Seacoast Scene 12/8/16

DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016

Trees, wreaths and more at Beach Plum Farms P17

Cozy fare at Popovers P26 Have a Dickens of a Christmas P30

Drinks to warm your winter

FRE E

MAP P . 16

A WORD FROM LARRY

The holiday spirit

Master McGrath’s

It’s hard to believe, but Christmas and New Year’s are approaching fast!

That means winter is right around the corner.

As I write this, there is about an inch of snow on the Larry Marsolais ground. Of course, this is New England, so you never know when the weather will change!

As I travel through Hampton and the surrounding towns, it seems to me that there are a lot of people in the Christmas spirit. You can tell by the decorations on the house and yard.

I have that spirit also and may have overdone it a little, but to me it’s about celebration. Our house and yard has the

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Lobster Roll Master McBurger Club Favorites Cheeseburger Club The Patty Melt Hot Pastrami Sandwich Pepper Steak & Cheese NY Style Reuben The Master’s Favorite London Dip French Dip

VOL 41 NO 32 Advertising Staff Larry Marsolais Seacoast Scene General Manager 603-935-5096 larry@seacoastscene.net Chris Karas 603-969-3032 chris@seacoastscene.net

Editorial Staff Editor Meghan Siegler editor@seacoastscene.net

King Cut (16oz) • Queen Cut (10oz) Seafood Steak & Chops Hot Box Shrimp Scampi Baked Haddock Surf & Turf Lobster Pie Fresh Scallops Jumbo Shrimp Seafood Saute

Marinated Steak Tips Petite fillet Mignon English Fish & Chips Basket of Fried Chicken Baked Luncheon Scrod Master’s Chopped Sirloin And more!

• • • • •

Editorial Design Ashley McCarty

Steak Tips Fillet Mignon NY Sirloin Chicken Parm Pork Chops

Contributors Rob Levey Ashlyn Daniel-Nuboer Jocelyn Humelsine Michael Witthaus Stefanie Phillips

Production Katie DeRosa, Emma Contic, Haylie Zebrowski

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www.MasterMcGraths.com SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 2

Larry Marsolais is the general manager of the Seacoast Scene and the former president of the Hampton Rotary Club.

DEC. 8 - 21, 2016

Friday Night Special Fried Clam Plate Saturday Night Prime Rib Special

• • • • • • •

Christmas spirit, and we like to share our decorations with everyone who stops buy to look.

Take the time one night to drive through the neighborhoods, look at the decorated houses and enjoy this Christmas spirit. Trust me, there is a lot of work that goes into decorating, and if they are like me, we do it for all to see.

While you are out and about over the next few weeks, shopping or enjoying a holiday activity, be safe! The holiday season can be a bit overwhelming, so celebrate in your own way and enjoy.

Feel free to call me anytime at 603935-5096 to discuss local issues or to place an ad.

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COMMUNITY

6 Events from around the community

COVER STORY

8 Comfort and joy

MAPPED OUT

16 Beaches, restrooms, where to walk your dog and more

PEOPLE & PLACES

17 The coolest Seacoast dwellers and scenes

FOOD

22 Eateries and foodie events

POP CULTURE

30 Books, art, theater and classical

NITE LIFE

32 Music, comedy and more

BEACH BUM FUN

34 Puzzles, horoscopes and crazy news

Have an event or a story idea for the Seacoast Scene? Let us know at: news@seacoastscene.net

Your weekly guide to the coast.

Published every Thursday (1st copy free; 2nd $1).

Unsolicited submissions are not accepted and will not be returned or acknowledged.

Unsolicited submissions will be destroyed.

Seacoast Scene PO Box 961 Hampton NH 03843 603-935-5096 | www.seacoastscene.net

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Follow Route 1A for a leisurely drive along the Atlantic Ocean to Ray’s Seafood Restaurant and Lobster Pound.

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 3

December 8 - 21, 2016

Pontine Theatre presents New England Christmas Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye. Find out more about this event and other community happenings on p. 6.

Find great gifts for wine lovers (p. 28) and music fans (p. 32).

The 35-member Rock My Soul choir presents several “Rockin’ Gospelized” holiday shows at locations in Kittery and Dover. Find out when and where they are — and why you want to go — on p. 32.

This year, enjoy an Italian Christmas Eve a bit early, on Thursday, Dec. 8, or Thursday, Dec. 15, at Capri Seaside Italian Grill’s Feast of the Seven Fishes. See what it’s all about on p. 25.

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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Tis the season

• Reason for the Season returns to DeMeritt Hill Farm (66 Lee Road, Lee), on Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, beginning at 11 a.m. each day. Bring the whole family to the farm to pick out a Christmas tree, listen to readings of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from Mrs. Claus, enjoy hot apple cider and take home an apple ornament, candy canes and other keepsakes and treats. Admission is $110 for the family and registration is required. Visit demeritthillfarm.com or call 868-2111.

• The Candlelight Stroll returns to Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St., Portsmouth) for its 37th year. The festivities will be held Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 16 through 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Visitors stroll from historic house to house as they are greeted by costumed role players and performers. Craft and demonstrations and food vendors, fun kids projects and hot apple cider. Tickets are $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 5 to 17 and a max of $60 per family. Visit strawberybanke.org or call 433-1110.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) will be bringing back Jingle Bell Express on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10, and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17. The event features a reading of The Polar Express, followed by

a trip to DeMerritt Hill Farm in Lee. Kids will enjoy hot chocolate and homemade cider donuts; pajamas encouraged. The cost is $25 per person and free for ages 2 and under. A family keepsake photo is included in the price, as well as time to explore the museum and participate in a takehome holiday craft. Current open programs are on Friday, Dec. 9, and Friday, Dec. 16, from 3:45 to 6 p.m., but the Saturday trips are full. Visit childrens-museum.org or call 742-2002.

Classical merriment

• Amare Cantare performs an a cappella program featuring Christmas carol arrangements at the Immaculate Conception Church, 98 Summer St., Portsmouth, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; at Saint Joseph’s Church, 150 Central Ave., Dover, on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m.; and at Christ Church, 43 Pine St., Exeter, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $15 at the door or $12 in advance. Visit amarecantare. com.

• The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s Family Holiday Pops concert is Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m., with special guests Taylor O’Donnell and Chris Claxton, where audiences will hear holiday favorites old and new. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400 for tickets, which are $12 to $25.

Food festivities

• Wear your ugly holiday sweater to Jewell Towne Vineyards (183 Whitehall Road in South Hampton) on Sunday, Dec. 11, and get a special discount. Anyone who wears an ugly holiday or Christmas sweater to the winery that day will receive a 10-percent discount on wine purchases. The winery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

• If you’re looking for the perfect hostess gift to bring to a holiday party, Chez Boucher Cooking School (32 Depot Square, Hampton) is having a holiday quick breads workshop on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 a.m. Learn to make delicious breads in an hour or less, including beer bread, popovers and Irish soda biscuits.

The cost is $99. Call 926-2202 or visit chezboucher.com.

• The 26th annual gingerbread house contest exhibit on view at the Discover Portsmouth Center (10 Middle St., Portsmouth) as part of Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth through Friday, Dec. 23, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The display includes entries made by kids, families and local businesses Visit vintagechristmasnh.org.

Holidays on stage

• Kent Stephens’ The Ragpicker’s Dream makes its annual stop at The Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1:30 p.m.,

NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS Pontine Theatre presents its annual New England Christmas performance Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., at the Seacoast Science Center, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye. The show comprises original adaptations of two heart-warming New England Christmas stories: Captain Eli’s Best Ear by Frank Stockton, and The Romance of a Christmas Card by Kate Douglas Wiggin. The performance by M. Marguerite Mathews and Greg Gathers features bunraku-style puppets created by Gathers. Tickets are $24. Visit pontine.org.

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 6

TOY SOLDIERS Hampton’s toy soldiers are again at their posts for the holiday season. Drive along Park Avenue and you will see the brightly painted soldiers standing at attention. Visit the Tuck Museum and a wooden soldier will greet you at the front door. Stop at the guardhouse — a perfect place for a holiday selfie with two of the smiling soldiers. Louis Dubois made the soldiers in the mid-1980s under the sponsorship of the Hampton Chamber of Commerce.

Recently, Betty Moore, executive director of the Tuck Museum, and Karen Raynes, Hampton Historical Society vice president, spruced up the wooden soldiers in the museum workshop for this season’s appearance. Betty’s husband, Ben, a Hampton Historical board member, installed the soldiers for all to enjoy now through mid-January. and Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.; tickets are $15. The annual play reading — no sets, no costumes — comprises poignant tales that feature bits of Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows, poetry by Robert Frost and Lawrence Ferlinghetti and comedy by David Sedaris. Visit themusichall. org or call 436-2400.

• The Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St., Portsmouth, hosts It’s a Wonderful Life: A Musical Dec. 2 through Dec. 23, with showtimes Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price, from about $17 to $30.

Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Players’ Ring presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dec. 2 through Dec. 23 at the theater, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, with direction by Whitney Smith. The adaptation is by Ring founder F. Gary Newton and Christopher Savage. Donations for the End 68 Hours of Hunger will be accepted. Showtimes are Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Visit playersring.org.

