New Hampshire Magazine July 2018

N E W H A M P S H I R E M AG A Z I N E JULY 2 01 8

RESCUING A CRISIS CENTER SMALL TOWN/BIG PARADE A new nonprofit miracle from Building on Hope

No one does the 4th of July like New Boston Page 52

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New Hampshire Magazine® is published by McLean Communications, Inc., 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101, (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, Inc.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly.

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Contents

July 2018

2018

BEST ofNH

52 First Things 8 Editor’s Note 10 Contributors Page 12 Feedback

Features

50 In Their Own Words Meet performance artist and dancer Amanda Whitworth of Plymouth State University.

by Kendal J. Bush

60

69

603 Navigator

603 Informer

603 Living

14 ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS

32 What Do You Know?

96 YOGIVENTURE

photo by Monika O’Clair

courtesy photo

98 Health

16 Top Events

LEARNING MINDFULNESS

SUMMER THEATRE

by Karen A. Jamrog

by Emily Heidt

18 Our Town

100 How To

by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers

by Emily Heidt

BUYING A BIKE

ALBANY

22 Food & Drink

THE HUNGRY DINER

52 Small-town Life and the Big Parade

by Susan Laughlin

New Boston’s Fourth of July celebration — now 88 years old — is not your typical small-town event.

by Jack Kenney photos by Jared Charney

FOOD NEWS & EVENTS

26 Small Bites

102 Local Dish

TAYLOR SAWMILL

GRILLED TOMATO SALAD

by Marshall Hudson

recipe by Alex Guarnaschelli

36 Out and About

104 Calendar of NH Events

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE

by Susan Laughlin

38 Blips

28 Retail

by Casey McDermott

NH IN THE NEWS

39 Artisan

from left: courtesy photo and photo by john benford

60 Many Hands to the Rescue Building on Hope completes a massive renovation of Concord’s Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire.

by Lynne Snierson, photos by John Benford and Joe St. Pierre

69 Best of NH The results of the annual Readers’ Poll are in, and the editors unveil a year’s worth of careful research, which includes everything from the tasty to the quirky.

WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH

DRESSES FOR SUMMER

by Chloe Barcelou

30 Outsider

RIVER FLOATS

by Kristen Battles

ON THE COVER Discover the Best of New Hampshire — from historic inns and camping sites to burgers and macarons — starting on page 69.

MOLLY DOE WENSBERG

edited by Emily Heidt

by Susan Laughlin

116 Dine Out

40 Politics

edited by Susan Laughlin

NH STATE SENATOR LOU D’ALLESANDRO

by James Pindell

GOOD EATS

120 Ayuh

MASTERING THE MUGGIES

by Rebecca Rule

Volume 31, Number 7 ISSN 1560-4949 nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

O

The Poetry Society of NH is seeking a new poet laureate for the state.

While it’s possible you don’t know the name of the current one, this might be the most important nonpolitical office we have.

n his cross-country Rolling Thunder Revue back in 1975 and 1976, Bob Dylan took to calling all his fellow musicians and crew by the most affectionate and respectful term he knew. He called them all “poets,” so they began to refer to one another that way, as in, “Hey, we need a few poets down here to hoist up these stage trusses.”

We think of a poet as one who uses words to plumb the depth of things, to reveal the power in our common moments and to expose the true nature of what’s hidden in plain sight. Dylan is famously the “poet of my generation,” so perhaps he was being gracious.

Or perhaps he knew that poets must roll up their sleeves to whip words into soufflés or bolt them together like trusses, just like any working stiff.

One of Dylan’s early influences was another musician from his home state of Minnesota, the pop singer Bobby Vee, who had a 1960 hit with the song “Poetry in Motion.” In it, he extols the virtues of his girlfriend: Poetry in Motion, walking by my side, her lovely locomotion, keeps my eyes open wide.

Poetry in Motion, see her gentle sway, a wave out on the ocean, could never move that way.

Dylan performed in Bobby Vee’s band in his early career, so perhaps these lyrics were an influence. Maybe, as he watched his roadies and sound tech crew at work, he was struck by the beauty within the chaos, the rhythm of ordinary life all coming together in a symphony of activity — a work of art.

While putting together our Best of NH list and our story on the town of New Boston and its famous Fourth of July parade, I realized that Dylan was on to something.

When a restaurant or a bartender or a craftsman is picked as the best, it’s likely they have simply found the poetry in what they

do. People nearby begin to hear the rhyme and sense the beat, and even start to move along with it until it’s apparent that something good is going on there. Perhaps each of the items or companies chosen as Best of NH is simply an example of poetry in motion.

Every small town’s life has its own poetry, visible or audible, mostly to those who live there. A civic event like the New Boston Fourth of July parade (or an Old Home Day or annual pageant) is merely a public reading of the verses that townies already know so well.

In evolutionary terms, language is the superpower of the human race. We aren’t as strong or fast as other animals, but we are able to describe, plan, critique and define.

We can write down lists of things to do or enemies to defeat — ­ and then make notes as we go. This makes language the ultimate toy, tool and weapon. And language, for better or worse, makes us what we are as human beings, as countries, as families.

Dylan knew that what we do in those roles is also a language, but it’s language spoken through shared deeds, celebrations and ideals.

Poets are here to remind us of all this, so we don’t ever take the power of words for granted. Our next poet laureate, whomever she or he should be, will have a tough job in this age of Twitter feeds and Facebook rants.

By the way, our current poet laureate is Alice B. Fogel of Walpole, and you should take time to read her fierce and luminous words.

And if you know someone up to the task of benevolently presiding over a state jam-packed with poets, the Poetry Society is accepting nominations for the job until July 20 at poetrysocietyofnewhampshire.org.

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Contributors Susan Laughlin, who regularly writes “Food & Drink,” “Artisan,” “Local Dish” and “Small Bites,” also contributed a number of Best of NH Editor’s Picks.

During her 15 years as New Hampshire Magazine’s food editor, she’s traveled the state with fork and camera in hand, looking for the best breakfasts, burgers, poutine and more. Over the years she’s written about the state’s top restaurants and chefs, young farmers, where to find the best al fresco dining, and profiles of entrepreneurial brewers and distillers. She’s also been tapped by other publishers, including Food Network Magazine, Phaidon and Yankee Magazine, for her local dining expertise.

for July 2018

Photographer Kendal J. Bush, who specializes in wedding and portrait photography, produced this month’s “In Their Own Words.”

“What Do You Know?” contributor Marshall Hudson is a land surveyor, farmer, NH history buff and an expert on the hidden parts of the state.

Writer Lynne Snierson, New Hampshire Magazine’s regular “Seniority” contributor, also wrote the “Many Hands to the Rescue” feature story.

Humorist and writer Rebecca Rule, who wrote this month’s “Ayuh,” is the author of a number of books for adults and kids. rebeccarulenh.com

Architectural and editorial photographer John Benford took the photos for the feature story “Many Hands to the Rescue.”

New Hampshire Magazine fashion editor Chloe Barcelou is a stylist, model and creative director. She produced this month’s “Retail” Section.

About | Behind The Scenes at New Hampshire Magazine The Other Best

You probably noticed that this issue is dedicated to celebrating the best in New Hampshire, from restaurants and shops to festivals and the performing arts. Each July, the editors at New Hampshire Magazine get to share our favorite things — the places, people, events and foods we tell our friends and family about — with you, our readers. Between the Readers’ Poll and Editor’s Picks, we’ve covered just about every aspect of the state, but there’s one huge category that didn’t find its way into the official Best of NH 2018 list: outstanding local nonprofits. One such organization got its start right here at New Hampshire Magazine when Editor Rick Broussard and some friends dreamed up an “Extreme Home Makeover”-style event we’d somehow complete and then cover. It turns out that we’re much better idea people than construction professionals, and his somewhat overly ambitious goal turned into the huge community partnership now known as Building on Hope. You can read about its latest enormous renovation project, the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire in Concord, starting on page 60. The time, money and physical effort involved in these projects (all of which is donated and volunteered) is truly worthy of being called “best,” as it reveals the very best in people — the willingness to go above and beyond to help others, often strangers, with nothing expected in return. You can learn more about Building on Hope and its past projects at buildingonhope.com.

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

INDEPENDENCE TRANSFORMED Don’t miss your chance to discover the exciting transformation of Birch Hill, where active adults find independence and peace of mind. A vibrant lifestyle and new homes await you minutes from downtown Manchester.

A RiverWoods Group Affiliate

To learn more, call 603-836-2302 or visit birchhillterrace.org

Send letters to Editor Rick Broussard, New Hampshire Magazine, 150 Dow St. Manchester, NH 03101 or email him at editor@nhmagazine.com.

Feedback

emails, snail mail, facebook, tweets

nhmagazine.com, facebook.com/NHMagazine & @nhmagazine

Missing Specialty I appreciate New Hampshire Magazine giving nurses some recognition [“Excellence in Nursing,” May 2018]. I truly believe nurses are the “unsung” heroes among us.

I’d like to make a comment regarding the article and nurses showcased. I am a nurse, and have worked in longterm care for 33 years.

It is too bad that this was not one of the areas focused on in your article.

As I said above, I believe nurses are the unsung heroes for many. In longterm care we not only take care of the short-term rehab patient/ resident, but of some people in their most vulnerable states. Quite a few of the residents did not decide to come to longterm care — they had to. The employees I work with do their best to take care of all their patients/residents with empathy, dignity and respect.

Some of our residents do not have any family and we become that for them.

At times you hear on the news horrific stories in nursing homes, but it is too bad that this area is not focused on for the good it does too.

Helen Quattrochi, LPN Nashua

Hoping for Change Your anonymous letter writer was absolutely correct. James Pindell is not a politi-

cal analyst. You need to replace him with a real unbiased political analyst (think Kevin Landrigan). His liberal, left-leaning pablum is laughable. I have been a subscriber since day one, but need to see some change before I’ll renew.

Bill Hooley Nashua

Seacoast Landmark

Just received my June copy of New Hampshire Magazine, and read the lengthy piece on Portsmouth [“Liquid Legacy,” June 2018]. What was missing was information about the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.

The lighthouse, which is on the Coast Guard Station in New Castle, is open for tours every Sunday afternoon, 1 to 5 p.m., starting Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. You can climb it for the best view on the Seacoast, and receive information about the history of the lighthouse and several of the lighthouse keepers, including the one who “may still be hanging around.”

For additional information, visit the Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse website.

Pat Heffernan Nashua

Editor’s Note: The writer is a member of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, which is a part of the American Lighthouse Foundation headquartered in Rockland, Maine. The photo of the lighthouse was taken

by Chapter President Jeremy D’Entrement.

Local Memoir I hope that you received my book “Oh, My Word,” a memoir by Sally Maude, that I sent to you in hopes that I might interest you in writing an article about my adventures thus far for your readers of New

Hampshire Magazine.

The memoir has been well-received in the Monadnock area as I have had book signings at the Toadstool Bookstore in Keene, at the Historical Society of Cheshire County and at a high school reunion of my classmates held at Kristin’s Bistro and Bakery in Keene.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my escapades, as many have said the nostalgia and innocence of the ’50s brings back memories that will never be seen again.

Sally Maude Keene Editor’s Note: Thank you for sending us a copy of your memoir. We hope to begin online-only reviews of books soon, and this could be just what we need to get started.

What about chipmunks that tunnel below the frost line to get between the walls of the kitchen and the addition?

And bats that poop in the space above the beaver board ceiling, and it seeps through? And raccoons that have babies in the tenant’s kitchen cupboard? And the rat that finds the garbage in the shed? And the skunk that takes up residence under the camp bedroom? These critter stories are all true. Really true. They all happened to me.

Deborah Bruss 12

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

illustration by brad fitzpatrick

One of our Facebook commenters had a few things to add to Adi Rule’s June issue “Ayuh,” “Wall Invaders,” a story about creatures and critters that, come summertime, make your walls their home. Whether you like it or not.

