may be infected with Lyme disease bacteria, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The ticks that most commonly carry Lyme disease are black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. In 2018, 50% to 60% of deer ticks sampled across New Hampshire were infected with Borrelia burgdorfer. This bacterium causes Lyme disease, according to the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
• Miller strongly recommends visiting a health care provider if you find an engorged tick on your body. It might have been attached to you for 36 hours or longer. This prompt action can significantly reduce the risk of developing tickborne diseases.
• You should also seek medical attention if you develop an expanding rash or other concerning symptom after being bitten.
• The “Tick Bite Bot” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides examples of tick bites and can help you decide whether to seek health care. (cdc.gov/ticks/communication-resources/ tick-bite-bot-1.html)
When you visit a provider, you’ll likely receive a dose of the antibiotic if you were bitten by a deer tick, says Dr. John Mendoza, a board-certified infectious disease doctor at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham system. Antibiotics are given to all nonpregnant adults and children who meet all of the following criteria, he says.
• The attached tick is confirmed to be an adult or nymphal deer tick.
• Based on the degree of engorgement or time of exposure, the tick is estimated to have been attached for more than 36 hours.
• Antibiotics can be given within 72 hours of tick removal.
Even if you meet the criteria and receive antibiotic treatment quickly, you might not be out of the woods.
“I tell every patient who comes in seeking a preventive dose of an antibiotic that they still need to watch for up to 60 days for any symptoms of a tick-borne illness,” Broze says.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease, which can appear within three to 30 days after a tick bite, include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms are often described as flu-like symptoms, according to Miller.
Lyme disease may also present as an expanding rash, commonly called a bullseye rash. This rash can appear on any body area, and its visual presentation may vary. This rash usually expands slowly over several days and can reach up to 12 inches or more; however, not all rashes are a sign of Lyme disease, the CDC says. You can find photos and resources on the CDC website to help you identify whether your rash may indicate Lyme disease.
If you’re experiencing Lyme disease symptoms, it’s important to get tested and seen by a provider immediately. Blood tests can confirm whether or not you have the disease, and the timing of these tests is critical. It’s best to get tested as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms, as it can take several weeks for your body to produce enough antibodies for the test to detect.
“If somebody comes in and they just got bit by a tick, it’s too early to test,” Broze says. “What they’re testing for, particularly for Lyme disease, is antibodies, and your body takes time to make antibodies. You may not test positive for Lyme for up to 60 days. We generally wait at least 10 days from the tick bite to do the test.”
If a provider thinks there’s a chance you are sick with a tickborne illness, you may be treated right away without undergoing testing. People recover much better the earlier they get treated.
Mendoza says the clinical manifestations of Lyme disease can generally be divided into three phases: early localized, early dissemi-
nated, and late disease. The clinical features of each stage can overlap, and some patients present in a later stage of Lyme disease without any of the signs or symptoms typically found in the earlier stages.
• Early localized disease is characterized by the appearance of the characteristic bull’s eye skin lesion, with or without flu-like illness. This rash usually occurs within one month following the tick bite.
• If left untreated, the next stage is early disseminated disease, characterized by multiple lesions that typically occur days to weeks after infection and neurologic and cardiac findings (usually weeks to several months after the onset of infection).
• Late Lyme disease can present as intermittent or persistent arthritis involving one or a few large joints, especially the knee, and/ or certain rare neurologic problems (e.g., a numbness or tingling sensation). These may develop months to a few years after the initial infection.
If you do discover you have contracted Lyme disease, there are several different antibiotics you can take to treat it. The duration of your treatment is based on the stage of infection and the types of signs or symptoms you’re experiencing, Miller says.
• According to the CDC, patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely.
• Those treated in the later stages of the disease also respond well to antibiotics. However, some may suffer long-term damage to the nervous system or joints.
• Many people treated for Lyme disease may have lingering symptoms of fatigue, pain, or joint and muscle aches after treatment. These symptoms can last more than six months in a small percentage of cases. While symptoms cannot be cured by longer courses of antibiotics, they generally improve over time.
While they’re a nuisance, ticks shouldn’t dampen your summer fun. Not every tick bite warrants a visit to the doctor or means you’ll contract Lyme disease. If you’re concerned, seek out a health care provider for guidance.
For more information about Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases, visit the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Tickborne Diseases page or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. NH
saw Adam Sandler drinking a mudslide at the Puritan Backroom. His hair was perfect.
That’s a lie.
I don’t know what Sandler was drinking that day, and I’d say his hair was less than perfect.
The Backroom is the celebrated birthplace of the fried chicken tender. Locals know it as the place where you might spot U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, the third-generation co-owner of the Manchester restaurant.
On occasion, you might also see Sandler, the Central High alumnus who worked there in the ice cream shop as a kid and for some mysterious reason has never made a movie about Opera Man, my favorite Sandler bit from “Saturday Night Live.”
Sandler must feel right at home at the Backroom, except for when he has to suffer gawkers who won’t let him eat his chicken tenders in peace.
Our party of four was waiting in the bar for a table when Sandler arrived one summer day 10 years ago. The comedian and his family were immediately escorted to the dining room.
Only seconds elapsed before my wife, Jeannie, and my stepdaughter, Lauren,
transformed into two high school girls who had just spotted a cute boy. All of a sudden, they had to go to the bathroom. Time for a Sandler sighting.
They buzzed by his table and came back in giggles, reporting the success of their mission to me, my cousin, Donna and my son-in-law, A.J.
That was chapter one. A few minutes later, our table was ready. The hostess, unaware of Jeannie and Lauren’s surveillance trip, seated us right next to Sandler.
From that moment on, Jeannie focused her bionic ear on the conversation at the next table and silenced my every word.
“Shhh! Adam Sandler is talking!” It was like my date had just spied the guy she had really wanted to ask to the prom.
Meanwhile, A.J., whose seat was closest to Sandler, spoke to the superstar and shook his hand. Engage. Disengage. The confident salesman at work.
Jeannie was having none of that. When Sandler stood up and walked around the dining room, she pounced. Sandler barely made it around a corner before he was posing for a photo with Jeannie, with another female fan waiting on deck.
As her accomplice, my job was to take a
BY MIKE COTEphoto of Jeannie with her new boyfriend. I had no opportunity to shake Sandler’s hand, and it felt awkward to say anything other than thank you.
There’s a documentary that recounts one fan’s years-long journey to recreate the moment he had a chance to talk to Sandler — and blew it — so he could get another shot.
I’ve thought a lot about what I could have done with mine.
I should have asked Sandler how he ended up appearing on the Warren Zevon tribute album, “Enjoy Every Sandwich,” which included heavyweights like Don Henley and Jackson Browne. I could have shared that I once interviewed Zevon long after his ’70s fame had faded and he was reduced to playing a sports bar in a Florida strip mall.
On the tribute album, Sandler performs Zevon’s signature hit, “Werewolves of London,” and nails it.
I’ll tell Sandler that next time. For now, I have a lovely souvenir photo of the happiest woman in the world standing next to a guy who looks like he’d rather be someplace else. Say, at Trader Vic’s, sipping a pina colada with a werewolf. NH
BY
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