• The Prescott Park Arts Festival hosts its take of A Christmas Carol Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.; Sun-

day, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m., at the Exeter Town Hall, 10 Front St., Exeter.

Tickets are $10 to $20, depending on age and proximity to the stage. Visit prescottpark.org.

• Sole City Dance presents The Nutcracker at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $22 to $26.

Visit rochesteroperahouse.com.

Some Kind of Sugar perform at the Seacoast Santa Jingle Bell Jam on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Red Hook Brewery (One Red Hook Way, Portsmouth 3434390) as part of a benefit for Seacoast Santa. Tickets $10.

On the run

Participate in the Portsmouth Jingle Bell Run for arthritis Sunday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. at Little Harbour School, 50 Clough Drive, Portsmouth. Registration costs $35 to $40. Register at jbr.org.

Contact Tom Bringle, 724-6080, tbringle@arthritis.org.

After-dark events

• Put on your best holiday polyester and have a funky good time at the Community Toolbox 1st Annual Holiday Disco Ball on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. at 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth 766-3300). Motor Booty Affair performs. Tickets are $25.

• Relish, Moon Colony and

Author Catherine Pagano presents a Moments In Time Volume Two book reading and signing at Marelli’s Market, 465 Lafayette Road, Hampton, Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Moments In Time is a book of poetry, prose and photography.

holiday dinners to go

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Choose 3 Quarts From Our Salad Bar Below:

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Golden Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast or Ham Creamy Mashed Potatoes (2 Quarts) Homemade Turkey Gravy (2 Quarts) Sausage Cornbread Stuffing (2 Quarts) Brown Sugar Butternut Squash (2 Quarts) Cranberry Sauce (1 Quart) Apple Pie & Pumpkin Pie Warren’s Famous Indian Pudding Warren’s Famous Pumpkin Bread (2 Loaves)

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Macaroni Salad (Mayo Based) • German Potato Salad • Marinated Mushrooms • Marinated Brussel Sprouts • Pickled Beets • Mustard Pickles • Potato Salad (Mayo Based) • Carrot Salad • Coleslaw • Cranberry Couscous Salad • Pea Salad • Three Bean Salad • Lo Mein Salad • Homemade Dressings: Dill, Bleu Cheese, Ranch, & Russian

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Adult Beverage (choose one) Appetizer (choose one) Seacoast’s Finest Salad Bar Cup of Clam Chowder Pint of Narragansett Lager Dessert (choose on from our menu) Only one coupon per table required (no sharing permitted) Each person that adds all the options Any glass of Flip Flop Wine Shrimp Cocktail will be charged $5. Additional adult beverages can be ordered at the regular price. The salad bar does not qualify as an entreee for this promotion. Lunch entrees may be ordered 11:30-3:30 MonBloody Mary Downeast onion rings Sat. Dinner entress may be ordered anytime. You must present coupon before ordering. Coupon or any one Non-alcholic beverage only valid at time of purchase. Not good with any other offer, coupon, discount of group packages.

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p u r c h a s e a $ 5 0 G i f t C a r d a n d Wa r r e n ’ s w i l l g i v e yo u a $ 1 0 C o m p l i m e n ta ry C e r t i f i c at e .

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Drinks to warm your winter

By Rob Levey

There may be nothing more pleasurable in the winter than curling up by a roaring fire with a beverage in hand, warming yourself inside and out. Whether you prefer cocktails, craft beer or wine — or a thick, creamy non-alcoholic hot chocolate — here are some suggestions for winterweather drinks that are sure to bring you comfort and joy.

Brews with body

Scapegoat Porter from Throwback Brewery.

Courtesy photo.

Hot drinks at Hideaway Pub You can play around with measurements to make one of these cocktails to your liking.

Orange Pisco Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate, rum, triple sec, whipped cream, wedge of orange Hot Cocoa Deluxe Hot chocolate, chocolate vodka, chocolate liqueur, whipped cream

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Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate, vanilla vodka, whipped cream, sprinkle of cinnamon Tennessee Mud Hot coffee, Jack Daniels, almond liqueur, whipped cream

Orange pisco hot chocolate from Hideaway Pub. Courtesy photo.

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During this time of year, certain beers seem more popular than others, as darker brews tend to win out over those that are light and crisp.

“In the winter after a day of skiing, sledding or just trying to stay warm, people generally gravitate towards beers that have more body,” said Nicole Carrier, cofounder of Throwback Brewery in North Hampton. “They are ‘roastier’ and often higher in alcohol, too, which will keep you warm.”

With winter in mind, Carrier said, they have already brewed some darker varieties, including their velvety smooth Scapegoat Coconut Porter and their roasty and slightly sweet Honey Oatmeal Stout. Other beers in the works include El ChupBREWcabra Mexican Chocolate Porter.

At Throwback Brewery, winter is also synonymous with its ‘Unafraid of the Dark’ series, which features six limitededition dark beers with one released every two weeks starting at the beginning of January. Each beer features an ingredient that is either grown at a New Hampshire farm, malted by a New England maltster, raised in a New Hampshire garden, foraged in local woods or made (recycled) by a local business.

“Winter can get pretty cold and monotonous, so it is nice to have something fun

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 9

and brown ales become “the hot sellers” during the colder months. She said she is currently eager to pour their next beer on their rotating draft line: a Rocky Road stout from Smuttynose.

“It tastes as good as it sounds,” she said.

“We also have a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which is easier to drink than you may think.”

For Carrier, seasonal drinking is really the same thing as seasonal eating.

“In the summertime, I crave salads that are crisp, refreshing and light, whereas in the winter I want warm and comforting like thick and hearty stews,” she said.

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Chai martini (see recipe below). Courtesy of the Victoria Inn.

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and new to look forward to — like a completely new, creative beer,” Carrier said.

At Hideaway Pub in Salisbury, co-owner Linda Somma said they always keep an IPA on draft in the winter.

“It’s sort of our rule of thumb [because] it’s popular this time of year,” she said.

At The Old Salt in Hampton, Bar Manager Ami Adams said beers, porters, stouts Throwback cocktail event

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To celebrate the arrival of Fat Alberta — a Chocolate Peanut Butter Russian that only makes an appearance once a year — Throwback Brewery will host a kickoff event on Sunday, Dec. 11, at noon.

In addition to Fat Alberta, they will offer several very-small-batch limited-edition brews: Holiday-Spiced Dippity Do, Cranberry Ginger Hobbs Farmhouse Ale, and Honey Oatmeal Stout finished with Chocolate & Orange.

“We will also have several Fat Albertainspired food specials designed by Chef Carrie and her talented team,” Carrier said.

Tickets are not required for the event.

Chai Martini From the Victoria Inn in Hampton, created

by Chef Bill Irish. This recipe was previously featured as a Scene Cocktail of the Week.

4 ounces traditional chai 1.5 ounces either vanilla or plain vodka

North Hill Nursery | 206 Lafayette Road | Hampton, NH | north-hill.com | 603.964.7104 Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm | Sunday 9am-4pm SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 10

Shake and pour into a martini glass.

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At Hideaway Pub, Somma said, hot coffee and hot chocolate drinks are quite popular. Some of their signature drinks this time of year include Bavarian Coffee, Mexican Coffee, Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Coconut Hot Chocolate.

“People just tend to want to try more ‘chocolatey’ and sweet drinks in the winter,” Somma said.

Featuring chocolate vodka, Irish cream liqueur, green crème de menthe and a splash of whipped cream, the Girl Scout Cookie Martini is one of Hideaway Pub’s signature cocktails this time of year.

“It has a pretty light green color,” she said. “People will often have one or two of these drinks and then switch to their regular drinks.”

At The Old Salt, Adams said they also see a jump in sales in the winter with their warm beverages and, particularly, coffee drinks.

“Our best seller is our Old Salt Coffee, which has Kahlua, Baileys, Grand Marnier and coffee,” she said.

She said other cold-month drinking trends include a preference for red wines, dark beers and brown spirits (whiskey, scotch, bourbon). “This year for the holiday season, we are also offering a Spiced Apple Cranberry Sangria, which has been well-received,” she said.

Of course, no holiday cocktail menu would be complete without eggnog. At The Old Salt this winter, their Spiked Nog is already a hit with Jameson, Baileys and eggnog.

“Eggnog mixes well with many spirits, though, like Southern Comfort, Captain Top with cardamom whipped cream.* *The Victoria Inn uses a homemade recipe; try this one from savoryspiceshop.com.

In a chilled bowl, whip one cup of heavy whipping cream until soft peaks develop.

Add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and a teaspoon ground cinnamon and continue to whip until you reach desired consistency. Use immediately or cover and chill for later.

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Morgan, and brandy, to mention a few,” she said.

Adams said she has noticed a downward trend, however, with creamy drinks.

Whereas White Russians, Toasted Almonds and Mudslides were once quite popular, their sales are slightly decreasing.

“I believe that is due to people being more health-conscious,” she said. “The holiday season, though, is still the time people indulge the most.”

Wines to warm you

As the weather turns colder, wine is the drink of choice for many consumers — more specifically, the red variety.