Spot four newts like the one above (but much smaller) hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a great gift from a local artisan or company. To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, send answers plus your name and mailing address to:

Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101 Email them to newt@nhmagazine.com or fax them to (603) 624-1310.

Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Rosemary Carter Molnar of Litchfield.

June issue newts were on pages 5, 24, 81 and 84.

NEED A GOOD REASON FOR SPOTTING THE NEWT? at the bedford village inn

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603 Navigator “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”

— Thornton Wilder

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Photo by Monika O’Clair

Top Events 16 Our Town 18 Food & Drink 22 Small Bites 26 Retail 28 Outsider 30

Good Advice See Shakespeare in the Lakes Region this summer

photo by diana evans

As doomed Prince Hamlet coaches the actors who will perform his mousetrap of a play, he offers them some fairly sound acting advice, including some insight into the nature of acting itself — it’s essentially holding “the mirror up to nature.”

This speech is where Advice To The Players got its name nearly two decades ago. The Center Sandwich-based troupe strives to continue the centuries-old tradition of holding “the mirror up to nature,” and to bring some of the most important stories ever written to life with outdoor summer performances or even lively readings in local pubs. There are two ways to experience Shakespeare this summer: From July 13-22, catch “The Taming,” an all-female modern take on “The Taming of the Shrew.” Then, from August 3-12, the mainstage performance this year is another comedy, “Love’s Labor’s Lost.” Visit advicetotheplayers.org for more information.

Above from left: Ben Smarzynski and Versee Damien in this spring’s performance of “King Lear” Left: The Advice To The Players cast from “Henry IV” nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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EVENTS

July | Picks

courtesy photo

Summer Theatre

A Guide to Summer Theatre

Feeling the urge to take a break and escape from the hot summer sun? Sit back, relax and enjoy a summer show coming this month to a New Hampshire stage near you.

“Little Women”

June 27–July 8, New London One hundred and fifty years ago, Louisa May Alcott wrote a story about the resilient March family — Amy, Meg, Beth, Marmee and, the most beloved of all, Jo, an independent young woman struggling to find her voice in the world. This musical adaption of the Civil War-era novel exudes themes of hope, heartache and the resiliency of the American spirit. nlbarn.org

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

2018 Bank of NH Children’s Summer Series July 3–August 23, Manchester

Are you a Disney fan? This summer play list is for you. This Summer Children’s Series boasts a variety of well-known and beloved stories that include music, dancing, audience participation and more.

Even better? Your kiddos have the opportunity to meet the characters at the end of every show. This year’s lineup includes “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,”

Interlakes Theatre features outstanding plays by talented casts.

“Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Peter Pan” and “The Jungle Book.” palacetheatre.org

“Evita”

July 5-15, Meredith

This pop-opera play covers the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón. With original music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this musical is full of life and will deliver a “wow” factor you won’t forget. interlakestheatre.com

“Singers and Swingers” July 13-15, Cornish

Bring the whole family for an exhilarating evening as circus artists and singers come together with performances from the high wire to the high C’s. Enjoy live music from Broadway in a beautiful outdoor setting

603 NAVIGATOR

EVENTS

along the Connecticut River. This unique experience will be the first at Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish — with something fun for everyone. operanorth.org

“The Who’s Tommy”

June 29-July 29, Portsmouth

This show is an exhilarating story of hope, healing and the human spirit. Based on the 1969 rock concept album, the story of the deaf, blind, pinball-playing boy who triumphs over his adversities will leave you amazed and inspired. This five-time Tony Award-winning musical was translated to the stage for a high-energy, one-of-a-kind event that you won’t want to miss. seacoastrep.org

“My Hero: Tour”

July 30-Augst 14, Wilton

courtesty photos

Andy’s Playhouse produces innovative plays that are performed by children but are meant for all. “My Hero: Tour” asks the question, what makes someone a hero? Are they brave, shrewd or strong? Join a group of travelers as they share their stories of heroes to pass the time on their pilgrimage to create change in the world. andyssummerplayhouse.org

1. “Little Women,” New London 2. “Evita,” Meredith 3. 2018 Bank of NH Children’s Summer Series, Manchester 4. “Singers and Swingers,” Cornish

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5. “The Who’s Tommy,” Portsmouth The whole family will enjoy Opera North’s summer production at Blow-Me-Down Farm.

the

6 1 st

a n n ua l

New Hampshire Antiques Show Sponsored by the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association

6. “My Hero: Tour,” Wilton

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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OUR TOWN

Discovering Albany

From stylish camping to visiting a ghost town

BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS

A

sk most people outside of the White Mountains where Albany is and they’ll most likely tell you it’s in New York. But anyone who has spent any time at all in the mountains has probably been through it multiple times without ever knowing its name.

For a virtually unknown town, Albany contains plenty of well-known attractions, including the Kancamagus Highway and one of New Hampshire’s most beloved icons — Mt. Chocorua. It also has a covered bridge, several waterfalls, a favorite swimming hole and one of the few places in the White Mountains that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. You can camp, stay and dine in a luxury inn or eat French crêpes

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nhmagazine.com | July 2017

for breakfast in the woods. It has miles of trails and a ghost town. In all, that’s a pretty impressive list of reasons to go there.

Albany was one of the original grants given to soldiers who fought the French at Louisbourg in 1745, but wasn’t incorporated and named Albany until 1833. By then, the village of Passaconaway was a thriving logging settlement of homes, a school, a sawmill and its own post office; in the 1850s it had as many as 15,000 residents and was eventually served by two logging railroads (the route of one of these is now the Kancamagus Highway). But by 1930, the surrounding mountainsides were timbered out, the rails had moved to new forests and the last resident — Ruth Colbath — died. All that’s left

photo by stillman rogers

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Fishing on Lake Iona in Albany

now of the ghost town of Passaconaway is her home and a cemetery.

The story of Ruth Colbath is a favorite one in White Mountain lore, related at the Russell-Colbath House, which is now a museum of life in this community, displaying finds from the surrounding property.

Her husband Thomas left home one evening in 1891, so it’s told, telling her he’d return shortly. That was the last she saw of him, but she left a candle burning in the window every night until she died, just in case he returned. Behind the house is the Rail ’n River Trail, a half-mile ADA-rated interpretive trail to the Swift River, with signs describing the 19th-century logging and railroads here.

The Swift River is aptly named, for in the dozen miles it flows alongside the Kancamagus through Albany, it drops

603 NAVIGATOR

photo by stillman rogers

OUR TOWN

One of Huttopia’s inviting tents located by a babbling brook in Albany

about 700 feet (to the thrill of whitewater kayakers in the spring), plunging dramatically over two waterfalls (which all but the most foolhardy portage). At Upper Falls, more commonly called Rocky Gorge, the river is squeezed into a rushing froth between two 20-foot rock walls as it drops about 10 feet.

Lower Falls is wider, with flat, water-polished ledges, pools, chutes and a couple of tiny

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beaches in the summer. It’s a very popular swimming hole, and on warm days the parking lot is filled to overflowing. Though it’s lovely in the summer, it’s at its most spectacular in the spring when the river is swollen with melting snow from the mountains.

Four National Forest campgrounds are located right along the Kancamagus in Albany — Jigger Johnson (named for a

colorful lumberman), Passaconaway, Blackberry Crossing and Covered Bridge, named for the nearby 120-foot Albany Bridge that spans the Swift River, built in 1858.

Among the four, they have more than 100 campsites, and there are 28 more at White Ledge off Route 16. The strenuous 4.5-mile Carter Ledge Trail up Mt. Chocorua leaves from the White Ledge campground, and the easier (hence more popular) Piper Trail begins farther south in Albany. A third popular trail climbs past Champney Falls to Chocorua’s summit, its trailhead is on the Kancamagus, west of Rocky Gorge.

For a more luxurious take on camping, the French firm Huttopia opened a campground in Albany last summer, with well-furnished safari-style tents (some with equipped kitchens and indoor plumbing), rustic cottages and traditional campsites. The place is spotless, the facilities polished. There’s a large pool, a lake with kayaks, a playground, a camp store with wine and beer, and a café on the terrace where you can get croissants or French crêpes and espresso for breakfast.

And if you want to go really continental, there’s even a pétanque court.

• 603.569.3994

Photo by Jane Kelley. Boulder

Fe, NM

the

Kalled Gallery nhmagazine.com | July 2017

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OUR TOWN

the Tin Mountain Conservation Center is the focal point of the Rockwell Sanctuary and its network of nature trails through forests, around a pond and past a granite quarry from the late 1800s. Activities there include birding trips, wildflower photography workshops, and programs on climate change and ecology topics. The building itself is a showcase of solar-electric and solar-thermal technologies, and holds a library of nature guides and reference books on subjects ranging from astronomy and geology to gardening, ecology and sustainable living. NH

Check it out The historic Russell-Colbath House is all that is left of Passaconaway village.

the Conways are so close. Rooms — some with fireplaces and double Jacuzzis — are decorated in a comfortable non-fussy style, and throughout the inn are original works by local artists. The same local ethic rules in the dining room, Littlefield’s Tavern, where most ingredients are locally sourced, sometimes from as close as the inn’s own garden.

Less than a mile from Darby Field Inn,

Huttopia (603) 447-3131. canada-usa.huttopia.com/en Darby Field Inn (603) 447-2181 darbyfield.com Tin Mountain Conservation Center (603) 447-6991 tinmountain.org

photo by stillman rogers

Camping — primitive or luxury — isn’t the only style of accommodation in Albany. Hidden on a hillside and surrounded by woods, and hiking trails and mountain views, Darby Field Inn is a lovely little world of its own. Strolling in the gardens or swinging in the hammock listening to the hum of bees and the chirp of birds, it’s hard to believe that busy Route 16 and

White Mountain National Forest (603) 536-6100

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nhmagazine.com | July 2017

Cooking With Emshika!

Bangkok native and restaurateur Emshika Alberini is bringing New Hampshire a taste of her home country with both her Littleton restaurant Chang Thai Café and her soon-to-launch brand of food and beverages. Since the restaurant’s opening in 2008, it has garnered awards and praise for its upscale, yet comfortable dining and excellent, authentic dishes. Here she shares a Thai cuisine mainstay that you can try at home.

Thai Beef Salad (Yum Nua) Recipe INGREDIENTS Serves 2-3 8 – 10 ounces of New York cut sirloin steak 1/4 cup sliced onions, separated 4– 6 cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup of sliced cucumber

1/4 cup Thai chili peppers, thinly sliced

Thai chilies, finely chopped to taste 1

teaspoon finely chopped garlic

1

tablespoon of sugar

3

tablespoons soy sauce (sometimes

BEEF MARINADE

3

cups of local farm-fresh spring mix

I use 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 2

2

tablespoons chopped cilantro

tablespoons of soy sauce)

2

tablespoons chopped green onion

1

4 –5 mint leaves

tablespoon Thai black soy sauce or you can also substitute dark soy sauce

SALAD DRESSING (Nam Yum)

1

tablespoon of sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce

1

teaspoon of black pepper

Marinate the beef for 3 hours in a ziplock bag.

2 2

tablespoons lime juice

teaspoons sugar or palm sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat and oil the grill or pan on medium, and grill steaks for 4-5 minutes until the steaks are medium well. After the meat has rested, slice steak very thinly into bite size pieces and set aside.

Combine all salad dressing ingredients together in a bowl. Plate the bed of spring mix lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and sliced meat. Pour the dressing on top and toss gently, then

photography by Jenn bakos photography

sprinkle green onions and garnish with sliced red chili and cilantro.

Buy this recipe, Cooking with Love Box, at www.changthaicafe.com.

Find the recipe at www.changthaicafe.com.

promotion

To compliment our Thai Beef Salad, we are paring it with Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile’s White Mountain Vodka.

Recipe provided by Tamworth Distilling Summer Thyme-White Mountain Vodka, thyme, simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Serve on the rocks and garnish with a sprig of thyme.

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FOOD & DRINK

Sam Caserta holds a Red Ranger chicken in the mobile coop.

