2021 New Hampshire Magazine Holiday Gift Guide

S P EC I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S ECTI ON

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ᄓuidဢ DEL I GHT FAMILY A N D FRIENDS WITH G IF TS FROM LOC AL SH OPS , ARTISTS A N D ATTRAC TIONS

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’Tis the Season for Local Gifts A curated selection of New Hampshire shops and gift ideas for (almost) everyone on your list

For the foodie: Specialty food stores A visit to one of these charming shops comes with (delicious) rewards for the gift-giver. — Erica Thoits Head to the Squam Lake Restaurant & Marketplace in Holderness around lunch, order a Best of NHwinning BLT, follow it with an ice cream sandwich, and then start your shopping on a full stomach.

Reopened and renovated by the owners of the Squam Lake Inn in 2013, they sell an expertly curated selection of local goods, from beer and coffee to cheese and jams, all perfect for creating your own gift basket. Learn more at squammarket.com.

Pressed for time? Zeb’s General Store will do the work for you, drawing on their decades of experience to craft a custom gourmet gift basket. You can do this over the phone (or order pre-made baskets online), but we suggest you walk around this North Conway favorite.

That way you can pick out a treat for yourself, like something from the 80-foot candy counter or the store’s own kettle corn. Order or peruse items at zebs.com.

Feel good about supporting local agriculture — and find great gifts — at Tendercrop Farm in Dover. All year long, they offer a number of handmade items such as soaps, dried flower arrangements, wreaths, gift baskets, candles and more.

Plus, around the holidays, the top floor of the barn is dedicated to even more gift ideas and festive décor. You can also stock up on produce, cheeses, coffee, jams, syrups, snacks, baked goods, dips, salsas ... basically, whatever you need for either edible gift-giving or party-hosting. Plus, if you’re wiped out after a day of shopping, take home one of their prepared food items for a tasty and simple dinner. See more at tendercropfarm.com.

For the person who has everything: Curiosity shops Look, if you can’t find the perfect gift for the quirkiest person on your list at one of the following shops, then they truly are impossible to buy for. — Erica Thoits

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Pickwick’s Mercantile and the related Deadwick’s Ethereal Emporium in Portsmouth channel a Victorian-era apothecary and the occult, respectively.

Pickwick’s, which happens to be the largest niche perfumery in New England, also sells everything from artisanal soaps and shaving cream to a Harry Potter Gryffindor wax seal set and secular “saint” candles (think Ada Lovelace and Jane Austen). Deadwick’s dips into the mystical, and is the place to go for all of your tarot card and crystal needs. They also stock herbs, candles, clothing, incense and, for the really interesting person on your shopping list, a muskrat skull. Learn about both shops at pickwicksmercantile.com.

RavenWood Curio Shoppe isn’t exactly an in-and-out kind of place, so plan to spend a good deal of time exploring this Jackson emporium of all things, well, curious. The fact that you have to drive through a picturesque covered bridge to get there adds to the charm. This is probably the only place where you can walk out with a garden gnome, pink lawn flamingo, local artwork, a metal moose sculpture, a funky bracelet and an antique clock. Check the hours on Facebook and visit them online at ravenwoodcurio.com.

FOR THE READER: Covid Spring II: More Granite State Pandemic Poems edited by Alexandria Peary

When New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary began the “Covid Spring” project in April 2020, there were no plans for round two. Yet, as the pandemic wore on, the writing continued, and the latest volume was released this fall. To compile both volumes, Peary shared prompts every day during National Poetry Month (April), inviting writers to submit their work for consideration. You can certainly read the second anthology on its own, but to experience a broader view of how the pandemic affected the Granite State, why not gift both? Each is available for $18 through Concordbased publisher Hobblebush Books.

Tip: Check out the Hobblebush online gift shop, where you can add on items like “Read Local” stickers or book darts to tuck inside the pages. You can also visit your local bookseller for more great recommendations and to find other items readers will love. — Erica Thoits Hobblebush Books hobblebush.com

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For those who love the gift of experiences and activities For your loved ones who prefer a gift that’s a bit more hands-on, give them the gift of experience.

And why not consider buying two tickets so you can join them on a new adventure? — Anna-Kate Munsey PAINTING & SIP EVENTS: Art with a Splash, located in the heart of downtown Ports-

mouth, offers nightly guided painting classes — and it’s BYOB. Each month’s calendar has a variety of paintings to choose from, including local spots and more general scenes. artwithasplash.com

Muse Paintbar in Manchester combines a bar and restaurant

with top-notch painting instruction — and absolutely no art experience is required. The calendar of events is filled with classes on landscapes, theme nights and seasonal paintings. The bar selection is curated to help you get those creative juices flowing, and their food menu caters to those who strive to have a brush in one hand and a fork in the other. musepaintbar.com

Granite State Whale Watch, which departs from Rye, is a great gift for the snowbird on your list, or just someone who loves wildlife. As the season doesn’t commence until spring, this gives them something to look forward to in the new year. granitestatewhalewatch.com Canterbury Shaker Village in the quaint town of Canterbury will make for a memorable visit for the history buff. Guided tours include the original buildings, forests and fields that make up this National Historic Landmark. All of it is both beautiful and educational. shakers.org The Currier Museum of Art, located in Manchester, is one of the premier art museums in the country. It features exhibits ranging from the Renaissance to today, with core strengths in European, American and contemporary art, along with revolving special exhibits and events.