“People’s tastes tend to go toward the red wines, which are usually served at room temperature,” said Peter Oldak of Jewell Towne Vineyards in South Hampton, the oldest vineyard in the Granite State. “White wines are chilled and are more interesting in the warmer weather.”

Their signature red is Marechal Foch, which features a hybrid grape originally developed after World War I in France.

According to Oldak, the grape is fastmaturing and cold-weather-hardy, which makes it perfect for growth in New Hampshire.

“It’s a Burgundian-style red lighter in color,” he said. “It’s a good pasta red and Cranberry Cosmo Courtesy of our wine columnist, Stefanie Phillips, who got this recipe from LaBelle Winery in Amherst.

LaBelle calls this a “winetini,” in that the traditional ingredients in a cosmopolitan are changed to include cranberry wine.

85 Water Street, exeter, NH OpeN 7 DayS . 603-778-3770 WWW.treNDSgiftgallery.cOm SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 12

6 ounces LaBelle Winery Cranberry Wine 2 ounces triple sec 1 ounce fresh lime juice 105133

good for meat, too. … It is grown extensively in France and often referred to as the common man’s wine. Our climate is very favorable for it.”

The history behind Jewell Towne Vineyards is just as interesting as its many wines. Oldak started with just six grapevines in 1982. He eventually planted more than 60 varieties of grapes to determine which ones would survive winters in New Hampshire, ripen and make quality wine.

In 1994, Jewell Towne Vineyards became a licensed commercial New Hampshire winery.

Noting they have since won more than 150 medals in national and international competition, Oldak said their personal success highlights the emerging strength of New Hampshire’s often unheralded winemaking capacity.

“There are now 34 wineries in New Hampshire,” he said. “We are making quality wines comparable to Europe and California.”

In addition to their red wines, Oldak said their ice wines are also popular in the cold months. This style of wine features the Vidal blanc grape, a complex hybrid varietal.

“The grape naturally freezes on the vine,” he said. “It’s a delicious dessert wine with concentrated flavor.”

At The Old Salt, Adams express an affinity for one red wine in particular.

“We recently changed our wine list and added Josh Cellars Legacy Red, which is one of my favorite red wines,” she said.

“When it comes to wines, red is the way to go for winter — it warms you from the inside out.”

At Hideaway Pub, Somma said they feature several wines from Canyon Road Winery in California. “We do a lot of wines here this time of year — one of my favorites is a blended wine,” she said.

For those who would like to learn more about wines in New Hampshire, Oldak suggests visiting the New Hampshire Winery Association’s website.

“They list all the members, and a lot of wineries are open for tours and tastings, including us,” he said. “It can be fun to visit a winery and try some of their wines and learn a little bit about them and see what appeals to an individual’s tastes.”

1 teaspoon sugar (or more to taste) 3-4 ice cubes Colored sugar, or LaBelle’s Cranberry Wine Infused Sugar for rimming the glasses Put all ingredients into a shaker and mix vigorously. Pour into sugar-rimmed martini glasses and garnish with lime wedges, if desired. Sip with friends and enjoy! Makes two martinis.

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For kids — or anyone for that matter — hot chocolate is the perfect beverage for a cold winter’s day. Noting the term is often used synonymously with “hot cocoa,” Jason Martone of The Chocolatier in Exeter said “hot chocolate” is technically something altogether different. Whereas hot cocoa is a water- and cocoa powderbased drink, hot chocolate is a drinking chocolate.

“It’s a milk- or cream-based drink with actual chopped chocolate in it,” he said.

It is not difficult to make either, according to Martone, who noted that the milk or cream should be heated to slightly less than boiling. It can then be added to the chopped chocolate, whereby it will begin to quickly melt.

“If you don’t want to have it taste too much like chocolate, you can also dumb the flavor down a bit by adding more milk or cream,” he said For the cream-based portion of hot chocolate, he said he personally uses equal parts whole milk and heavy cream. For the chocolate, he suggests using chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa in it. He said you also might want to add a little bit of sugar.

“I like to add a little bit of vanilla, too,” he said.

Martone said his only other bit of advice in making a hot chocolate is to make sure to chop the chocolate as finely as possible.

Banana Hot Chocolate Courtesy of Hideaway Pub

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111517

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 14

For those looking to add a little creativity to their warm beverage concoctions, bananas have long been used by hot chocolate aficionadas as a surprising element that pleases guests of all ages.

For those who want to enhance a cup of hot cocoa or hot chocolate, he said you could add a nougat, which is a hard chewy European candy, and it will slowly melt into the drink. He said chocolate-covered marshmallows are also a fun addition.

“There is a lot you can do with these drinks — it just depends on how flavorful you want them to be,” he said.

For those who perhaps want someone to make a hot chocolate for them, Carrier said they just recently added hot chocolate to their menu at Throwback Brewery.

“It’s served with a house-made marshmallow that’s been dipped a bit in chocolate,” she said.

Peppermint bark from The Chocolatier is the perfect accompaniment to a mug of steaming hot chocolate or a cup of creamy eggnog.

1. Combine one banana with a 1-cup mixture of milk and cream. Blend for about 30 to 45 seconds until smooth.

2. Strain banana mixture into a small saucepan over medium heat and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until simmering.

3. Add 5 ounces of coarsely chopped chocolate and whisk for about 2 minutes until well-incorporated.

4. Serve immediately.

Whether a Scenic Tour for family or friends, or a "Dream Flight" where you get to take the controls, a Seacoast Helicopters Gift Certificate is certainly a unique gift this Holiday Season.

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FREEMAN CONDON OF BEACH PLUM FARMS NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER IN SALISBURY How long have you been open?

Thirty-two years.

What have you done to respond to these challenges?

It’s all about quality. Box stores are flooded with mass-grown plants, but they can’t hold a candle to us in terms of quality. Our plants are grown by us or by people we have trusted through the years.

It sounds like “local” is your business strength — is that true?

There is no question that is true. Our customers have become friends. They shop here for quality and selection. They are here to support my wife and family. This business has put two kids through college and grad school. We are selling Christmas trees right now. We try to provide a seasonal product year-round as a service. ... I had one customer the other day who said he went to Lowe’s and they refused to tie the tree on his car. They said it was a liability issue. It’s not an issue here. If you walk into my business, I’m here 99.9 percent of the time. The same is true for me when I go out to shop. I go to a [local] paint store. I like to give him the business. There is a strong feeling about shopping and supporting local. Small businesses need the support of the community or they won’t survive. That is the one thing that keeps us going — the satisfaction from our customers. We are in the information business. It

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We have five acres of land and six greenhouses. We have the ability in the springtime to produce a lot of what we sell.

It allows us to control quality and variety.

Our shoppers are getting more sophisticated, too. We thrive because of repeat business. People are satisfied, which means we are doing something right.

What is the biggest change in your business in these past three-plus decades?

One would be the introduction of the big box stores. Thirty-two years ago there was no Walmart in Seabrook or Lowe’s in Seabrook. The nature of my business is changing. Thirty-two years ago, if you were going to grandmother’s for Easter you would have had to buy an Easter lily from me. Now you can get it from these and other places.

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behooves us to explain things to our customers. We want them to be successful.

What has been the biggest change in your products over the years?

In terms of the varieties of things we sell, we used to not carry a wide range of herbs but now we do. We did not carry a lot of perennials, but now we have multiple varieties. To prosper on a small scale, you broaden your offerings. For people that enjoy gardening or trees, many are fanatics. We try to provide what they are looking for.

What is your favorite part about your business?

The satisfaction from owning your own business. It can wear you down, but when someone comes in, they go, “Wow.” You do get a feeling of pride and satisfaction and gratitude. The feeling of independence is my favorite thing.

If there is one thing you would like people to remember about your business, what would that be?

I hope they realize the extent to which I am grateful for their support.

Any big future plans?

We always have a lot of plans — you have to change as the business changes.

We always try to be on the forefront of researching and providing new plant material. We are always looking for things we don’t grow from new sources. We go to greenhouse and trade shows.The old adage is publish or perish in the teaching world.

Ours is to adapt to the times and the changing desires and needs of people.

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 17

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Steve’s Diner

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 18

111372

Portsmouth - 775 Lafayette Rd, Rt 1 422-6758 • N. Hampton - 69 Lafayette Rd, Rt. 1 379-2500

Hampton resident Taylor Foley takes community involvement very seriously, with a primary interest, among many philanthropic concerns, in how to end hunger on the Seacoast. His work in the community began four years ago with End 68 Hours of Hunger after he researched organizations for which he could volunteer as part of his confirmation at First Congregational Church.

“For the last four years, I have been packing bags of food for children in Hampton and North Hampton,” said Foley, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover.

Noting that he packed these bags with others as a team member in his first year, he said he was presented with the opportunity to lead his own group the following year.

“I’ve recruited kids to pack with me,” Foley said. “Currently, I have a team of three other teenagers and a new family. I set up the food prior to packing to be sure we have enough of everything we need.

After we’ve packed the bags, we load them into my mom’s car to deliver to the school office.”