Hyper-Local

The Hungry Diner sources from its own farm STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN LAUGHLIN

L

ocal sourcing is all the rage for restaurants of every stripe, from fancy to fun-loving. But — there is always a but — are they continually working with local farms, is the relationship more than words on a blackboard and is the impact significant on the menu? These were all questions farmers Chris and Caitlin Caserta asked themselves.

The Casertas operate Walpole Valley Farms in the lovely rolling and lush hills just south of the classic New England town of

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Walpole. Chris’ sister, Jackie, runs the nearby Inn at Valley Farms, an operation I wrote about when her now-teenage daughter was just learning to walk. The grandparents, who own all the land, are nestled in a picturesque farmhouse nearby. The whole family operation — with gorgeous barns, working farmland and a viable business — is almost too beautiful for words, but there is a good story to try and tell.

For the last 12 or so years, Chris and Caitlin have been using the land for grazing beef

cattle, hogs and chickens for eggs and meat.

The onsite farmstore is open on weekends, offering select steak cuts, sausage, bacon, pork chops, fresh eggs and even grandmother Bonnie’s jams and jellies.

The couple wanted to offer food in some form on the farm — maybe a full-time farmstand with burgers and hotdogs. When a former ice cream stand location became available, plans changed, and a new round of research was undertaken.

The Casertas are both strong disciples of Joel Salatin, the subject of Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” who envisioned an eatery that was based in sustainable food sources with reduced impact on the Earth’s resources. As Salatin has said, “This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story to tell. It has a journey. It leaves a footprint. It leaves a legacy.

To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this ain’t normal.” With this mantra in their heads, the couple traveled to many eateries of the ilk they envisioned for their own operation — even as far as San Francisco.

Research completed, the Walpole natives opened The Hungry Diner last year. It’s a full-service, fast-casual restaurant where you order at the window and the food is delivered to your table. It was important to them that their food was approachable, and not offered up just as fancy tidbits with only a loose link to their farm.

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FOOD & DRINK

“Imagine it: Every meal would connect us to the joy of living and the wonder of nature. Every meal would be like saying grace.”

— Michael Pollan, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” Caitlin Caserta and her son Sam

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FOOD & DRINK

Ellen Stringham at The Hungry Diner

Red Rangers — here with the “Egg Mobile” — are slower-growing, but have meatier thighs.

This place is not your average diner — and is probably the first farmer-owned, full-service eatery in the state. Everything sparkles with the sheen of tidiness. You can see their careful research everywhere, from the nice beer glasses to the white subway tiles to the warmth of the hand-crafted tables and chairs. Local company Bensonwood designed and built the wood ceiling, built-in seating and tables using reclaimed wood. The local theme is enforced by keeping money local too.

For the menu, it seems the big thing they learned was people love burgers and beer — a trend now hitting the state hard.

Chris is a craft beer aficionado, and 16 local or iconic beers are on tap, while burgers from their own beef and pigs are central to the menu. Be sure to try Three Little Pigs, a 24

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

pasture-raised pork burger with slow-roasted bacon and Bonnie’s bacon jam.

The focus is on their own pasture-raised meats and poultry, but local sourcing outside of theirs is evident as well. The artisanal buns for the burgers are from nearby award-winning Orchard Hill Breadworks, local milk is used to make their own soft serve ice cream and milkshakes, and local cave-cultured cheese is the mainstay for their very popular mac ’n’ cheese dishes. But there’s one caveat — cost, a lesson that the dining public is starting to grasp.

As Caitlin says, “The public needs to be educated on the real cost of food.” Prices here are not out of line for the value of the meal. She adds, “If folks are expecting Applebee prices, they are at first stunned.” But they soon get the big picture — quality food,

healthy ingredients, saving the picturesque farms that dot the countryside — it all comes at a cost. What is better for the environment is also, fortunately, better for the diner and a worthy investment on both counts.

Pasture-raising beef and chicken is hard work. The grazing fields are changed daily so the cattle can forage on fresh clover and other tasty greens. The day I visited, the herding was disrupted, and it was quite the sight to see them racing to what they thought were greener pastures. The Red Ranger chickens the Casertas chose to raise are a slower-growing variety than the typical white Cornish Cross. They are, however, tastier, claims Caitlin.

Keeping the faith throughout the operation, Caitlin says they also try to minimize the environmental impact of the restaurant by using compostable take-out containers, along with other disposables that are used to enrich their own soils, while food waste is fed to their pigs. Diners inside also enjoy their meals on ceramic dishes and not paper plates, another win-win.

As a family-run operation, it was important to the Casertas that The Hungry Diner also be a community meeting place and kid-friendly. The yard out front offers a swing set and plenty of picnic tables to play board games that are available inside. And, of course, there is a corn hole set.

Walpole has always been an exceptional town in many ways. Just driving through it for a cup of Burdick’s hot chocolate is a joy.

Now it is even better. NH

Get There

The Hungry Diner

9 Edwards Ln., Walpole hungrydinerwalpole.com (603) 756-3444

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FOOD & DRINK

Other Food Found at Farms Local farms are learning they can cut out the middleman by cooking their own products onsite and offering meals to the public on special days.

Here’s a list of seasonal offerings.

Brookford Farm Burger Nights

Brookford Farm Canterbury brookfordfarm.com Last Friday of the month through August Have a grass-fed burger with all the fixings on the farm where it was grown. Enjoy live music and explore the barns and fields. Bring your own chair. $25

Mayfair Farm

Harrisville mayfairfarmnh.com Dinners already sold out for the July and August events.

Moulton Farm

Meredith moultonfarm.com Brunch buffet every Sunday in July and August. $16.99 Two farm-to-table dinners twice a month through September. $48

Pizza Night

Orchard Hill Breadworks Alstead orchardhillbreadworks.com They provide dough, sauce, cheese and access to the picking garden.

You bring your favorite toppings, chair and silverware. $9

Wicked Chicken Rotisserie Night

Vernon Family Farm Newfields vernonfamilyfarm.com Friday nights Pick up or dine onsite, 5 to 6 p.m.

July 13, 20, 27, August 17, 31 September 14, 21, 28 Vernon’s own chickens are cooked on their very large rotisserie. Confirm through vernonfamilyfarm@gmail.com or via Facebook message.

D Acres

Dorchester dacres.org Every first Sunday of the month Enjoy a farm feast breakfast with food from the farm. It’s all organic and sustainable — and part of their mission.

The center aims to combine the benefits of agricultural tradition and modern technology within the framework of an educational farmstead. D Acres offers hiking trails, periodic workshops and housing for overnight guests.

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET INGREDIENT?

Our marinaded meats make all your meals delicious. Just hope your friends don’t start asking too many questions.

VISIT US IN NORTH ANDOVER FOR MEAT, PRODUCE, SPIRITS, AND KNOW-HOW.

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SMALL BITES

Small Bites Food news and events from around the state by Susan Laughlin

Do You Know the Way to Serve Rosé Once considered a pale substitute for real wine, rosé has gained in popularity in recent years, especially in summer.

Kendall Jackson has a vintner’s reserve that highlights the good points of rosé. It’s drier than typical releases of the past and has enough acidity, but not bitterness, making it a great pair with seafood, light chicken dishes and spicy foods. Plus, it’s easier to choose a rosé as vintage is not an issue and last year’s crop is perfect. Rosés are a tradition in Provence, France, but California varieties can be more full-bodied, with a slightly different fruitiness.

Red wine grapes are used to make most rosés, but the skins are only left in long enough to stain the liquid pink. You can also find some sparkling rosés in the stores, though these may have been colored by adding a bit of red wine to the mix before being carbonated.

One caveat — there are no official rules for rosé producers to follow, so let your palate be your guide.

Rosé Sangria One bottle Kendall Jackson, Vintner’s Reserve Rosé or other rosé 4 ounces triple sec 6 ounces rhubarb-strawberry jam Juice of half a lemon 1/8 teaspoon salt Slices of lemon 6 large or 12 small strawberries Ice Mint Muddle the jam with the triple sec and salt. Mix with the remaining ingredients in a pitcher and stir well. Add mint as garnish for additional color and fragrance.

NH Ice Beer News Cream Trail Yes, its a thing. Granite State Dairy Promotion gathers a list of homemade ice cream stands and scoop shops across the state and publishes a brochure called “New Hampshire’s Original Ice Cream Trail.” It’s a list of more than 50 stops across the state from Salem to Pittsburg. You can also find the information online at nhdairypromo.org. What are you waiting for?

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Branch and Blade Brewing is now open in Keene, bringing more local beer to the one area of the state that's been a little slower to get on the craft beer trend. 17 Bradco St., Keene. babbrewing.com White Birch Brewing recently made the move from Hooksett to Nashua, where they now serve food in addition to their beer. 460 Amherst St., Nashua. Visit them on Facebook for more information.

Event of the month July 14 Farmers Dinner at Élevage de Volailles in Loudon

This fundraiser will help this heritage-breed poultry farm survive. Enjoy a multicourse dinner prepared by chefs Chris Viaud, Keith Sarasin, Evan Hennessey (recent winner of "Chopped"), Lee Frank of Otis, Randy Rucker of Spicer Mansion in Mystic, Connecticut and Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez of Piccolo in Portland, Maine. This lineup promises a meal to remember. $89; thefarmersdinner.com

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OLEA A SALON FOR HAIR AND WELL BEING

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603 NAVIGATOR

RETAIL

Summer Dresses Easy styles for warm weather

BY CHLOE BARCELOU Pulling on a comfortable, breezy dress is one of summer’s small pleasures. Here are some stylish options that elevate a simple look on a sunny day.

Clothesline left to right: Sweet Georgia bloomer, $39, April Cornell Provence Cousin dress with yellow sunflower embroidery, $118, April Cornell Indigo dance dress, $98, April Cornell The Notebook shirtdress, $218, Sarah Patrick collection, Kiel James Patrick Blue gingham Dina dress, $88, April Cornell Signature sleeveless linen shift dress $89, L.L. Bean Embroidered linen dress, $138, Garnet Hill The Amazing Pegzini Family Circus clothespins $15, The Vermont Country Store On the model: Cloud blouse, $58, April Cornell Morning coverup, $78, April Cornell In the model’s hands: White shortaloons, $58, April Cornell

28

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

In the basket: Tranquility tablecloth, $38, April Cornell Photographer: Maddy Wells Photography Model: Olivia Barcelou April Cornell Outlet 2548 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway April Cornell items also available at select New Hampshire shops. Visit aprilcornell.com for a list.

Garnet Hill Outlet 231 Main St., Franconia, garnethill.com L.L. Bean Outlets Outlets located in West Lebanon, Concord, Nashua, North Conway and North Hampton.

Visit llbean.com for more information.

Sarah Patrick collection — Kiel James Patrick Available at Seaside Allure, 24 Congress St. Portsmouth, seasideallure.com

RETAIL

603 NAVIGATOR

Top left: The Notebook shirtdress, $218, Sarah Patrick collection, Kiel James Patrick Bottom left: Provence Cousin dress with yellow sunflower embroidery, $118, April Cornell Bottom right: Blue gingham Dina dress, $88, April Cornell nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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603 NAVIGATOR

courtesy photo

OUTSIDER

Bobbing Along

Relax as you float down the river

BY KRISTEN BATTLES

I

t’s easy to be active during the summer months in New Hampshire — you can hike, bike, surf or swim your way through the state. There are endless opportunities for keeping fit while enjoying our beautiful landscape, but every so often it’s great to take a more leisurely approach to appreciating nature. So what better way than a sunny, lazy, miles-long trip down a winding river? The Granite State is home to several stretches of river that are perfect for tubing solo, with a group of friends or family. And if totally-all-out-lazy isn’t your thing, you can kick it up a notch by including a riverside camping trip or combine it with a hike.

a 36.4-mile-long river flowing through the White Mountains near Mt. Moosilauke. It eventually empties into the Pemigewasset River, and is a popular destination for canoers, kayakers and tubers alike. Tube rentals are available at Plymouth Ski and Sports in Plymouth.