This makes for the perfect gift for the artsy friend or family member. You can purchase tickets for the day or an annual membership at currier.org.

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The museum also offers tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Zimmerman House for the architectural enthusiast, as well as art classes for your young budding artist.

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Musical Stocking Stuffers Back in the early 1980s, a popular slogan at mall record stores (remember them?) as the holidays rolled around was “Give the Gift of Music.” Another popular phrase featured at music stores was a skull-like silhouette of an audio cassette tape over some crossed bones with the words “Home Taping Is Killing Music.” Now we float in a sea of streaming media where any artist can be summoned like a Christmas Ghost just by whispering a name to your kitchen smart speaker.

But music still is and always will remain a wondrous gift, no matter whether it’s a carefully wrapped CD or an Airdrop to your iPhone. With that in mind, here’s a short list of albums and songs by local talent that has been curated to please any music lover on your gift list. The selections, below, left, are from the copious catalog of Pittsfield’s Rocking Horse Studio, where many of the most famous recording artists in New Hampshire (and beyond) have laid down tracks for producer extraordinare Brian Coombes. original Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips with this collection of reimagined songs from Phillips’ solo career. It features Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett and Supertramp’s John Helliwell on saxophone. Available as a CD and download at rockinghorsemusicclub.com.

The Cat Attic

“City Folk” is the sophomore effort from Cat Attic, a Boston-based indie folk group with New Hampshire ties. Led by mandolin and fiddle, with lush vocal harmonies and a bit of 21stcentury experimentation, “City Folk” shows Cat Attic expanding beyond the limits of traditional folk to include elements of indie rock, prog rock and bluegrass. Available to download from thecatattic.com.

Dakota Smart

“Lovely Lady” is the lead single from Dakota Smart’s upcoming album. New Hampshire’s rising star and multiple New England Music Awards nominee, Smart combines big hooks with insightful lyrics into songs that will please all generations. Look for his fulllength album in early 2022.

Available at dakotasmart.com

Rocking Horse Music Club Caroline Carter

The debut album from former Ms. New Hampshire Caroline Carter, “Star Girl” mixes indie-synth pop with folk and musical theater, all featuring Carter’s quirky lyrics and powerhouse vocals. Available for download or through rockinghorsestudio.com.

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Brian Coombes and his talented friends at Rocking Horse Music Club were the official music acts for New Hampshire Magazine’s Best of NH Party for a number of years, and Coombes kept us informed and grooving to new sounds ever since, so we’re including a selection by Coombes’ own house band.

New Hampshire’s favorite supergroup pays tribute to

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EDITOR’S PICK

Two Sides of the Granite State New Hampshire’s own Fred Marple writes and performs audio bookends for the Granite State of mind.

“In spite of popular demand, I’ve released two albums of original songs,” says Fred Marple, prominent citizen of the semi-mythical town of Frost Heaves, New Hampshire. “Folks have said my songs are ‘moving,’ ‘funny” and ‘better than listening to the coffee grinder.’”

Justin Cohn

New Hampshire’s Justin Cohn released a pair of singles in 2021, including “Lie to Me” and “On the Other Side Was You.” The two songs shine a light on the different shades of Cohn’s musical identity. “Lie to Me” is a biting rock song with scathing lyrics, while “On the Other Side Was You” is a tender and vulnerable song of devotion.

Both songs will appear on Cohn’s debut album, scheduled for release in 2022. Available digitally from all music retailers. justincohn.com

“Crabby Road” is humorous tunes about Yankee life — black flies, baked beans and people from away.

“My Mountain” is a collection of folk songs about New England.

Both are available as digital downloads or physical CDs from fredmarple.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABANTHAM CREATIVE

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Gifted Local Musicians Make

Giftable Local Music

Kenny Brothers Band: “Friends, Lovers, and Radios”

The Newmarket region has always been a great nugget of fun, harboring some of the very best musicians from around the state, all while staying pretty much under the radar. But what can’t be hidden is the talents of The Kenny Brothers Band — Billy, Taylor and Joe (with Tim Martin on keys) — from nearby Stratham, whose music is a mashup of rock and roots, low country road songs, and harmonic reflections on now and then.

“We listened and played many different types of music growing up, but I think roots music was always at the heart of everything we listened to,” says Joe Kenny, the youngest of the musical herd and originator of most of the songs. Their new CD “Friends, Lovers, and Radios” is a doozy, full of harmonic beauty, open roads with a smoky glow, featuring some key players from around the state popping in to lend a hand.

“We had Scott and Betsy Heron of the folk duo Green Heron play fiddle and banjo on ‘Yes Man Blues’ and ’Forever Now,’ and Jake Davis from the Whiskey Stones played some lap steel on ‘Praying for Love,’” says the redheaded bandleader. Available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon, and find more at kennybrothersband.com.