Foley’s other volunteer interest regarding hunger centers on the Seacoast Area CROP Hunger Walk. He described CROP Hunger Walks as community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by local congregations or groups to raise funds to end hunger locally and around the world.

“I joined the Seacoast Area CROP Hunger Walk committee two years ago at the suggestion of my pastor, Rev. Deborah Knowlton,” he said. “I’m honored to be a youth representative and liaison from my church. I attend the committee planning meetings, help run the Facebook page and spread the word about the walk and our mission, recruit walkers from my church and fundraise.”

Foley said he believes volunteering in the community is an experience from which many youth his age could benefit.

“I think if other students who’ve never done any community service work knew how amazing it feels to be making a difference and helping someone in need, they’d be more willing to try it,” he said.

“I’ve gotten my mom, my dad and my brother involved and it’s been fun to volunteer as a family.”

Foley’s spend all his free time working in the community; he cited an interest

Taylor Foley. Courtesy photo.

in several activities, including skiing in the winter and visiting the beach in the summer. He said he also stays quite busy with a part-time job at Diversions Puzzles and Games, where he just celebrated his one-year anniversary.

“I enjoy learning the new games the store promotes so I can tell customers about them,” he said. “I was excited to be given the opportunity to run the Store’s Sunday Magic the Gathering tournaments — it’s one of my favorite card games.”

Foley also has a keen interest in academics, including his favorite subjects, U.S. history and American literature.

“U.S. history fascinates me,” he added.

“I love learning about what has happened in the past, how our country was made and keeping up on current events. I also love to read fiction, nonfiction, fantasy and sci-fi.”

As for the future, Foley is not entirely sure what he wants to do, although he is considering a major in business or law.

“I am just starting to explore colleges now,” he said. “I’m looking at colleges in New England, New York and Colorado.

I’m also interested in joining my father’s business after college.”

— Rob Levey

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE111442 19

CAR TALK

Temperature-sending unit likely culprit in false overheating readings Dear Car Talk: I have a 2005 Buick LeSabre. The only thing I’ve had to repair so far are the rear shocks. But one morning I started the car, and the needle

By Ray Magliozzi on the temperature gauge was a bit past the center, which isn’t normal. I took the car to a mechanic, and he said the problem might be something in the radiator, so he backflushed the system. This made the needle on the temperature gauge register a bit below the center of the gauge. After six days, the needle went past the center of the gauge again. I took it to another shop, and they checked the temperature, which was between 180 and 190. They replaced the thermostat. All was well for 10 days, but then the temperature gauge went into the red, “overheating” zone, which it had never done before. I was told that the 2005 Buick LeSabres were having trouble with the temperature gauge: The gauge shows that the car is overheating, but it’s actually not. Can you figure out the problem? My wife is afraid to ride in the car. — Thomas

The first question to answer is, Is the car actually overheating, or does the gauge just say it’s overheating?

When you went to one of the mechanics, he measured the temperature, presumably with his own gauge, and got a reading of 180-190 F. That’s perfect.

Since the gauge went into the red zone after that, I would do that test again. We have a pyrometer at the shop, which is an infrared temperature gauge that we can point at any of the coolant hoses. It’ll tell us the temperature of the coolant, independent of what your gauge is saying.

If the engine actually is overheating, then you’ve got a serious problem.

It could be anything from a bad water pump or a leaky head gasket to a cracked cylinder head. Let’s hope the coolant reads 190 again, which means the engine is just fine.

If the engine is running at its proper temperature, then the problem is in the system that monitors and reports the temperature. It could be a bad gauge, as you suggest. But before you rip out the dashboard and pay for a new gauge or instrument cluster, Istart by replacing the temperature sending unit (TSU).

The TSU reads the coolant tempera-

ture in the engine and sends that info to the gauge. The TSU is a $40-$50 part, and no big deal to install. If that fixes it, you’re all done and your wife will ride with you to the rock-climbing gym again. If a new temperature sending unit doesn’t fix it, then go ahead and replace the gauge.

But if you’ve been kind to strangers and flossed regularly, all you’ll need is a temperature-sending unit, Thomas. Good luck.

Dear Car Talk: The battery in one of my vehicles is nearing the end of its life. What is the best way to preserve the electronic presets (radio, lights settings, etc.) when the battery is disconnected during replacement? — Tim Take it to a shop that has the same little device we have, Tim. We have a small power pack that plugs into the car’s data port, and when the ignition is off, it trickles a small amount of power to the car’s computer.

That way, while the battery is removed, you keep your radio presets, your clock and any other memorized customized seating, door-lock or lighting preferenc-

es that your car allows you to set these days. Your computer also will retain the car’s performance parameters.

Lots of cars these days “learn” your driving style and set things like transmission-shift points based on that. The computer also stores sensor and emissions data that you’ll need when you get your car inspected.

Granted, it doesn’t take more than a day or two to re-acquire that information, but it’s one more benefit of maintaining minimal power during a battery change.

Most shops will have one of these devices. And if you want to, you even can buy one yourself. I’ve seen a “home” version for about $20 that runs on a 9-volt battery and plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter. Then you can be known throughout the neighborhood as the guy who saves radio presets.

I will warn you that it works about 95 percent of the time. For some reason, it fails occasionally, and then we have to set all of the customer’s presets to NPR and convince him that that’s all he’s ever listened to. So we hope it works for you, Tim. Visit Cartalk.com.

Family owned and operated, providing the same friendly atmosphere since we opened, 56 years ago, in 1960.

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The home of familiar favorites SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 20

The Brätskellar Pub

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FOOD

Food is love

What the Seacoast is doing to help those in need Food is a symbol of celebration, and never more so than during the holidays.

But if you or someone in your community is having a hard time making ends meet, the very idea of celebrating can turn into hopelessness.

Luckily, during the holidays a sense of blessing and gratitude sweeps the Seacoast, and so many give back to their community and those in need.

At the Seacoast Community Action Food Pantry in Seabrook, food pantry coordinator Michelle Termini said their program has no income guidelines and will give to anyone in need.

“They can just call me and set up a time to come in,” she said. “It looks like a grocery store here, and they get to choose right off the shelves. We have fresh bread and pastry daily, plus meat three days a week. We also get produce in as well.”

At the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, the food pantry serves some 600 families.

“Regularly, we see at the food pantry approximately 15 people a day, and 45 a day who just come in for the pastry and produce,” Termini said, adding that food pantries aren’t what they used to be, filled with dry goods and canned items with no nutritional value. “It’s amazing now. There are eggs, milk, butter, cheese, even dog and cat food.”

And it’s much more than food that the pantry offers. Families often suffer emotionally under the duress of trying to put food on the table and trying to give their children not only a decent meal but a sense of normalcy.

Hampton Falls Elementary School students who participated in a food drive. Courtesy photo.

“Clients love it, especially that they can pick out their own food instead of just receiving a bag of nothing they like or could eat,” Termini said. “I go by the idea of what would my kids like to eat. I make sure everything can go together for a fresh, complete meal.”

For Thanksgiving, they handed out gift cards as well as turkeys and all the fixings for a well-rounded feast.

“We have a lot of clients that rely on us for their holiday dinner,” she said.

Corporate and independent store sponsorship is a critical foundation for local

Students packing bags at Winnicunnet High School Student Counsel. Courtesy photo.

SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 22

charities. The Farm at Eastman’s Corner in Kensington, for example, is a staunch supporter and donator of goods, and Termini hopes to launch a campaign in the coming months to get more corporate sponsors on board.

“We always accept goods throughout the year. But donations slow down in the spring and summer, so I’m trying to do a big push for donations for that time of year. The need is still there. Kids are missing two meals by not being in school.

So that’s one of my big goals I’ll be working on,” Termini said.

Termini also welcomes anyone who wants to come in to help volunteer.

“They can come here and help stock the shelves or pack the bags, pick up donations, there’s always something that needs done,” she said.

The food pantry is in close contact with the Seabrook Community Table, held at Trinity Parish House in Seabrook, which in its eighth year hosts weekly meals every Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. throughout the holidays and year-round.

“Lots of folks are so helpful, everyone pitches in, and I really couldn’t do it by myself,” said Director Joyce Addison, noting that they actually have too many volunteers right now.

The Seacoast Family Food Pantry in Portsmouth also has myriad programs that serve the area of Hampton, Hampton Falls, Rye and Seabrook. Their Meals 4 Kids program supplements Head Start families over summer vacation and school breaks, Meals 4 Seniors aims at reducing

medical needs caused by poor nutrition, and their food pantry program can be visited every month. In addition, they have a groundbreaking CSA program, with Wake Robin Farm in Stratham participating in the summer, in which families are sponsored by donations to take part in the farm shares.

Serving 350 families all year long, their wish list includes granola, dried fruit, brown rice and whole grains. 24 Sharing joy Join in the season of giving by getting in touch with your local food pantry and soup kitchen. Every town, every place of worship, and every department store offers a chance to give back to the community by donating time, money or edible items to help put joy on the tables of those less fortunate this holiday season. You can also contact the following services if you’re in need of a helping hand this year.