Where to Float

Pemigewasset River Affectionately called “The Pemi,” Pemigewaset means “where side current is” in Abenaki. It runs for 65 miles and begins at Profile Lake in Franconia, then moves south through the White Mountains, eventually forming the Merrimack. Camping guests at the Pemi River Campground enjoy free shuttle service upstream and then can tube 3-4 miles back down to their campsites.

Baker River Baker River, which in Abenaki is Asquamchumauke, or salmon spawning place, is

Saco River The Saco is probably the most well-known destination for tubing, and as a result, stretches

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Floating down the Saco River

of the river can be crowded, but if you are up for a more social experience, it can be a good fit. The scenery is beautiful as the Saco winds its way through northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine, eventually emptying into the Atlantic at Saco Bay. There are several outfitters ready to supply your group with tubes and shuttle service. Saco Bound, located in Conway, has shuttles that run nearly every hour and several excursions to meet different needs. One offers a trip from their main base over a 3-mile-per-hour current to family-friendly Weston’s Beach.

Ammonoosuc River Bretton Woods is one of the iconic family vacation destinations in all seasons, but summer may be the best time to visit this beautiful resort. Warm weather activities range from golf to guided rock climbing adventures, though just taking in the views from the Omni Mount Washington Hotel’s gorgeous veranda is worth the trip.

The Adventure Center organizes most activities, including tubing on the Ammonoosuc. You can rent a tube for two hours and enjoy the ride, though you will have to walk about a quarter-mile back to the launch site.

603 NAVIGATOR

OUTSIDER

Get There

courtesy photo

Plymouth Ski and Sports

Saco Canoe Rental has much more than canoes. They rent kayaks and tubes, and also offer overnight camping trips.

Connecticut River The Connecticut flows along the New Hampshire and Vermont border. Great River Outfitters, which is just across the river on the Vermont side, offers self-guided float trips that

range from three to eight hours long. Their most popular trip starts 5 miles upstream at Sumner Falls. Lasting three hours, this is an ideal choice for families. Longer trips of four, six and eight hours include shuttle service. NH

For tube rentals on the Baker River 97 Main St., Plymouth (603) 536-2338 plymouthski.com/sup-tuberentals.htm

kayaks, tubes and more. Overnight camping trips are also available.

558 White Mountain Hwy., Conway (603) 447-4275 sacocanoerental.com

Pemi River Campground Information on camping and tubing on the Pemigewasset River 2458 Route 3, Thornton 603) 726-7015 pemirivercampground.com/ tubing.htm

Bretton Woods The Adventure Center offers tons of summer fun, including river tube rentals.

99 Ski Area Rd. Bretton Woods (603) 278-3320 brettonwoods.com

Saco Bound For tube, kayak or canoe rentals on the Saco River 2561 E. Main St. Center Conway (603) 447-2177 sacobound.com

Great River Outfitters Offering a number of rental and tour options, including tubing on the Connecticut River 36 Park Rd. Windsor, Vermont (802) 674-9933 greatriveroutfitters.com

Saco Canoe Rental Offering canoes,

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603 Informer

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis

32

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Photos courtesy NH State Parks

Out and About 36 Blips 38 Artisan 39 Politics 40

Taylor Sawmill in Derry

A Curious Dream

The quest to rebuild a piece of mechanical history

BY MARSHALL HUDSON

T

he sign above the door reads “Taylor Sawmill 1805,” but longtime locals know it as Old Man Ballard’s sawmill. The Taylor Sawmill, which is located in Ballard State Forest at the outlet of Ballard Pond in Derry, is named for Robert Taylor. He bought the property in 1799, built a mill and started sawing lumber in 1805, but Taylor’s mill wouldn’t exist today if it wasn’t for the dogged determination of an old man named Ballard.

Ernest K. Ballard was born in 1871 and was closing in on 70 years old when he decided it was time to retire. After

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

33

a lifetime of market garden farming, he wanted to start doing the thing he had dreamed of doing since boyhood — building a working sawmill. And not just any old sawmill — he was going to build a waterwheel-powered “up-and-down” sawmill. Up-and-down sawmills are relics of the past that began vanishing from the New England landscape not long after the Colonial era. By the time of the Civil War, they were mostly gone, replaced by circular saws, which are faster and more efficient.

Ballard remembered seeing an up-anddown sawmill in his youth and appreciated the history and charm of it, so he determined he would build one in his retirement. At a stage in life when most people start look backward and thinking about slowing down and pursuing hobbies, Ballard looked into the future and started to think about pursuing an ambitious goal. In 1939, he purchased the property that had once been the site of Robert Taylor’s 1805 sawmill. The original mill building was gone, with only stone foundation remnants left behind. The millpond dam no longer held water, and the saw parts had been stripped off and sold for scrap metal.

The mill had last operated about 40 years before Ballard bought the place, so there was little left of it, but there were still people around who remembered what the mill had looked like and could describe it to him. An 80-year-old man who had worked in the mill as a lad drew a sketch of the waterwheel side of the building and another of the inside of the mill. A 90-year-old woman who had lived in the area as a girl described the building as she remembered it. From these descriptions, sketches and the residual foundation and dam remnants, Ballard drew a proposed mill building to scale and then built a scale model. Next he set out to build the real thing.

Ballard’s idea was to rebuild the mill as closely as possible to the 1805 original, and he spent the 1940s and ’50s rebuilding the dam, the mill foundation and the building itself. Photos from the 1950s depict men in funny hats and baggy bib overalls working on the building or using cable-driven equipment to move boulders, repair the leaking dam, construct a sluiceway and reconstruct the old mill foundation.

Ballard spent years looking for a waterwheel to power his new old mill. Unable to find a used wooden waterwheel or to get one constructed locally, he purchased a 34

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WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

In 1979 the NH Division of Forests and Lands repaired the oak buckets and replaced parts of Ballard’s 1950 waterwheel with a bigger and heavier wheel. In 1999 Gary Stapleford of Nel-Tech Labs Inc. in Manchester rebuilt the wheel once again.

waterwheel for $3,000 from the Fitz Water Wheel Company of Hanover, Pennsylvania.

Blueprints survive for this wheel and depict it as 6 feet wide, 12 feet in diameter and weighing about 1,000 pounds.

Ballard searched far and wide over much of New England for another up-and-down saw to put into his completed mill building, and he finally found one next door in Sandown. The saw mechanism had been disassembled some 50 years earlier, and the pieces and parts were stored beneath a barn. Ballard paid $180 for the parts and

spent the better part of two years figuring out how to put it together. Parts were missing, and he searched across several states to seek out the missing components needed to put his mill into operation.

Finally, in 1951, when Ballard was a spry 80-year-old man, he fulfilled his boyhood dream and turned the control wheel in the 18th century-style sawmill, designed and built by his own brain and hand, and sawed out his first board.

The mill itself is a magical mechanical marvel. Giant pine logs go in, sawdust flies

photos courtesy of the chichester historical society

603 INFORMER

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

603 INFORMER

photos courtesy of the chichester historical society

In 1951, when Ballard was a spry 80-year-old man, he fulfilled his boyhood dream.

Rebuilding the dam and mill foundation, circa late 1940s

and boards and beams come out. All of it is powered by falling water in a process that has been described as mysterious as cows turning green grass into white milk.

Water dammed up behind the mill is released by twisting a wheel that raises a gate and shoots the water rushing down a sluiceway, falling into the oak plank buckets of the big overshot waterwheel, which starts it turning. Inside the bowels of the mill on the lowermost floor, the axle of the waterwheel turns a big iron gear, which drives a small iron gear, trading torque for speed. Then a hypnotic sort of motion begins all around. Gears turn shafts that spin pulleys that drive leather belts, which flap around and drive other pulleys. This action climbs to the middle floor where a

giant flywheel with a long piston-like arm and heavy counterweight spins, converting rotary motion into up-and-down motion, which drives the pitman arms holding the sawblade. More pulleys clink and clank and turn ratchet wheels in a perfect synchronization converting circular energy into back-and-forth horizontal movement, which moves the log carriage on the upper floor into the saw blade going up and down. The mill is old and it makes a lot of noise, but the whine of belts and pulleys and the steady thump, thump, thump of the giant saw blade chewing through a log is rhythmic and almost musical.

New England’s earliest sawmills were called “pit saws,” which required two men to operate them. They got their name

because one man stood above a pit in the ground over which a log was laid, while another, the pitman, stood in the pit below.

Each held the end of a long saw blade and the pitman’s job was to pull the saw downward, which supplied most of the blade’s cutting power, slicing the log into boards.

It was dirty, dangerous, laborious work, especially for the man in the pit, who was at constant risk of the log falling on him, and who endured a steady shower of sawdust and dirt. No wonder the water-powered “up-and-down” pitman sawmills were such a welcome invention.

Today, Old Man Ballard’s Mill — or, more properly, the Taylor Mill — is under the administration of the NH Division of Forests and Lands. The property, including the sawmill, the caretaker’s house and over 70 acres of land, were generously donated

by Ballard and his family to the state of New Hampshire in 1953. The mill is open to the public for demonstrations several times a year, offering a glimpse into the early days of New Hampshire’s sawmilling industry.

Demonstrations are dependent upon the availability of water and logs. If no demonstration is planned, the mill still opens for tours at no charge. Stop in and see the mill run. Old man Ballard would be pleased. NH The Taylor Mill Historic Site is located at 242 Island Pond Rd. in Derry. The site is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning June 9 through September 22. There is no charge to visit the mill. Demonstrations are available on these dates but are dependent upon the availability of water and wood. If no demonstration is planned, the mill will still be open for tours on those Saturdays. Visit nhstateparks.org for more information on touring the mill.

81-year-old Ernest Ballard at his completed mill in 1951 nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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SCENE

Out and About Honoring Excellent Nurses

5/22 The Excellence in Nursing Awards

New Hampshire Magazine, in partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association, honored 13 exceptional nurses at the Downtown Manchester Hotel. The winners, who were featured in the May issue, represent the very best in nursing — those who go the extra mile to comfort, heal and teach. Thank you to presenting sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and to our other sponsors, Rivier University, Rise Private Wealth Management, Work ‘N Gear and Granite State College.

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1 Award-winner Lourdes Hambrecht of SNHMC 2 From left: Award-winner Barbara Stuart of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Katie Stuart 3 From left: Award-winner Kate Collopy of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Joan Widmer 4 From left: Marilyn Daley, award-winner Mary Bidgood-Wilson of the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association and Jennifer Thompson 5 Carlene Ferrier, president of the New Hampshire Nurses Association board of directors 6 Dr. William Brewster, vice president of the New Hampshire market of presenting sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, and Pam Heckman 7 Award-winner Margaret Crowley of Qualidigm and Ann Spenard 8 From left: Bobbie Bagley and Tracy Hardy of event sponsor Rivier University 9 Sarah Roussel and Jeff VanLaarhoven of event sponsor Work ‘N Gear (who handed out 100 “Grey’s Anatomy” umbrellas on the drizzly party night)

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PEOPLE OVER PROFITS. IT’S MORE REWARDING THAT WAY.

Harvard Pilgrim’s wide ranging health benefits and services have always had one thing in common, you. Your version of healthy. As a not-for-profit health service company, we value your well-being above all else. Our goal is to provide access to higher-value and higher-quality health care across New England, and we have been doing so for nearly 50 years.

To learn more, call your broker or visit harvardpilgrim.org

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care includes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of Connecticut, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, and HPHC Insurance Company.

FORM NO: NH_6817_0817

603 INFORMER

IN THE NEWS

Blips Monitoring appearances of the 603 on the media radar since 2006

The kind of dish Hennessey is used to crafting at Stages at One Washington in Dover — fermented mushroom sorbet with smoked yogurt, garlic mustard, lemon balm and dried cabbage

Showing the world what NH chefs have to offer

BY CASEY MCDERMOTT

B

y the time Evan Hennessey found himself on the set of one of the most popular food competitions on television, facing off against a field of some of the best chefs in the business, he had no time to let stage fright get in the way of a good dish — or, in this case, his chance at a “Chopped” victory.