Will Hatch & Co.: “Downtown”

Will Hatch & Co. from Concord wasted no time when they decided to put out their first studio EP called “Downtown.”

Recorded in one day at The Bridge Sound & Stage in Cambridge, Massachusetts, “Downtown” has everything you need going into a long, cold winter, opening up with “They’re Red Hot,” a classic written by bluesman Robert Johnson back in 1936. The band, made up of some of the most talented and charismatic Concord-area musicians, hammers the number out convincingly with quickness and clarity. “Beer Bottle Blues” makes you want to slug something cold and get to grooving, warming those winter mitts.

If it’s a banjo cut that pops like fire in the wood burner, or a fingerpicking number that demands your attention, there are many moments on this EP that will leave you pleasantly thawed and toasty. Available on Spotify. Find more at willhatchmusic.com.

Becca Myari: “Holy Day”

Thinking back on Christmases past, when the days were centered around home and games and caroling, Becca Myari from Westmoreland knew exactly where she wanted to go with her new holiday song “Holy Day” (featuring Santa Croce and Senie Hunt). The result is a celebration of family, the act of giving and of loving unconditionally. “Holy Day” is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Amazon, SoundCloud and iTunes.

— Rob Azevedo (Azevedo, who has reviewed music for us over the years, has recently partnered on the new music venue Pembroke City Limits. We’ll keep you updated.)

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For the outdoor explorer Everyone has that one family member. On vacation, they’re up at 6 a.m. for a sunrise workout, with a full itinerary of hiking, biking, snorkeling or exploring. Embrace their beloved outdoorsiness this holiday season and gift them something for their next adventure. — Anna-Kate Munsey Plymouth Ski & Sports, has outdoor equipment for every season. And for the skier on your list, take inventory of what they already have, and find the perfect complement to make their time on the slopes even more enjoyable. This shop offers footwear and apparel, along with both sales and seasonal rentals of new and used equipment. plymouthski.com TAKE A HIKE: Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters in

North Swanzey has the gear, no matter what the weather is like outside. A walk in the woods is lovely any time of year, but a thick coat of snow on the trails can present some challenges — mainly, what to wear. Sneakers will get soaked, chunky boots will be uncomfortable, so there lies the brilliant invention of the snowshoe. samsoutfitters.com

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The Mountain Wanderer Map & Book Store is a small but well-stocked retail store located on the Kancamagus Highway in Lincoln. If they already have all their outdoor gear needs covered, you can’t go wrong picking out some light reading from this store specializing in New Hampshire-based outdoor recreation books, travel guides and maps. mountainwanderer.com

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For the holiday season fanatic: Real Christmas stores Forget the Christmas Tree shop. These two local stores are all Christmas, all the time. — Erica Thoits The Christmas Dove, founded in 1973 in Barrington, is a beautiful — and expansive — place to shop. Now featuring two stories and more than 30 gorgeously decorated rooms, you’ll have a lovely time wandering past hundreds of Christmas trees, wreaths and displays as you search for that perfect gift. See a sampling of their wares at christmasdove.com.

The Christmas Loft, located in both North Conway and Woodstock, has everything a true fan of all things yuletide could ever need or want. The shelves are stuffed with figurines, lights, toys, stockings, wreaths, candles, Advent calendars, collectibles, linens, mistletoe, electric candles, bath accessories ... this could go on and on. See for yourself in person or online at christmasloft.com.

FOR THE PROUD GRANITE STATER: Here comes the shameless plug! Our new New Hampshire

magazine online store debuted earlier this year, and it’s filled with New Hampshire-themed items.

The biggest hits so far are the lovely glass suncatchers from Old Hancock Glassworks, especially the one depicting the late, great Old Man of the Mountain ($11.95). Other gift ideas (all for under $40) include cutting and serving boards, coasters, photo frames, totes, calendars, wooden signs and more. Check it out at store.nhmagazine.com.

For the knickknack lover From old country stores to niche speciality markets, there is no shortage of knickknacks in this state. From toys for the kids to a photo frame for the grandparents, there’s something for all ages at these locations. — Anna-Kate Munsey Winnisquam Country Store & Deli in Tilton has a market and deli, bait and tackle shop, and plenty of gift-giving merchandise options. For the die-hard Granite Stater, pick out a state-adorned T-shirt, mug or sign. They’ll get a constant reminder of the state they love the most. winnisquamcountrystore.com

Calef’s Country Store in Barrington has been operating since just after the Civil War, and today they source over 90% of their products from small New England-based providers. Give a sample of their classics — ginger snaps, “rat trap” cheese and more. calefs.com

Annalee in Meredith has been designing heartfelt gifts and timeless Christmas decorations for the holiday season since 1934. Whether they’re a longtime Annalee collector or just love small dolls and knickknacks, you can’t go wrong with a seasonal doll. annalee.com 90

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Love.Yarn.Shop. Head to Bethlehem for your craftiest loved ones, pick out soft, highquality yarns in brilliant hues for them to begin their next knitting project. A community favorite, Love.Yarn.Shop also offers knitting classes for those just getting started. loveyarnshop.com