Seacoast Family Food Pantry, Portsmouth, contact Jacqueline Kepner at seacoastfamilyfoodpantry.org.

Seacoast/Rockingham County Community Action Food Pantry, Seabrook, contact Michelle Termini at 603-474-3507 or snhs.org.

Seabrook Community Table, Trinity Parish House, Seabrook, contact Joyce Addison at 603-474-9608.

End 68 Hours of Hunger, Hampton and North Hampton, contact Michele Peckham at end68hoursofhunger.org.

Visit foodprovidersnetwork.org for a complete listing of food pantries and soup kitchens on the Seacoast.

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 23

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Photo of food drive at another Loco road race. Courtesy photo.

22 Specific to the holidays, also having just finished its Thanksgiving rush, the Seacoast Family Food Pantry is hosting its ninth annual Pease n’ Carrots Holiday Food Drive, asking for nonperishable donations through Dec. 31.

At the local chapter of End 68 Hours of Hunger, co-coordinator Michele Peckham serves the Hampton and North Hampton area, assisting 45 children in both towns, across five schools. Four teams of volunteers rotate each week to pack the bags and deliver them to the SAU, where the parents pick up the bags every Friday.

“Every other program in New Hampshire only serves the kids, but the superintendent of Hampton SAU insisted that the whole family is taken into account,” Peckham said. “We didn’t want to just send them home with a box of mac and cheese that they make by themselves. All the parents are on board and want to make a nice dinner for their family. We provide them with anything possible that won’t spoil. So for donations, we’re looking for anything that goes with a complete meal.”

Check it out!

Nov. 19th - Dec. 31st It’ll make you feel like a kid again.

There are vintage and new trains and accessories. More magic will be added throughout the season. Bring the Kids.

With so much to do, volunteers are vital to the organizing and distribution process.

“Volunteers typically pack the bags and deliver for us. We rely on monetary donations to our Hampton or North Hampton program so that we can purchase food,” Peckham said.

Having just completed their big Thanksgiving push like so many on the Seacoast, Peckham said they gave out entire turkey dinners, including vegetables, potatoes, onions, pie, butter, rolls and even chicken broth.

“Folks are certainly tired of turkey after Thanksgiving, but we’ll provide everything for a complete December holiday meal whether it’s turkey or something else,” she said.

Peckham gave high marks to the Seacoast area’s food programs, especially to the Seacoast/Rockingham Community Action Food Pantry that Termini runs.

“They give out meats, and if you walk down the aisles it looks just like a grocery store,” she said.

— Jocelyn Winn

Our Giving Saturday - Dec. 10th Will benefit the Dan Healy Foundation 15% of sales that day will be donated.

151 Portsmouth Ave Stratham, NH

THE NUTCRACKER BALLET AND BRUNCH The Blue Ocean Music Hall hosts a show and brunch as the Methuen Ballet Ensemble takes the stage Sunday, Dec. 11, to perform scenes from The Nutcracker. The show is 10 a.m. to noon and features brunch prepared

by Seaglass Restaurant with kid-friendly selections, photos with ballerina Clara, a tableside visit from Santa, Nutcracker chocolate for each child and a holiday activity booklet. Seating must be reserved in advance. The cost is $35 per person. The box office can be reached at 978-462-5888. Ticket price includes stage program, character visits, brunch and free admission to the SeaFestival of Trees.

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 24

FOOD

La Vigilia di Natale

Enjoy a Feast of the Seven Fishes The holidays are primed to showcase your culture’s traditions, and for people of Italian heritage the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve is a mainstay.

While its origin is shrouded in mystery — it’s commonly thought that the seven fish symbolize the seven religious sacraments — the tradition has been passed along for generations.

This year, enjoy an Italian Christmas Eve a bit early, on Thursday, Dec. 8, or Thursday, Dec. 15 at Capri Seaside Italian Grill’s Feast of the Seven Fishes. The meals begin at 6:30 p.m. and cost $49.95 by reservation only.

According to Atlantic Hospitality Group Director Kathy Aiello, customers come back year after year for the remarkable food and generous hospitality.

“They’ve heard of the Italian Christmas Eve celebration but particularly enjoy being immersed in such a lively, fun cultural tradition. The event is extremely popular and builds each year, which is why we added another day this year to accommodate the great response,” she said.

And hosting large Italian get-togethers is nothing new to the folks at Capri.

“Our GM Kathleen Sarno Shick is 100-percent Italian born and raised and has been celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes with her own family since she was a young child,” Aiello said.

Likewise, Executive Chef Harley Smith, who also heads up the nearby Blue Ocean Music Hall kitchen, has Italian roots and has long celebrated the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes each year with his family.

“Many of the fish we serve are traditional to what is served in Italy, from cod and calamari to clams and octopus. He puts his own spin on preparing incredibly sumptuous fish and seafood dishes,” Aiello said.

According to both Aiello and Smith, most of the seafood (with the exception of the octopus, which is imported from Spain) is sourced locally in affiliation with David’s Fish Market, which buys from the Seacoast as well as from Boston and Portland, Maine, fish markets.

“For the event, there are seven separate composed dishes served to each guest,” said Aiello, and the opus is capped off by traditional Italian dolce, which this year will most likely be holiday-spiced tiramisu.

Guests are treated like relatives at this highly popular soiree, with the seven courses served family-style.

“Some dishes are served in a larger bowl, which is shared; others are plated in the kitchen and served individually. Both the chef and the wine distributor are looking at pairing the flavor profiles of the food with

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the wine blend,” Aiello said.

“I really focused on things people can identify with, things also found here in America versus just in Italy. I served eel last year, for instance, and it was a bit over the top,” Smith said. “I’ve had octopus on the menu for the last four years. … I braise it for a very very long time, until it’s forktender. People are amazed I can get it like that. After it’s done cooking, it’s chilled in an ice bath, and then marinated for a couple of hours tops.”

For the non-seafood fare, Smith buys from purveyors who keep items in season locally and, for the winter months, from sources that can grow indoors for, say, the kale and baby arugula sides. Smith also enjoys buying “nicer,” or more refined, items such as preserved oven-roasted tomatoes that have been picked at the peak of season — another Italian tradition of harvesting and preserving the garden by canning or pickling to get through the winter months.

“What it boils down to is every dish is identifiable but still unique and different from the next,” Smith said. “You won’t see tomato sauce, for instance, on every dish.

I like to throw some variety out there and also by using different cooking methods — braising, sautéing, frying, baking.”

Smith agreed that the product dictates the method — oysters like to be baked, cod roasted or oven-braised, calamari fried and clams steamed or sautéed.

“I like to play around with flavor profiles, but most of all I want everyone to enjoy themselves, and I think people are really receptive to what I put out,” he said.

For reservations, call 978-462-7543. See capriseaside.com. — Jocelyn Winn

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Seating about 75 inside and 40 outside on the seasonal patio, Popovers at the Brickyard Square (11 Brickyard Square, Epping, 603-734-4724, popoversonthesquare.com) is large enough to accommodate its customers yet still maintain that cozy and welcoming feel. Whether you and your family are there for breakfast, lunch, dinner or the wide selection of desserts and coffee, the ambiance will leave you feeling as calm and comfortable as if you were home. Sending you off with a full belly, the Popovers team is as welcoming as it is efficient, mixing a quicker, more convenient meal with the style and flair of a high-end restaurant. General Manager Matthew Clark gave the Scene an inside look at what makes Popovers the place to be.

How long has Popovers at Brickyard Square been open?

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ing good employees and keeping them here. The crew here makes me look good all the time. I only do so much. It’s the staff here that does a great job. Without the good people to make it all go, it doesn’t work. I give a lot of credit to the staff, the kitchen, the bakery, the front of the house, the bartenders, all of them.

How did Popovers originate?

The first Popovers is in Portsmouth, downtown. We have two owners here.

One of them owns the Galley Hatch over in Hampton and the other owner was an executive pastry chef at the Balsams in the White Mountains. So one owner used to go to Portsmouth with his daughters and they would look for a nice but fairly quick lunch spot, but they weren’t really finding any. They found nice, or they found quick.

They couldn’t really find the combination of the two. So that’s where the idea for the first Popovers came from, combined with the owner, Chef James, who is kind of the pastry inspiration. That’s where we have

all the fun, delicious desserts and cakes and pastries that we do so much with.

How would you describe Popovers’ dining environment?

I would describe it as clean and sophisticated.

If you could serve any type of celebrity or political figure that is alive or dead, who would it be?

Wow. I would probably say Bob Dylan.

I’m a big fan and I think he’d be an interesting cat to talk to.

What is the most popular menu item?

I would say it’s probably the turkey panini. It’s been the same preparation on our menu since we opened and it’s always one of the best-selling sandwiches. We roast our own turkey for the turkey breast on multigrain wheat bread, with lettuce, tomato, mayo and provolone cheese. It’s all grilled crispy. It’s probably one of the best sellers we have. — Ashlyn Daniel-Nuboer

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Many of us have wine-lovers on our holiday shopping lists. A bottle of their favorite is always a nice gift, but if you are looking for something different, or something to go along with the wine, here are some ideas.