“I was thinking, if anybody’s going to beat me, it’s me,” recalls Hennessey, who can usually be found in the kitchen of Stages at One Washington, the restaurant he runs in Dover.

“If I’m going down,” he thought, “it’s because I make a mistake, or somebody out-cooks me, and that’s fair.”

Luckily, just the opposite proved true: Hennessey out-cooked all of his competitors in a “Leftover Takeover”-themed faceoff, where part of the challenge involved coming up with creative uses for the likes of “unfinished Chinese

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takeout and something remaining from a meal at an Italian restaurant,” per the show notes.

It was a far cry from Hennessey’s usual menu at Stages, which features an array of locally foraged, creatively constructed fare that looks almost too pretty to eat, let alone stuff into tinfoil or a takeout carton. But the key, he says, was to focus on technique.

“They’re not New England ingredients, they’re not New Hampshire ingredients,” Hennessey says of the competition dishes. “And that’s when you have to rely on the longevity of your career and all of your different experiences to be able to pull from a multitude of cuisines very quickly.”

For his efforts, Hennessey walked away with $10,000, plenty of good publicity for his Dover dining spot and a long line of callers seeking dinner reservations. The episode debuted in the first week of May, and within two weeks, Stages

IN OTHER NEWS: North Conway snagged a spot on USA Today’s list of the “Best Small Towns for Adventure” in 2018. Coming in at No. 7, it was one of just two New England destinations on the list, managing to beat out No. 9 Bar Harbor, Maine. • A pair of 125-year-old vintage Levi Strauss & Co. blue jeans stitched from New Hampshire denim fetched close to $100,000 at a recent auction, per the AP. • Kudos to Pelham first grader and local Girl Scout Molly Baker, who was one of 53 national finalists in a recent student contest to design a new Google “doodle.”

Baker’s drawing was a celestial scene of stars and planets, meant to represent her love for space and her aspiration to be an astronaut — but we think she has a future as an artist too.

courtesy photos

Dover Chef Wins the Top Prize on “Chopped”

was booked solid through July.

But the real victory to take away from the show, in his mind, is much bigger: It also brought some long-overdue recognition for the Granite State’s culinary scene.

While that scene might not have a national reputation as a foodie destination, the way Hennessey sees it, “I’ve always thought we’ve had something worth noticing anyway, and we just haven’t had many opportunities to showcase it.”

“We have beautiful farms doing incredible things raising some really beautiful and healthy animals and growing some really unbelievable vegetables, and we want to be able to showcase that again and again,” Hennessey says.

“New Hampshire is not just a small state, we have such a beautiful thing here.”

You might just want to make sure to get your reservation in now, before everyone else starts to catch on too. NH

ARTISAN

“Where To?” 30x48, 2018, $4,000

603 INFORMER

Muted Landscapes Interpreting the lazy hills of New Hampshire with layers of color

BY SUSAN LAUGHLIN

T “Journey Beyond” 30x48, 2018, $4,000

Find It

Molly Doe Wensberg Stafford mollywensberg.com

courtesy photos

McGowan Fine Art Concord mcgowanfineart.com

he sun doesn’t always shine in the landscape paintings of Molly Doe Wensberg of Strafford, and rarely does she attempt to capture the bright colors of autumn. “I just prefer the muted colors of a hazy day,” she says, adding, “I find them more soothing — full-on autumn is too overpowering for me.”

Wensberg’s first art enterprise after graduating from Skidmore College was helping a production tapestry artist and learning to build colors with 20 strands of yarn. Now, with a palette knife, she layers in the colors, almost like a hand weaver would fill weft sections with yarn, woven between the fibers of the warp.

For inspiration, Wensberg loves

to drive around the state, and she particularly admires the views in Gilmanton, where the fields and sky meet in an almost-quillwork pattern.

She translates the views she captures in photos, or from her mind’s eye, with luscious oil paint. The palette knife forces her to abstract a bit and not get too fussy. She builds up the layers of colors, adding depth and interest, and maybe a bit of the burnt orange underpainting shows through here and there as a visual treat.

Wensberg’s work can be found at McGowan Fine Art in Concord and the George Marshall Store Gallery in York, Maine. Prices range for $2,000 to $5,500. NH nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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603 INFORMER

POLITICS

Lou D’Allesandro reflects on a five-decade career

BY JAMES PINDELL

I

write about politics for a living, and given that no one alive has actively sought or held New Hampshire political office for longer than Lou D’Allesandro, I always cherish chances to gain insight when we have a moment together.

Over nearly two decades, I estimate I’ve talked with him about 100 times, but one conversation that took place years ago sticks in my mind. Knocking back a cranberry juice at an upscale bar in Boston, D’Allesandro went on an impassioned plea, saying that “all politics is about relationships.”

On some level, his argument is, of course, true. In his book “The Origins of Political Order,” political theorist Francis Fukuyama determines that politics from the earliest days was organized in concentric circles.

First, there’s family, then community, nearby communities, etc. But looking at American politics as relationship-based doesn’t explain how we got today’s incredibly unpopular US Congress nor why Donald Trump is in the White House.

Politics today is less and less about relationships and more about ideology and money. There is less incentive for a candi-

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date to go door to door because few people are home. True, a politician needs some sort of relationship with a voter, but lately voters are rewarding a more distanced relationship, even in our state that prides itself on retail politics. The smart politician goes to where the voters actually “live” — serving up Facebook ads on their phones.

Entertaining candidates are rewarded with attention, while candidates who are substantive get overlooked.

In May, D’Allesandro released a memoir called “The Lion of the New Hampshire Senate.” And, yes, he does make the argument that politics is really the artform of relationships. There is even an entire chapter titled “Relationship Politics.”

Written with Mark Bodanza, the book covers his upbringing in East Boston, his education at boarding schools, his athletic career, his first unsuccessful run for state representative in 1970, his two runs for governor, his changing parties and his role as a presidential kingmaker.

Anyone who loves a good political backstory would enjoy the read. His written voice makes you feel as though you’re right

there with us at that Boston bar ordering another round of cranberry juice. The twist in all of this is that while he decries the partisanship of the current era, the picture he paints of New Hampshire politics in the 1970s and 1980s is extremely partisan. He talks about how he was basically purged from the Republican Party due to vicious attacks from the once-powerful Union Leader, which dubbed him “Liberal Lou.” Back in the day, he maintained deep personal relationships with the likes of former governor Walter Peterson and then-US senator Warren Rudman, while at the same time practicing politics that tried to reshape the party into his own image.

Now approaching 50 years since he first ran for office, it’s unclear how much longer D’Allesandro will continue in elected office.

He ponders his legacy in his memoir, and I ponder it every time I attend a major Democratic Party function when he is introduced.

“LOOOUUU,” the crowd proclaims so loudly that the person addressing the crowd must make it clear to the untrained ear they didn’t hear “boo.”

It’s in that moment where D’Allesandro’s life mantra is on display: a deep adoring relationship with an entire room of political players, one that has gone on for decades. NH

illustration by peter noonan

Political Legacy

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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EXPERTS

New Hampshire Magazine’s Guide to Retirement Living and Continuing Care According to recent studies, the fastest-growing age group in New Hampshire over the next 20 years will be those aged 70-74, and there will be significant growth in the number of people aged 75 and older. As parents, loved ones and partners begin to age, it becomes increasingly important to have a plan in place to provide for their medical, social and cultural needs.

The time to investigate senior living options is now.

We spoke with a number of senior living executives from around the state to learn more about how to approach the topic, what to look for, what to expect and how best to prepare.

Here is our panel of experts: • Lynda Brislin is executive director of the Terrace Communities, which has two locations: Windham Terrace, in Windham, and Wheelock Terrace, in Hanover. terracecommunities.com • Paul Charlton, vice president of marketing at Taylor Community, in Wolfeboro. taylorcommunity.org • Cathleen Toomey, vice president of marketing for The RiverWoods Group, which includes RiverWoods Exeter, a three-campus (CCRC) in Exeter; Birch Hill, a CCRC based in Manchester; and RiverWoods Durham, a new CCRC that is anticipated to open in early 2020 in Durham. riverwoodsgroup.org • Karen Johnson, marketing and development director at Webster at Rye in Rye. websteratrye.com • Jan Daly Eaton, director of marketing and residents ser-

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vices at RiverMead in Peterborough. rivermead.org • Joanne Rizzo, director of community relations and marketing at Bedford Falls, a Benchmark Senior Living Community, in Bedford.

HOW DO WE BEGIN? What is the timeline for planning a move to a senior living community?

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “As with many major decisions, the earlier you start thinking and planning for a move to a senior living community, the better. One reason for that is because the earlier you start planning, the more choices you have. The second reason is because there are more seniors than ever before, now that the baby boomers are starting to age into retirement. Therefore, people are starting to plan earlier, and wait lists in some communities are getting longer – so you may not be able to walk right into the community of your choice – it may be a multi-year wait.”

Karen Johnson, Webster at Rye: “It’s never

too soon to start thinking about your preferences and imagining the possibilities. Senior living offers so many choices for lifestyle, care needs, locations and, of course, cost structures. Planning should include both financial and medical considerations. Ideally, you would begin planning by building solid financial resources decades before you need care. Don’t assume that living at home for as long as possible will provide you with the best care and lifestyle. In-home care can be less cost-effective than assisted living communities. Communities providing assisted living or memory care also provide an essential ingredient for well-being: socialization!”

How can you start the conversation with a loved one who may benefit from transitioning to a senior community?

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “If you’re asking that question, congratulations - you are already halfway there! Starting the conversation is not easy and I actually encourage the parents to take the first step and bring it up with your family. For adult children of

RVRWDS-4.62x4.95 kayak ad July 2017 NHM.qxp_Layout 1 5/19/17 2:08 PM Page 1 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

seniors, a good conversation starter can be a sharing a relatable story about another person’s situation when it came to long-term care. Perhaps they had slip and fall and the decision rested solely on the adult child. Stories like that can lead into, ‘so, Mom, what would you want us to do in that situation?’ The most important factor is to start the conversation as early as possible. If you wait until a crisis, then your options are much more limited.

It is also easier to contemplate a move when you can outline all the reasons why life is easier, and you have more time to enjoy and meet people, as compared to making a need-based decision.”

How do you begin to address senior care with someone who may have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia?

Karen Johnson, Webster at Rye: “By talking openly and compassionately while addressing concerns of safety. Here at Webster at Rye, our tours include meeting and talking with our residents. When families of potential residents meet our current residents, they begin to see that their parent or loved one would fit right in because they see so many similarities.”

Joanne Rizzo, Bedford Falls: “There is such a huge stigma that surrounds Alzheimer’s disease and/ or dementia. I find most folks are afraid to even visit a memory care neighborhood in fear of what they will see or hear. Benchmark does such a nice job with that. Our programs are designed specifically with the Six Dimensions of Wellness in mind. Bottom line: We meet their needs in assisting to live fulfilling lives by incorporating physical, intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and renewed sense of purpose to our activity programs. First of all, based on what you see, there is no difference between assisted living and memory care except that memory care is a secured environment for one’s own safety. Both neighborhoods offer socialization, engagement and independence utilizing ‘Live Now, Live Well.’ With that said, we are able to focus on the individual, the person, who they are, still. Quality of life and meeting one’s needs is front and center for each one of us. Quite often I have someone I am sitting with that will ask me, “when will I know when it’s time to come here?” Unfortunately, we sympathize. There is no magic answer. It takes time to come to terms with planning for the rest of your life when receiving such a diagnosis. We get it. We understand and we are right there beside you every step of the way for as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable with your decision. That’s right, it’s your decision. Whether we are meeting with a prospect or a family member, it comes down to helping folks connect with what is best for him or her as an individual and as a family. It’s important that everyone gets what they need and that they feel at home here at Bedford Falls. We are proud and honored to be considered by families as home for their loved ones – no matter what level care is necessary. We rise to the occasion and consider it a privilege. After all, we have a lot of experience. At Benchmark, we are a family taking care of families!”

Lynda Brislin, Terrace Communities: “Millstone Inn is a smaller, personal wing – within the same overall community – separated by a keypad code that prevents

LIVE

independently

Paddle the Squamscott River at 8 am.

Learn a new watercolor technique at 11am.

Laugh with friends over a dinner you didn’t have to cook.

Your future health care needs? They’re covered.

Independence now, peace of mind for the future.

Call 1-800-688-9663 to learn more. www.RiverWoodsRC.org

Connecting to what matters That’s the Benchmark Difference.

5 Corporate Drive | 603.471.2555 BedfordFallsAssistedLiving.com Assisted Living • Memory Care nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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“When we realized our dad could no longer live alone, we helped him make his new home at Webster at Rye. From the very first day, we knew he would be happy and safe there.”

-Lindsay, Laurie & Leigh, (Allen’s daughters)

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wandering of those who may have this symptom as part of their dementia. It is a specially designed, lovely and secure unit with an outdoor enclosed courtyard as well as a large, bright three-season sunroom. The goal of our Millstone Inn is twofold – to provide a sense of security and belonging through specially trained staff, within surroundings that look and feel like home; and to add quality-of-life through a daily routine which incorporates music, laughter, smiles and exercise along with conversation, creativity and reflection.”

WHAT CAN I EXPECT? Aren’t most of the senior communities the same?

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “This is one of the most important considerations.

No, all senior living communities are not the same.

Some are age restricted 55-plus communities that offer socialization and condo-like living but no access to health care; some are assisted living or memory care facilities that provide care for a specific illness. Others, like CCRCs (there are about seven in New Hampshire, including RiverWoods Exeter, Birch Hill and RiverWoods Durham) are organizations where you come in as an independent resident, enjoy your life on your own terms, and when and if you need health care, it is provided to you right within the community at no additional cost, or significantly reduced cost. You will want to know if the community is for-profit, or not-for-profit, and understand very clearly what the contract provides to you – many communities can look very similar, but the costs and details of the contract vary greatly.”

How does the reality of the moving process compare with common misconceptions?

Lynda Brislin, Terrace Communities: “Seniors are sometimes under the impression that all communities are the same and that they offer the same levels of care, the same standards or the same accommodations. This is most definitely untrue. They’re sometimes afraid that they will lose their freedom or Independence and that remaining in their home is the best place to live as you age. In actuality, it is the environment that provides safety, more freedom and convenience along with more care and certainly less stress or worry than perhaps staying alone in your home can provide.

Another misconception is that you will lose connections with family or friends. The reality is that families and friends visit more frequently, and those visits are more enjoyable as they’re not providing care that was needed before moving into a community.”

How does someone decide what type of senior living arrangement is best for them or a family member?

Paul Charlton, Taylor Community: “A lot of research, exploration and time. Think of it a bit like deciding where to go to college. You probably have some idea of what you’re looking for in terms of location – do you want an urban or rural setting, New England or the Southwest? Are you looking for a huge community with five golf courses or something smaller and quieter but

still with a lot going on? Then there’s the culture and environment. Do you want formal dining and dress, or a more down-to-earth social environment? As with everything else these days, most start online searching for things like retirement communities or continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). That will yield a ton of results that you can begin to sort through all that’s available and start to get a feel for the things that are most important to you. Then the most important thing is to get out and visit those that seem most appealing.”

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “For New Englanders, who are generally very self-reliant, moving to a community is usually a hard idea to embrace. However, in a very real sense, moving to a senior community can help a senior be more independent and less reliant on family and friends.

When you move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community, for example, much of the work of living is taken care of – you generally benefit from one meal a day, housekeeping and inside and outside maintenance (no shoveling snow or raking leaves.) Additionally, you have the benefit of increased social interaction and easy access to fitness and educational programs. Most importantly, you have the benefit of knowing that if your future health care needs change, you can transition to assisted living, memory care or nursing care, right within the community.”

What would someone be surprised to learn about the day to day life in a retirement community or life plan community?

Jan Daly Eaton, RiverMead: “People would be surprised to learn of the high demand for fitness opportunities amongst seniors. As we conducted our market research for our master planning project, we found that seniors have a strong desire to continue and be involved in their personal fitness. Among the priorities are an increased emphasis on overall wellness and social opportunities and state-of-the art facilities and equipment. This information, along with our resident feedback and expert input, guided us as we embark on the addition of a two-story dedicated fitness center on our Mead campus. This will include our existing 50-foot by 20-foot heated swimming pool. RiverMead currently has four to six different trainer-led fitness classes daily.

Residents often work out independently or with a trainer in our fitness room. The new fitness center will house a large variety of fitness equipment and will offer studio space for classes, locker and showering rooms.

We are looking forward to increasing our already robust class schedule to meet the needs of our residents.

Recently we have added a men’s endurance and strength class. Day to day life at RiverMead can be as active as one wishes. Resident feedback confirms that having a diverse fitness program, on campus and at no additional cost, motivates them to continue their pursuit of health and wellness. For many, fitness has become an integral part of everyday life.”

Joanne Rizzo, Bedford Falls: “Surprisingly enough, you really get to come and go as you please.

Most folks still have their own cars, go out and do errands and even vacation in Florida or visit their families from time to time. Even family members get to come nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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RiveRMead

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 Carefree Retirement  Enriched Lifestyle  Peace of Mind  Excellence in Care  Choices are Yours

Live Learn Create Play 



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www.rivermead.org 1.800.200.5433 150 RiverMead Road Peterborough, NH

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and spend the night or weekend with their loved ones.

For those folks that no longer drive, then we take you out. We offer transportation to and from appointments, shopping, sightseeing, etc. You have all the same luxuries as you did at home minus the responsibility of maintaining your home. You can have as little or as much care as you need. It’s all up to you.”

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE CONSIDER? How important is a retirement community’s financial health and how can you assess that when deciding on a location?

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “Before deciding to move into a community, you should understand if they are strong enough to fulfill their commitment to you. You are making a commitment to spend the rest of your life there – are they financially stable enough to fulfill that commitment?

First, you should be able to talk directly to the chief financial officer of the organization to understand the community’s history and what its current position is. Is the organization a standalone community, or part of a system? Second, you should be able to review the community’s audited financials. Third, you should be able to understand their occupancy level and history of monthly service fee increases over the past five years.

Fourth, is the community reinvesting in their physical plant? It is critical that the community continue to maintain their property every year, which means that 10, 15, 20 years from now, the community will still look as good as it does today. You can find a more detailed list of what financial measures are helpful to track, by downloading our Insider’s Guide workbook.”

What questions should families ask/what should someone look for when visiting a senior living community?

Paul Charlton, Taylor Community: “Again, I always come back to find out all you can from the people who live there. There are countless lists of questions to ask that you can find online that can be helpful. Things like financial strength, governance, fees, census, levels of care available, what is guaranteed under the resident contract, what rules or regulations are in place – again, all the factual stuff that is critically important. But what you really want to determine is whether you will be happy in your new home and enjoy living there for, quite frankly, what will likely be for the rest of your life.”

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “Ask about everything. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life and you have the right to ask about every detail. Marketing materials for communities can look similar, but the offerings can differ greatly. There are hundreds of possible questions, and to make it easier, we’ve created a workbook titled, “The Insider’s Guide to Choosing a Continuing Care Retirement Community” as a way to help people assess different communities. It can be found at RiverWoodsRC.org/ RESOURCES.”

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WHAT ADVICE DO EXPERTS HAVE? What’s your no. 1 tip about the moving process?

Lynda Brislin, Terrace Communities: “Seniors are sometimes under the impression that all communities are the same and that they offer the same levels of care, the same standards or the same accommodations. This is most definitely untrue. They’re sometimes afraid that they will lose their freedom or Independence and that remaining in their home is the best place to live as you age. In actuality, it is the environment which provides safety, more freedom and convenience along with more care and certainly less stress or worry than perhaps staying alone in your home can provide. Another misconception is that you will lose connections with family or friends. The reality is that families and friends visit more frequently, and those visits are more enjoyable as they’re not providing care that was needed before moving into a community.”

Karen Johnson, Webster at Rye: “Be supportive and encouraging, patient and loving. Once they’ve made the move, visit often and enjoy simply being together.”

Joanne Rizzo, Bedford Falls: “We all collect so much over a lifetime, don’t we? Allow us to connect you with our professional organizers and movers. They not only have the experience, but they have the sensitivity to help make packing and organizing a whole lot less stressful. Downsizing and moving is a life changing event.

We are here for you every step of the way.”

deserve the comfort and support that senior living comwith our incoming residents, and help them through munities provide. For some, letting go of a home full of what is a very emotional as well as physical chore. memories is difficult. Most people find that the comfort Invariably, it is a really helpful and energizing experience and security, along with social opportunities and great for our residents and their families. Once they move in, food tip the balance in favor of making the move. Many the next concern is how to meet others. At Birch Hill and residents feel better knowing that their children no longer RiverWoods Exeter, we have an extensive welcoming have to worry about their care.” process, where new residents are welcomed in a variety of ways: by other residents to join them for dinner or What’s new at your community? come to a lecture with them. In most cases, after a Paul Charlton, Taylor Community: “New promonth or two, new residents will say to us, ‘my only grams and amenities are usually driven by the residents regret is that I didn’t make this move sooner!’” since it’s not as much important what the administration Karen Johnson, Webster at Rye: “Many people thinks we should be offering as it is knowing what the are reluctant to ‘spend their children’s inheritance’ on RVRWDS-RWD-425-RWD NH Mag-Ad 4.625 x 7.45.qxp_Layout 5/9/18 Page 1 residents want. We are1 finding that3:20 morePM and more they themselves, but they’ve spent years working and now

A CONCEPT SO SMART, IT BELONGS IN A COLLEGE TOWN.

What are most people concerned about when they first move to a senior living community, and how do you address that concern?

Paul Charlton, Taylor Community: “Interesting enough, even after they’ve decided where they want to live and move in, they have doubts as to whether they will like living in a retirement community and whether they will fit in. It’s important that communities provide a comprehensive orientation and to make it as easy as possible for people to make friends and become acquainted with all the community has to offer. For us, that means a combination of staff and residents going out of their way to introduce themselves to their new neighbors and invite them to join them – maybe it’s a meal, a trip, an exercise class, a concert, speaker presentation or other kinds of activities. We pay a lot of attention to making new residents feel very welcomed without being pushy. It’s important to realize that these people just made a major move that can be both physically and emotionally draining. You want a good balance between allowing space and privacy while settling in, but also making sure that they are truly welcome in their new community.”

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “Initially, people are concerned about downsizing – how do they go through a lifetime of accumulated possessions to move? Unfortunately, some people never manage to make a desired move, because they don’t have the energy to face the challenge of downsizing. At Birch Hill, we currently have a limited-time offer of free downsizing service to our incoming residents to help them make the move. We work with professional downsizers, who meet nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Featured Retirement Communities in NH

At RiverWoods Durham, our most exciting news is that we broke a national record, and pre-sold the community completely out in six weeks, starting in January. The good news is that we still have an opportunity for interested residents to join our wait list, and we are accepting people onto the wait list now. The community is expected to break ground this June, and anticipate opening by early 2020.”

Karen Johnson, Webster at Rye: “Our activities provide an array of seasonal outings and programs – from Art in Bloom to our Handcrafted Holiday Fair, along with cook-outs, shopping trips, pottery and painting classes, entertainers and celebrations of every holiday, large or small. We offer personalized gardening along with utilizing local foods for a great dining experience at every meal. Our nursing care provides highly personalized care throughout our Nursing, Rehabilitation, Memory Care and Assisted Living communities.”

OP TIO NS RSI NG IND UN EPE ITS ND EN TL IVIN PER SO GU NA NIT LC S ARE ME UN MO ITS RY CA ASS RE IST UN ED ITS RES LIV ING PIT EC OR GA ARE N SCH IZED D ED AY BEA ULED TRIPS TRA UT Y LAU /BAR NSPO BER RTA ND T HO RY SE SERVI ION USE RVI CE C ON KEEPI E N -SIT E D G SER ON I -SIT NING VICE WO E MED SERVI CE RSH IC IP S AL SE RVI ERV CE ICE

a brand new fitness center that is three times the size of our former center. In July we will be reopening our brand new dining room and menu program for our residents. Additionally, we have completely renovated all our available apartment homes, tearing down walls, replacing flooring, lighting, cabinets and countertops, so interested prospects can move into a brand new place this summer.