Wine accessories There are so many accessories you can get to go along with a bottle of wine, including wine glasses, wine charms, cork holders, bottle toppers, wine racks and more. Electric wine openers are a great gift idea, as they make opening wine much, much easier.

Red wine fans will enjoy getting an aerator or decanter, while white wine fans will like a chiller or wine icicle, which keeps wine cooler longer.

One of my favorite wine accessories is a wine journal my brother and sister-inlaw gave me.

Similarly, a wine magazine subscription or book about a wine region or wine in general can also make a great gift.

While wine glasses may seem like a boring gift, purchasing a nice set that can be used for special occasions is an option. I really like stemless wine glasses, as they don’t spill as easily and are less fragile. They can be purchased specifically for red or white wines.

But wine accessories don’t have to be serious either. Over the years, my sister has given me a wine topper shaped like a banana, cups that can float in a pool and a suction cup holder so you can enjoy a glass of wine while you take a bath.

Wine tastings/visits I know people who say they always want to visit a winery or go to a tasting but never get around to it. Give them some incentive by purchasing a gift certificate to their favorite winery. If they do not have a favorite yet, purchase one to a nearby winery so they can enjoy the experience at a later date. Many wineries offer certificates for tastings and tours; they can also be used to purchase wine and other items. There are also several options available for purchase on sites like LivingSocial or Groupon that can be gifted to someone else. Plus, if you’re lucky, they will invite you to join them on the visit.

Gift certificates for a wine class are another option. A gift certificate allows the receiver to choose a class that works with his schedule and is of genuine interest.

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 28

Photo by Stefanie Phillips.

Wine décor If you aren’t sure what kind of wine someone drinks, but know that he likes wine, then wine décor is a good option.

This can be anything from a wine sign for the wall with a funny saying or a cork holder in the shape of a letter. Also in the wine décor category are wine racks that can be hung on the wall that hold just wine bottles or glasses as well.

When all else fails…

If you really aren’t sure what to get, ask for help. We have some great wine shops and New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlets located around the state with people ready to help you choose the perfect gift. They will ask you what the person typically drinks and what your price point is, and offer some suggestions. The wine aisles can be overwhelming, so instead of being confused or just choosing something based on the label, turn to someone who can help. A bottle of wine isn’t “just a bottle of wine” when it was specially chosen for someone on your list. Gift certificates work in this case too if you just cannot decide what to get.

One option I really like is a wine gift basket with a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, chocolates or even fruit (if you are going to be delivering the basket rather than shipping it). Many local shops will put together a customized wine basket based on your selections and budget.

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season no matter how you celebrate.

Remember, it is not the gift, but the thought that counts.

— Stefanie Phillips

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Over 170 years after it was written, A Christmas Carol has remained a staple tale of the holiday season, being adapted countless times for people (and Muppets) on stage and screen. And though these iterations typically stay true to Charles Dickens’ novella, local playwright and actor George Hosker-Bouley set out to pen a version that presents the spirit of the original with a noticeable twist.

The result was A Dickens of a Christmas, a Christmas dinner theater event that will begin its 14th year of performances at the Old Salt Restaurant in Hampton from Dec. 12 through Dec. 15.

“I had performed in so many adaptations of A Christmas Carol, and I felt there weren’t many out there with an adult sensibility,” said Hosker-Bouley, who previously worked as artistic and executive director of the Prescott Park Arts Festival and currently runs The Underbelly Tour in Portsmouth with Sarah Shanahan. “So I thought to myself, ‘You know, Dickens is a writer. I wonder if he ever got writer’s block?”’

A Dickens of a Christmas is based on that premise. As the play opens, the great Victorian novelist (played by Hosker-Bouley) hasn’t even started writing the novella’s first stave. Instead, he’s furiously brainstorming on Christmas Eve, trying to put quill to parchment and write the story he promised his children as a Christmas present. In the meantime, Dickens and his wife prepare their home to host a Christmas party.

When their guests begin to arrive, the audience may realize they’re just as familiar with the present company as their hosts, with characterizations of Bob Cratchit, Ebenezer Scrooge, the three Christmas ghosts and more appearing outside of their typical guise. As the night progresses, A Christmas Carol’s plot begins to unfold in

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 30

George Hosker-Bouley. Courtesy photo.

front of Dickens’ eyes.

The crew of classic characters is played by members of Carpe Diem, a production company founded by Hosker-Bouley that has been performing in the area for 23 years. Though there have been some regulars — like Norm Smith as Scrooge and Hosker-Bouley’s husband Michael as Death — the cast has had many new performers over the years.

“I’m the only actor that’s been with the production throughout its existence,” says Hosker-Bouley, recalling with a laugh that “at one point we couldn’t keep a [Bob] Cratchit if our life depended on it. We ended up having a Mrs. Cratchit one year.”

Though the basic framework of A Dickens of a Christmas remains the same each year, Hosker-Bouley updates the script with topical humor and current political commentary. He described election years as especially helpful for providing “fodder for the mill.”

“The performance has the look of a Victorian Christmas but the political humor and sensibility of a Saturday Night Live sketch,” Hosker-Bouley said. “It brings out all the warmth and Christmas spirit of the original tale while also providing a lot of belly laughs.”

He credits the Old Salt with providing a welcoming space for A Dickens of a Christmas, which the restaurant has done for all the play’s 14 years of productions. Carpe Diem has toured the play in the past at venues like the Three Chimneys Inn in Durham and Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, though Hosker-Bouley said the Old Salt has always felt like home.

Attendees feel the same, Hosker-Bouley said; about a third of the roughly 100 seats filled each night are purchased by people who’ve been coming to the play every year since it premiered as a one-night event.

These aren’t your standard theater seats, though. The Old Salt prepares the room to resemble a Victorian living room, complete with full décor and a roaring fireplace.

Hosker-Bouley said it feels like being welcomed into someone’s home, “if they had a room that could seat 100 people.”

The performance itself takes place in the center of the dining room with attendees seated at surrounding tables. Actors perform 20-minute blocks of the play, mingling with the crowd during breaks as attendees eat one of three courses from a gourmet meal provided by The Old Salt.

This segment of the show requires improv from the actors, Hosker-Bouley said, and he highlighted his enjoyment of the interactivity provided by the play, which also includes a live musician and singing of traditional Christmas carols and some original pieces.

“I find it exciting to have the audience completely surrounding you and so involved in the production,” he said. “It’s like walking on a tightrope, or, to fit the season, walking on a string of garland.

The play is one of my favorite things in the world to perform.”

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a 6:30 p.m. show all four nights, with tickets costing $39.99 for adults and $19.99 for children, excluding tax or gratuity. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Old Salt Restaurant at 603-926-8322. — Scott Murphy

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Joyful noise

Rock My Soul brings holiday roots gospel to Seacoast When it comes to gospel music, the New Hampshire Seacoast isn’t the first place that springs to mind, but the 35-member Rock My Soul choir makes a convincing case otherwise. If past years are any indication, an upcoming run of “Rockin’ Gospelized” holiday shows by the secular ensemble will raise the region’s spirits and induce shouts of “amen” with the alacrity of a seasoned Southern Baptist church choir.

The 12th annual run of concerts features a mix of spirituals and soul music, from high-energy versions of “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night” to “Merry Christmas Baby” with an Otis Redding twist.

“We have some great new songs that we will be pulling out, including a couple from Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings — she was just amazing,” group founder Dawn Boyer said in a recent phone interview.

She also noted that a horn section will “make it into a great R&B, rocking Phil Spector-ish kind of sound.”

Boyer formed Rock My Soul after spending two years singing in a church choir, an effort of personal healing after 9/11. In addition to performing, she wanted to share the traditions of gospel music.

“Every time I introduce a song to the choir, before we sing one note, we take time to talk about what the song is about and how we can connect our experience to its message, as well as how to express that emotion vocally,” she said of the group, which includes community members from throughout the region.

Raised in North Carolina, Boyer was exposed to gospel music as a child by her black housekeeper. “She took me to her church, and I kind of fell in love; I wanted to be part of that feeling those people created,” she said. “I think part of what makes the music speak to so many is how it comes from a very real place of pain

The Rock My Soul choir. Courtesy photo.

and struggle, yet shows the strength of the human spirit to make it through. Anyone who has encountered pain can relate.”

To that end, Rock My Soul, under the auspices of its nonprofit ProjectMusicWorks, travels to hospice facilities, rehab centers and correctional institutions during the year, offering a soulful brand of music therapy.

“We have seen families come together through it, sing together and be able to work through emotions,” Boyer said, “especially in hospice, where they might not have been able to articulate their feelings, whereas when they sing together, they can.”

This healing aspect flows both ways, infecting choir members with positivity.

“People are singing well together, but there is something deeper happening, and they all get it,” Boyer said. “People

one of Boyer’s favorite stories about the music’s roots.

“It’s an old slave spiritual, and the ‘bosom of Abraham’ in the words is not necessarily from the Bible, but from Abraham Lincoln and how he gave them a path to freedom,” she said. “There is a lot of double meaning behind the songs.”