At RiverWoods Exeter, we were recognized this year as being the largest level 1 accredited arboretum in New Hampshire, featuring more than 100 species of unique trees and woody shrubs. This was a project completed by residents and staff working together, and residents are volunteer docents. Also, this spring we just installed our first beehive, and are together are working on maintaining our first set of bees, which we hope will enable us to craft our own local honey for use in dining.

want to add social and recreational facilities and activities – and not necessarily the kinds of things some might associate with a retirement community. Pub Nights, which were started by a handful of residents last year, have become increasingly popular with close to 100 residents getting together for food, drinks and conversation. We also built a fire pit and patio area that’s a great gathering spot that typically includes residents playing music and enjoying a sing-a-long. New indoor and outdoor recreation activities are also a big hit, including yoga on the lawn, the sunrise stretch and exercise classes and a new bocci court to be built this spring. The overarching theme seems to be that the people here want be active and to have fun.”

Cathleen Toomey, The RiverWoods Group: “At Birch Hill, we are nearing completion on a $10 million capital investment program, and today we have

Amenities

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES Birch Hill Manchester; birchhillrc.org

$161,000

Starting at $2,975

Y

0

130

0

12

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Serene wooded setting, gardening, wood shop, fitness facility, wellness center.

RiverMead Peterborough; rivermead.org

$180,000$428,000

$3,469$6,879

Y

33

181

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Full-service life care retirement community, award-winning cuisine and hospitality, beautiful residences, top-notch services and staff.

RiverWoods Durham Durham; riverwoodsdurham.org

Starting at $299,900

Starting at $3,295

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72

150

0

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Anticipated to open in late 2019. Brand new Type A CCRC.

RiverWoods Exeter Exeter; riverwoodsrc.org

Starting at $193,000

Starting at $2,424

Y

78

393

0

78

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Nationally accredited CCRC. Type A. Independent, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Certified ALZ Care.

Taylor Community Laconia; taylorcommunity.org

Starting at $139,000

Starting at $1,195

Y

0

180

103

10

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$7,600$9,000

N

0

0

0

89

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$6,000 $8,000

Y

0

0

60

24

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Restaurant style dining, theatre, library and pub, all in the spirit of elevating human connections.

$1,850 $11,000

Y

29

4

10

16

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The Peabody Home in Franklin understands senior living transition does not have to be overwhelming.

$6,450$9,330

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55

0

55

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Highly individualized care meeting your evolving needs and lifestyle in a gracious living environment.

Wheelock Terrace Hanover; wheelockterrace.com

$7,000$10,000

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0

0

0

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Our beautiful, well-appointed community offers a wide range of services in assisted living and memory care.

Windham Terrace Windham; windhamterrace.com

Starting at $5,000

• • • • • • • • • •

Enriching social, cultural and educational activities, comfortable restaurant-style dining, serene library, holistic wellness/integrated therapy room.

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Activities, special events, concerts, lectures, seminars, pool, gym, movie theater, maintenance free.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES The Arbors at Bedford Bedford; arborsofbedford.com Bedford Falls Rye; websteratrye.com

$6,000

Peabody Home Franklin; peabodyhome.org Webster at Rye Rye; websteratrye.com

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$4,000

Y

0

Y

Y

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The Arbors of Bedford is a leading provider of expert memory care here in NH.

Want to see your community listed here in our January issue? Contact us today to reserve your spot — (603) 624-1442.

“I haven’t seen Mom smile this much in years.”

“As Mom aged, we thought it best if she stayed in her home. We were wrong. Even with hours of home care, Mom wasn’t thriving. She needed more. She especially needed more socialization—not isolation.

And more reliable care too. So she made the move to Windham Terrace. She truly loves her elegant new home! Life is more complete with lots of friends and activities, chef-prepared meals, daily care, medication management, and even transportation to appointments and outings. I visit her often, so I know Mom is happier and more relaxed now… and I am too. We only wish she’d moved sooner.”

If you are interested in the finest care and the nicest people, call Lynda at Windham Terrace (603) 437-4600 or, better yet, stop by.

3 Church Road, Windham, NH 03087 | WindhamTerrace.com | (603) 437-4600

TerraceCommunities.com WhEElock TErracE 32 Buck Road Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-7290

Equinox TErracE 324 Equinox Terrace Road Manchester Center, VT 05255 (802) 362-5141

VallEy TErracE 2820 Christian Street White River Junction, VT 05001 (802) 280-1910

WoodsTock TErracE

scarborough TErracE

456 Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT 05091 (802) 457-2228

600 Commerce Drive Scarborough, ME 04074 (207) 885-5568

603 INFORMER

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Free Form Photo and transcription by Kendal J. Bush

Amanda Whitworth uses her body to complement, conform to and contrast with an environment, delivering dance in unexpected settings. Her stage is anywhere she can move, stretch, bend and leap. She is a teacher, a volunteer, an artist and a patron who works to make dance accessible as an art form and relevant as a means of self-expression. She’s the president of the New Hampshire Dance Alliance and coordinates the dance program at Plymouth State University.

I love ballet. It’s actually my first love in terms of a dance style, but my body and my strengths as a dancer are more suited to contemporary or modern dance technique.

I think the work that I’m doing right now is actually the most interesting because it blurs the boundaries of what dance actually is.

That’s where you’re barefoot. You can attach lots of different aspects of athleticism, from working with partners, mixed-gender partners or same-gender partners.

I have my own company called Tributary Dance and it’s a mechanism for gathering artists together to create new work.

The work I do under that lens tends to be physical theatre — like a marriage of acting and dance.

I’ve done small roles on Broadway as a dancer, and I’ve worked with Amy Marshall [Dance Company] — she’s actually a New Hampshire native, which is so cool.

Post 9/11, it was a little tricky trying to find consistent work in New York City for me. ... I ended up taking a little gig in Montreal, and I was working with a choreographer in Boston.

I came to New Hampshire because I sort of split the difference.

I ended up Plymouth, and I’ve been at Plymouth ever since, but I still travel quite a bit — a lot down the East Coast and back to the Midwest where I’m from.

There is a vast world of dance beyond what most people see.

There’s dance improvisation, there’s site-specific movement, there’s somatic integration — that’s like a mind-body connection, how the body responds to an impetus.

Lately I’ve been doing quite a bit of work with sculptural artists, responding to, and dancing on, a variety of materials.

I’m really inspired by the intersection of where dance not only meets something else but can actually inform it.

Just trying to make it all happen.

Catch Whitworth in “Shadows” at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth from August 30 to September 1. It’s her collaboration with fellow physical theatre artist (and PSU colleague) C. Robin Marcotte. They’ll be performing an adaptation of the wordless graphic novel “Walking Shadows” by Neil Bousfield (image at left), in which a poor couple, working opposite shifts in the same factory, struggle through addiction and family crisis to find hope. This one-act performance straddles the worlds of dance and theatre to leave you with a new definition of art. Tickets at seacoastrep.org/calendar. nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Small-town Life & the Big Parade New Boston, New Hampshire, loves the Fourth of July so much the whole town turns out for the parade, and half of them are in it

By Jack Kenney, Photos by Jared Charney Left: New Boston’s Fourth of July celebration is also when residents honor the town’s youngest and oldest citizens.

Pictured here at 2017’s parade is 99-year-old Howard Towne with Xavier Hippert, last year’s youngest citizen.

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n a typical day, a drive into the quiet, friendly town of New Boston is rather uneventful.

Leaving the center of Goffstown, you drive along Route 13 South and before long you’re traveling on a stretch of wooded, mostly uninhabited road along the Piscataquog River.

A few miles more and you pass the turnoff to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds on your right and Daniels Garage on your left. You pass through a small residential neighborhood when suddenly a large, white church looms directly in front of you. You have arrived in the center of what might be called downtown New Boston, except New Boston has no “uptown.”

The compact village is the heart of a community of some 5,500 people spread out over the town’s 45 square miles. As you look around, it seems the village has one of everything — a church, an antiques shop, a hardware store, a general store. A slow but steady stream of customers flows in and out of Dodge’s Store, while others sit on benches or at a picnic table on the store’s generous front porch, enjoying a snack or simply watching the world go by. Colonial- and Victorian-style houses, many of them built around the beginning of the last century, give the village a decidedly retro look, calling to mind Garrison Keillor’s description of the fictional Lake Wobegone: “The little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve.”

Then one summer day you travel the same route and find your drive into town is halted by a police barrier just outside the village. A long line of strange characters is marching straight toward you, followed by a number of odd-looking vehicles until they all turn down the road leading to the fairgrounds.

Crowds of people are standing or sitting on their porches and lawns, cheering the procession. As you walk the last half-mile or so, men on horseback, clowns and antique cars go by. Men on an antique fire truck playfully spray water on youngsters on the side of the road. Delighted, the young ones fire back with giant water guns. It is a little after 10 a.m. and New Boston’s famous Fourth of July celebration is already in high gear.

In this town, you discover, the Fourth of July isn’t just a summer holiday. It’s more like a scaled-down version of Mardi Gras in a small New England town, and it is both the source and object of considerable civic pride.

“No town celebrates the Fourth of July quite like New Boston,” declares a blurb on the website of the New Boston Historical Society, noting that the town began 54

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celebrating the Declaration of Independence promptly in 1776, with prayers and patriotic speeches. These days, the July 4th parade, with its highly decorated floats, bands and costumed characters, lasts an hour or more, and is followed by an afternoon of fun and games at the fairgrounds, all leading up to the night’s fireworks display.

“It is the biggest single event every year,” says Laura Bernard, now in her second year as president of the New Boston Fourth of July Association “Every policeman in town is on duty that day. It’s all hands on deck for the Fourth of July.” An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people crowd the streets to watch the parade and about the same number pay the $5 fee for admission to the fairgrounds The day begins with the ringing of the tower bell at New Boston Community Church, that large, white structure at the heart of the village and the center of much

Laura Bernard, the president of the New Boston Fourth of July Association

of its year-round activity. Pastor Robert “Woody” Woodland welcomes early arrivals to the 8 a.m. “Burrito Breakfast,” an event that might seem more in keeping with a Cinco de Mayo than a Fourth of July celebration. The tradition began several years ago at the suggestion of a new arrival from Texas and has been carried on ever since.

“A lot of people come here early to get a good spot to watch the parade,” Woodland explains. The informal breakfast gives them something to do as well as something to eat while waiting for the 10 a.m. start.

Woodland, a former radio talk show host known for his wry sense of humor, adds to the day’s levity as he narrates the parade over a public address system, filling in gaps with humorous asides on anything from the previous day’s baseball scores to that day’s tennis matches at Wimbledon. His good-natured wisecracks include his regu-

lar teasing of the women representing the Daughters of the American Revolution. He seldom fails to remark on how young they look “for people who were around at the time of the Revolution.” The ladies of the DAR are often not amused.

“I’ve heard that,” Woodland chuckles.

The Fourth of July is also the day to honor the town’s “Oldest and Newest Citizen.” For the past six years, Howard Towne, now 99, has held the Boston Post cane, awarded to the town’s oldest resident. The newest, or youngest, citizen is a bit harder to find. The search is on for the child who will be born closest to this year’s Fourth of July.

“We don’t have any inside information about who’s having babies,” says Bernard, so each year “I start introducing myself to anyone I see who is pregnant to find out if they live in town and what their due date is.”

Last year’s winner was Xavier Hippert, born May 15. His father, Mike, marched in the parade, pulling behind him the family’s three older boys in three separate wagons, joined by ropes. Accompanying them was a sign that read, “Our first three attempts at the Newest Citizen.”