Boyer has given much thought to the idea that a group of white singers doing African-American songs may be viewed by some as cultural co-optation. She once asked Valerie Cunningham, founder of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, for her views on the topic.

“I wanted to be sensitive and not usurp black cultural heritage,” Boyer said. “She said the black community serves an integral role in communicating its experience, but the white community is needed to carry the message further into areas it might not otherwise be heard or understood.

When we work together, we can bridge divides and strengthen all communities, and that’s the direction we want to concome having worked all week, they’re tinue moving in.” — Michael Witthaus tired, and they leave feeling so uplifted. ... There is a bond that has happened that Rock My Soul is really nice.”

Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Backing the choir is a stellar group that Choir & Band includes Boyer’s husband, guitarist Brett Second Christian Congregational Church Hartenbach, keyboard player Mike Effen33 Government St., Kittery, Maine, berger and horn players Matt Langley and 207-450-8016 Zach Lange. The group’s rhythm section is drummer Joe Rogers and bass player Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.

Victor Love — “The man with the best RMS Five Christmas Spectacular House name in gospel,” Boyer said with a laugh.

Concert The decision to call the choir Rock My Red & Shorty’s Soul came about by kismet, at an early 4 Paul St., Dover, 767-3305 rehearsal.

“Someone joked about how we were Sunday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. going to rock their souls,” Boyer said.

Choir & Band “Then someone yelled out, ‘Rock their St. John’s Methodist Church souls — that’s it!’”

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Make a fan happy

Holiday gifts for the music-lover Losing David Bowie, Prince, Glenn Frey and Leonard Cohen made 2016 a tough year for music fans. What’s needed under the tree, then, is something soothing, a source for reflection.

Let’s begin with books.

To remember lost lights, there’s the justpublished Prince: Purple Reign by Mick Wall (Trapeze, $30) and David Bowie: The Last Interview (Penguin, $17). Although it’s a few years old, fans of Leonard Cohen will savor Alan Light’s The Holy or the Broken (Simon & Schuster, $15), a scholarly study of the late songwriter’s oftrecorded “Hallelujah.”

On many Top 10 lists is Marc Myers’ Anatomy of a Song (Grove Press, $26), a collection of 45 essays about groundbreaking songs spanning from the late 1940s to early 1990s. The right kind of reader will delight in learning that Robert Plant’s echo effect on “Whole Lotta Love” was an accident turned into a feature by Jimmy Page, or that Donna Summer was Debbie Harry’s role model for “Heart of Glass” and Merle Haggard made an old friend and tour bus driver rich by giving him half the royalties for one of his biggest hits because a complaint he made was the song’s inspiration.

Joel Selvin’s Altamont (Dey Street, $27) tells the full story of the 1969 free Rolling Stones concert that became “rock’s darkest day.” Selvin goes beyond the sanitized version in the documentary Gimme Shelter and the veteran San Francisco rock critic also reveals how music itself changed in the show’s wake. The Grateful Dead moved toward country rock following their untimely role (their manager recommended Hell’s Angels for concert security), while the Stones lost their souls.

If CDs are still on anyone’s list, it’s likely a deluxe box set stuffed with extras that can’t be downloaded. The best stop for the really special stuff is Popmarket, a members-only site (popmarket.com, and don’t worry, signing up is free and easy).

There you’ll find items like alt-J Live at Red Rocks, with two blue vinyl records, a photo book and a limited-edition necklace, and Badmotorfinger 25th Anniversary Edition by Soundgarden, with rare tracks and a bevy of collectible extras. Don’t dawdle, though; some items, like an AC/DC box containing a working amplifier, tend to sell out fast.

To really make a fan’s day, give them an Amazon Echo, a cool countertop device that plays music on demand. Get hooked

Amazon Echo. Courtesy photo.

up with a Spotify account, and hearing the new A Tribe Called Quest album is easy as shouting, “Alexa, play ‘We the People’” — plus, it also keeps track of grocery lists, sets timers and reads the weather report.

Streaming is great for national acts, but buying physical product at the merch table is a better way to put money in a local musician’s pocket, while giving a great gift. If you want to do your bit for the regional music scene, hit a show at local bars and restaurants like Fury’s Publick House in Dover, Savory Square Bistro in Hampton and the Chop Shop in Seabrook, and buy a CD. A couple of Granite State institutions have multiple disc sets on offer — Roots of Creation made Livin’ Free, with a Man in the Mountain cover, and Truffle celebrated three decades with its 30th Bandiversary Bootleg Anthology.

Finally, concert tickets make great gifts.

Check out the schedule at Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury and buy tickets to an upcoming show. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom has yet to announce its 2017 lineup, but you could always print out a card that promises tickets to your recipient’s show of choice.

These are just some of the ways to make the holiday rock for your special fan. While you’re shopping, be sure to hum a few bars of “Merry Christmas, Baby” or “Run Run Rudolph” to keep your spirits high.

— Michael Witthaus

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BEACH BUM FUN JONESIN’ CROSSWORDS BY MATT JONES

“No Money” — but for you, solve some more problems Across 1 Gymnast Dominique 6 Model who married David Bowie 10 No pros 14 Standing bolt upright 15 Broccoli ___ 16 India.___

17 Amalgam, e.g.

18 Office bigwig, casually 19 Part of the underground economy?

20 Lummox 21 Actor who played the game show host in “Slumdog Millionaire” 23 Gambler’s “strategy”

25 Restaurant supply 26 Descend, in mountaineering 28 Gloomy 30 “___ Pretty” (“West Side Story” song) 31 Godsend 33 “Yeah, right!”

37 Atty. ___ 38 Popular ‘50s haircut (with help on the theme from 54-Across) 41 Sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson 42 1939 movie classic, briefly 44 On the ___ (not on friendly terms) 45 Start over 47 Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband Lamar 49 Dash headlong 50 “Finding ___” 52 “Musical” slang term for money

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54 Infidelity can signal them (with help on the theme from 38-Across) 57 Alternative to hot or blended 60 Level 61 Little or no effort 62 Bracelet locale 63 Part of AMA 64 Ready to do business 65 V formers 66 Root beer brand 67 “The Untouchables” crimefighter Eliot 68 Chemical term after poly-

22 Springfield Indian 24 “Note to ___ ...”

26 “Mystery!” host Diana 27 Two or three 28 Lowercase J parts 29 Artistic Yoko 31 “The Wizard of Oz” author Frank 32 1951 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Mel 34 Greyhound station purchase 35 Father of daredevil Robbie Knievel 36 “Modern” museum in London 39 Place to go in England?

40 Piper and Phoebe’s sister, on Down “Charmed” 1 Without charge, like a battery 43 “___ of the world, unite!”

2 “Alice’s Restaurant” chronicler 46 White-furred weasels Guthrie 48 Easter egg colorer 3 Like time that’s used productively 49 Marathoner’s time units, for short 4 Subspecies adapted to a particular 50 Unnecessary hassle habitat 51 Moved very slowly 5 Pig residence 52 Gelcaps, say 6 Jim Carrey flick “Me, Myself & 53 “Hee Haw” cohost Buck ___” 54 Hot Pitt 7 “Hot 100” magazine 55 Gaseous element 8 Biblical second son 56 Smoke an e-cigarette 9 Guitar part 58 “What ___ is there to say?”

10 Bitter Italian aperitif 59 Animal seen jumping on a road 11 Rigel’s constellation sign 12 Boys of Bolivia 62 ID checker’s info 13 Mystic ©2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords 21 Natl. League city (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

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By Holly, The Seacoast Area's Leading Astrologer

• Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): The best things in life are free. Unfortunately, all the products in the supermarket are not.

• Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are a remarkably giving person. The problem is, all you give to others is crap.

• Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A problem at home will surface today. Coincidentally, it will occur exactly when you arrive there.

• Aries (March 21-April 19): Fit as much as possible into today. We’re all eager to see just how much you can screw up.

• Taurus (April 20-May 20): You’re in it for the long haul. Too bad you have so much to haul around.

• Gemini (May 21-June 20): It’s a great time to be alive! It’s just not such a great time to be you.

• Cancer (June 21-July 22): Do not let your emotions upset those around you.

But then you don’t have any emotions, do you?

• Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Today everyone in your life is on the same page. Unfortunately, they’re reading your obituary.

• Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You are creative, intelligent and fun. Too bad you’re in jail.

• Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Remember, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Though some of your neckties are pretty alarming.

Beer, Wine, Lottery Tickets & Tobacco

• Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Today will be the very best day of your entire life. Kinda depressing to know that this is as good as it gets.

• Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): You will not be able to finish reading this horoscope without making someone laugh

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BEACH BUM FUN ROCKANDROLLCROSSWORDS.com BY TODD SANTOS

BACK ON THE CHAIN PUZZLE Across 1. Served instead of beer at concession stand 5. Sold to Geffen in ‘03 8. Righteous Brothers ‘__ Tide’ 11. Cage The Elephant “It goes __ and right out the other” (2,3,3) 13. She was ‘Gone’ to Johnny Cash 16. ‘86 Pretenders smash (4,3,2,5)

18. Jeff Beal ‘Hell __ No Fury’ 19. Blackmore of Deep Purple 21. What comeback career had done 24. Bon Jovi ‘Living In __’ 25. ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ singer Jim 26. Bohr’s study Ani DiFranco sings of 27. ‘Helicopter’ __ Party 29. Avett Bros ‘__ Donna’

ON THE CHAIN PUZZLE 1

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30. Might bleed if your trumpet hits them 31. The Pretenders “Got in my __ when I’d just begun” 32. 1974 Who comp ‘Odds & __’ 33. Kind of man, to Kinks 34. Post-show headache helper 36. Astbury of The Cult 39. Bagpiper’s wear Axl Rose donned 41. Band booking 42. 60s ‘Lonely Boy’ Paul 43. Pretenders “Was __ __ wanted you for mine” (1,4) 45. Miami Sound Machine ‘Falling In Love (__)’ (hyph) 46. ‘Youth Gone Wild’ __ Row 47. Velvet Underground ‘Sweet __’ 48. Greg Ginn of Black Flag’s hardcore label

Down 1. Vicious of Sex Pistols 2. Musician/artist Yoko 3. ‘Vincent’ and ‘American Pie’ McLean 4. Rousing classics 5. Pretenders “Well I got a smile for GIVE ME ONE PUZZLE TO STAY HERE everyone I __” 11/24 6. ‘08 Death Cab For Cutie song M R S A B O R T F A N C Y 7. Islands favorite body part?

R E N E E U T E R O I A N S A M B A N A V A L A G O 8. ‘I’ll Be’ McCain I N K M E O N E R E A S O N 9. Who Leftover Salmon built ‘BridgT I T L E S I S P E N D es’ to N A S A S H E R 10. Like band’s bus entrance, to T O N A L I N H E R I T E D A S T A R A V E I N S onlookers P I P E R L O U B A R L O W 12. 70s Walter O F M E N W A S 14. ‘Moment Bends’ Architecture __ __ G A L O R E A L E A S H (2,8) I D O N T N E E D N O U R E R O O T S L A W I M A G E 15. No Doubt hit ‘Just __ __’ (1,4) A T Y O U E R A L O V I N 17. Kiss drummer Singer L E A N N

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R E M

20. Musical generation 21. Clash ‘Rock The Casbah’ line: “You have to let that __ drop” 22. ‘Pretenders II’ song ‘Pack __ __’ (2,2) 23. Grand Funk Railroad ‘__ Wonderful’ (4,4,2) 24. Eagle-Eye Cherry ‘Feels __ __’ (2,5) 27. Foo Fighters hit ‘__ Of You’ 28. Type of groupie dance, perhaps 29. Repeated word in ‘96 Soul Coughing single 32. Stones ‘Almost Hear You __’ 34. Might see a pint of one on stage 35. ‘82 Duran Duran smash 37. Dave and Ray Davies 38. Big zero Refreshments song?

40. Mayday Parade ‘I Swear This Time __’ (1,4,2) 42. ‘Solid’ __ And Simpson 43. Classic ‘77 Steely Dan album 44. ‘Psycho Cafe’ rockers Bang __ 45. Billy Joel’s Beatles cover ‘Back In The ___’ 48. South Africans Boom __ 49. Feline musical 51. ‘Danny’s Song’ Murray 52. Green Day ‘You __’ 53. The Pretenders “I remember holding __ __ you” (2,2) 55. R&B singer/Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star Tatyana 56. Warped tour sisters Meg & __ 57. To gain a section 58. They’ll be the ‘Roundabout’

52. 'Web In Front' Archers Of __

41. Band booking

42. 60s 'Lonely Boy' Paul

49. Bowie’s ‘Girl’ on ‘83 smash 50. Show sighs: Oohs __ __ (3,4) 52. ‘Web In Front’ Archers Of __ 54. Gary Moore song inspired by debut Randy Newman hit? (5,4,5) 59. The Used debut hit ‘The Taste __ __’ (2,3) 60. Kid Rock ‘Rebel Soul’ hit about taking a drive? (4,4) 61. Pretenders “I’m convenient & I make good __” 62. Pretenders “__ __ myself in public just to get on the action” (1,2) 63. Ricky Nelson & Frank Zappa, to offspring rockers

46. 'Youth Gone Wild' __ Row 47. Velvet Underground 'Sweet __' 48. Greg Ginn of Black Flag's hardcore label

(5,4,5)

59. The Used debut hit 'The Taste __ __' (2,3) 60. Kid Rock 'Rebel Soul' hit about taking a drive? (4,4) 61. Pretenders "I'm convenient & I make good __"

62. Pretenders "__ __ myself 49. Bowie's 'Girl' on '83 smash in public just to get on the action" (1,2)

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Baking soda is dangerous

Almost all law enforcement agencies in America use the Scott Reagent field test when they discover powder that looks like cocaine, but the several agencies that have actually conducted tests for “false positives” say they happen up to half the time. In October, the latest victims (husband-and-wife truck drivers with spotless records and Pentagon clearances) were finally released after 75 days in jail awaiting trial for baking soda that tested “positive” three times by Arkansas troopers (but, eventually, “negative” by a state crime lab). The truck drivers had to struggle to get their truck back and are still fighting to be recleared to drive military explosives.

The continuing crisis

• If You See Something, Say Something: Ricky Berry and his roommate walked in to a CVS store in Richmond, Virginia, in November to ask if it carried sliced cheese but were told no. Minutes later, all the employees walked to the back of the store, hid in a locked room, and called the police. Berry and pal, and a third customer (with a toothache and desperately needing Orajel), were bewildered by the empty store until a Richmond police officer arrived. After observing that the three customers appeared nonthreatening, he mused along with Berry that “this is how weird, apocalyptic movies start.” WRIC-TV reported later that the employee who panicked and called police will “possibly” need retraining.

• Groundbreaking Legal Work: In October, a court in Australia’s Victoria state began considering an appeal on whether three deaf people might be too intellectually challenged to have planned a murder. The prosecutor offered surveillance video of the three in a lobby planning the murder’s details via sign language as they waited for an elevator to take them up to the eventual crime scene.

• Pigs are such complex animals that scientists are studying how to tell the “optimists” from the “pessimists.” British researchers writing in a recent Biology Letters described how “proactive” porkers differed from “reactive” ones, and, as with humans, how their particular mood at that time distinguished them as “glass half full” rather than “glass half empty.” (Unaddressed, of course, was specifically whether some pigs were actually “optimistic” that the chute at the slaughterhouse might lead to a pleasant outcome.)

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The Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, got the message in November and shut down its “world’s tallest waterslide” (17 stories; riders reaching speeds of 60 mph) after the neck-injury death of a 10-year-old rider in August. But comparably altitudeobsessed architects in Tokyo said in November that they were moving ahead with proposals for “Next Tokyo 2045” to include a one-mile-

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SEACOAST SCENE | DECEMBER 8 - 21, 2016 | PAGE 38

high residential complex (twice as tall as the currently highest skyscraper). A spokesperson for principal architects Kohn Pedersen Fox said he realizes that coastal Tokyo, currently in earthquake, typhoon and tsunami zones, would present a climate-change challenge (and especially since the building would be on land once reclaimed from Tokyo Bay).

Irony

San Diego police officer Christine Garcia, who identifies as transgender, was turned away in November as she attempted to enter the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the city’s LGBT Community Center because organizers thought the sight of a police uniform might upset some people. (Garcia herself was one of the event’s organizers.)

Perspective

It was only a quarter-million-dollar grant by the National Institutes of Health, but what it bought, according to budget scrutiny by The Washington Free Beacon in November, was the development of a multiplayer computer game (inevitably competing for attention in an overstuffed market) hoping to teach good reproductive health habits. “Caduceus Quest” employs role-playing as “doctors, policymakers, researchers, youth advocates” and others to “solve medical mysteries and epidemiologic crises.” The target, according to the University of Chicago grant proposal, is African-American and Latino teens in Chicago.

PET OF THE WEEK

How to tell if you’re too drunk

• On Nov. 16, Richard Rusin, 34, was charged with DUI in St. Charles, Illinois, after he drove off of a street, going airborne, hitting close to the top of one house, rebounding off of another, uprooting a tree (sending it onto a roof), and knocking out electricity to the neighborhood when the car clipped a utility pole guide wire and his car landed upside down in a driveway. He was hospitalized.

• Allen Johnson Sr., of Meriden, Connecticut, was driving a tractor-trailer up Interstate 89 near Williston, Vermont, on Nov. 2 at 63 mph, when, said state police, he apparently tried to stand up in the cab in order to change pants (enabling the rig to roll over). Johnson registered .209 blood-alcohol; it was 9:30 a.m.

Least competent criminals

Recurring Themes: (1) Gwinnett, Georgia, police know exactly who they like for the Nov. 3 armed robbery of an Exxon convenience store: Mr. Quaris Holland, 29. That’s because the manager told police Holland had been coming by as a customer “every single day” for “six months.” He’s still at large. (2) I Have a Gub (sic): The FBI was offering a reward for tips on their suspect in heists at four Boston-area banks in November. Though the man has eluded them so far, at least one issue plagues him: Each of his holdup notes announces that this is a “robery.”

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