Out at the fairgrounds, three rounds are fired from the Molly Stark cannon, one of the town’s prized possessions and a source of historical pride. Named for the wife of General John Stark, the cannon was surrendered by the British to the famous New Hampshire general at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, in 1777. Stark later turned the cannon over to New Boston Artillery Company as a reward for its contribution to the Bennington victory. Though the company disbanded in 1852, the cannon has remained in the town ever since. When it is not in use on historic occasions, it’s housed as the premier exhibit at the New Boston Historical Society.

While there is some variation from one Fourth to the next, there are a number of staples to the daylong celebrations.

Time-honored contests, like the threelegged races and watermelon-eating contests, are a must. A mud pit is hosed down each year to accommodate a volleyball tournament, in which players appear to enjoy the muck and mud as much as the volleys and serves. Horsemen in cowboy garb ride in a fenced-off area, shooting out balloons at full gallop in a competition in riding skills and marksmanship. Musical and drama groups perform on stage, while concessionaires are busy serving up ice cream, cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers and other culinary delights. The barbeque chicken dinner is a crowd favorite and typically sells out in

The New Boston Historical Society has an archive of vintage scenes from the New Boston Fourth of July parade, which has taken place for almost nine decades.

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“Everybody seems to get along.

Very rarely do you hear anybody arguing. Even at selectmen’s meetings, nobody yells or calls people names.” – Dick Moody the first hour or so.

Planning for the event and the day’s work itself takes the efforts of scores of volunteers to organize the events, sell tickets and sponsorships, coordinate the parking and, of course, plan and organize the parade. In a way, the Fourth of July never ends in New Boston. Planning for the next Fourth begins on July 5.

“Everyone reviews what went well and what didn’t, and we establish the theme for the next parade,” says Martha Sareault, this year’s parade coordinator.

For 2018 the theme is “Heroes,” and the expectation is that people of all ages will march or ride on floats, dressed up to represent heroes of all eras, from George Washington to the latest action comics

Dan MacDonald, New Boston’s part-time fire chief

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hero. “We’re leaving it up to the public how they want to interpret it,” says Sareault. “It could be a community hero or a superhero.”

Sareault is planning a “puppy parade” within the parade this year, with local canines, many in costume no doubt, representing heroes of one kind or another.

The parade’s history suggests that whatever the participants come up with, it will be imaginative and colorful. Wayne Daniels, cochair for this year’s fireworks, recalls a giant dragon in a year when the parade theme was “Chinese New Year.”

“They used dry ice to create the smoke coming out of his nose,” says Daniels, while a backhoe concealed under the creature’s hindquarters moved the beast along. One of a dwindling number of New Boston

natives, Daniels recalls that over the years parade watchers have seen everything from the Beverly Hillbillies to Scud missiles shooting at Iraq.

A panel of three judges chooses the winners in the separate categories of large and small floats, with $75, $50 and $25 awarded to the top three in each category. It’s a chance for the winners to add a little cash to their pride of accomplishment, but as in any such contest, it might also be a way for the judges to make enemies.

“There have sometimes been grumblings, like ‘Oh, they won because they’re longtime residents of the town,’” says Bernard. “But I’ve never heard of any judges being personally maligned. I think more often than not people choose to have their floats in the parade because it’s a wonderful experience for neighborhoods, families, groups of friends, often with kids spending weekends putting it together. Most people think it was just so much fun doing it.”

Indeed, the friendliness and civility one finds on a visit to the town is no one-day affair, says Dick Moody, who’s lived in New Boston since 1967.

“Everybody seems to get along,” he says, including people with sharply opposing viewpoints. “Very rarely do you hear discord, anybody arguing. Even at selectmen’s meetings, nobody yells at the selectmen or calls people names.”

The day begins with the ringing of the tower bell at New Boston Community Church and Pastor Woodland welcomes early arrivals.

New Boston Community Church Pastor Robert “Woody� Woodland nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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That leaves the fireworks in town pretty much limited to the Fourth of July variety or the simulated firings in reenactments of American Revolution or Civil War battles staged at various times during the year.

Moody, a longtime member of the New Boston Historical Society, has found that in a town that prides itself on its volunteer spirit, it’s also easy for someone to get drafted for an office he didn’t seek.

“I missed a meeting once and they made me president,” says Moody, who served in that role for 18 years until the members elected former state representative David Woodbury president last fall. “I kept telling them, year after year, I didn’t want to do this anymore. I think they finally took pity on me.”

Though the town still has an active grange and other civic organizations, the number of volunteers is shrinking, Moody says. “In all the organizations, it’s the same people. ...

People are disappearing all the time.”

The town’s once-thriving agricultural industry has all but disappeared and local employment opportunities are pretty much limited to a few locally owned stores, shops, independent contractors and auto mechanics.

Most of New Boston’s adult population is either retired or employed elsewhere. “It’s very much a bedroom community,” Moody says.

“These days people have so much going on with their jobs, two jobs sometimes,” says Dan MacDonald, the town’s part-time fire chief. “It puts some pressure on their being able to volunteer. We have fewer people doing more for more people.”

Yet MacDonald has a contingent of 44 on-call firefighters and no shortage of stories to tell about people helping people in need.

When a cancer patient was unable to get out of his house, volunteers from the fire department built a ramp to his front door and the New Boston Community Church donated a wheelchair. When a woman in town lost her home in a fire, the firefighters organized a fundraising effort that brought in a little over $5,000 in assistance.

“People don’t understand until they have a disaster that there are a lot of people in New Boston who will come to that neighbor’s aid,” says MacDonald. The spiritual lift that gives people, he says, “is 10 times more important than the money.”

When voters at town meeting three times turned down requests for funds for a new building for the Whipple Free Library, a committee of volunteers took on the task.

“They hired a professional fundraiser who identified people who were able to make major contributions,” says Sarah 58

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Chapman, the town librarian. “Then they visited those people.” In the end, the committee raised nearly $1 million and the town contributed $100,000 from the capital fund. There were also a number of in-kind contributions from local contractors and subcontractors who donated their skill and labor. All of the library’s computers, both for office and public use, are also a gift, though Chapman won’t say from whom.

“I’m not going to tell you,” she says, “because they didn’t want anyone to know.”

Longtime residents will tell you the town has grown by leaps and bounds and the Census figures bear them out. The biggest surge came in the 1980s when the population jumped from 1,928 to 3,214, an increase of 66.7 percent. The growth rate had slowed by the last decade, with 4,138 numbered in 2000 and 5,321 in 2010.

Still, a decade’s population growth of just

Blue, red and white: Dan MacDonald, Pastor “Woody” Woodland and Laura Bernard in front of the New Boston Community Church

under 29 percent is nothing to sneeze at.

Homebuyers looking for the small-town life may have found New Boston real estate a bit more price-friendly than in some upscale communities nearby. Local real estate agent Heidi Palmer estimates that a home in New Boston still costs on average about 10 percent less than a similar property in Bedford or Amherst.

“But it’s on the upswing, because New Boston is a very sought-after community,” she says. “I think we’re going to be catching up; I would say in about a year.”

While its old-fashioned Fourth of July and the Hillsborough County Agricultural

Fair each September may have helped put New Boston on the map, there are at least a few in town who would just as soon not have it there.

“I want it to remain a little town,” says Steve Young, owner of New Boston Hardware. “If that means you have to leave town to go after things, like major grocery shopping and gas, or things that I or Dodge’s Store can’t supply, well, that’s the way it is.”

Young has lived all his life in the town and likes to pretend he doesn’t remember how long that is. (“Oh, lord, do I have to do the math? ... I’ll be 54 in November.”) He believes there is a clear difference between the attitudes and expectations of the town’s natives and those who have moved from larger towns or cities.

“Natives, I think, accept the town for what it is and what we have, though things have changed,” he says. “I find the ones that have moved into town and want this service or that, they’re gone in five years. If you didn’t grow up in Small Town USA, you’re not going to like Small Town USA. If you want a Starbucks within walking distance, that’s not Small Town USA.” Being a newcomer to the town might not be a handicap, but it is a distinction often carried to the grave — and beyond. Woodland recalls his own days as a new arrival, having come to town as the then-temporary pastor of the Community Church some 35 years ago. Soon after, he attended calling hours for a woman who came to New Boston as an infant and lived in the town until she died in her 90s. As he was leaving, a woman approached him and said of the deceased, “She wasn’t a native, you know.”

“It’s not a divide like people don’t like each other,” Woodland says. “It’s more of a cultural divide. I grew up in a suburb of New York where you’d never hear that. It’s more of a small-town thing.”

“I kid around about it,” says Bernard, who admits to being “a newcomer,” having lived in town a mere 27 years. “There are many people in town who grew up here and are maybe second or third generation, but I never really heard anybody make a big deal about it.” Besides, her day job is at Town Hall, where she is “selectmen’s assistant, assessor’s clerk, benefits administrator; it depends on what I’m doing that day.”

Working for the town makes her “more of a townie,” she says.

Mary and Amir Atai moved into town during a blizzard in March of last year, when a friendly neighbor plowed their driveway so the moving van could get in. Mary quick-

ly became a fixture at the New Boston Historical Society where she is known as “our newest volunteer.” She finds residents of the small town “closer-knit, more friendly” than the community she left in New Jersey.

“Everybody knows everybody and keeps track of everybody,” she says. “Some people might mind that, but I’m fine with it.” The locals, she has found, are “very tolerant, very accepting. It’s so friendly, I almost can’t keep up with all the offers and invitations.”

Randy Parker, a New Boston resident since 1963 says, “When we moved in, there were probably about 900 people. It was a small town, a pretty forgotten community.

Coworkers said, ‘Don’t go to New Boston, it’s like a frontier out there.’ I thought that would be a good place to live, with all the growth around Nashua and Amherst.”

He still lives in the town and appreciates the community spirit and some of the activities, like the farmers market, that are held in the center of town. But he

doesn’t mind telling you he is not a fan of the huge event the town’s Fourth of July has become.

“It just sort of disrupts the village and we live in the village,” he says. “It brings a lot of people in town from outside and creates a lot of parking problems. ... I don’t think it’s in tune with a small town or village-type activity.”

As for the distinction between natives and newcomers, Parker a 55-year resident of the 255-year-old town has found a way to redefine it.

“We’re not natives,” he says, “but a lot of people don’t remember when we came. That’s the only way to get to be a native. A pseudo-native.”

One way to find a true native to New Boston is to come to the parade and look for the float with New Boston’s youngest citizen. That way you’re almost certain to meet someone who has lived in town since the day they were born. NH

Floats can get elaborate, like this one that used dry ice to create the dragon’s smoky breath.

How you can join the parade In New Boston, the Fourth of July is not just a day off, nor merely an occasion for firing the town cannon or watching a fireworks display.

“It’s the best Fourth of July celebration in the state,” says Laura Todd, who is this year’s chair of the local barn dance held every year before the Fourth. “How’s that for boosterism?” she adds with a laugh.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. after the traditional burrito breakfast, and music is always a big part of the festivities. Along with the marching bands and bagpipes, singing star Alex Preston, who gained fame on

“American Idol,” will march in the parade and entertain at the fairgrounds. Events there begin with the firing of the Molly Stark cannon followed by musical theatre by UNH’s Little Red Wagon, mud volleyball, a kids’ watermelon eating contest, an exhibition by the Northeast Six Shooters, a lumber jack demonstration and a chicken barbecue that lasts from noon until supplies run out. Music and fireworks end a patriotic day of fun. Fairground admission is $5, and children 12 and under are admitted for free. Free parking. Find more at newboston4thofjuly.org. nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Many Hands The old building still had important work to do, rescuing women and children from lives of abuse, but time had taken a toll. This spring a group of volunteers arrived in the nick of time to ensure the Crisis Center of Central NH could renew and expand its critical mission.

Front row, from left: Concord Mayor Jim Bouley, CCCNH Secretary Tina Smith, Tony DaCosta of Turnstone Corporation, Jen Bartholomay of Fulcrum, Sue Bee of Opportunity Networks, Greg Rehm of Liberty Hill Construction, CCCNH Director Paula Kelley-Wall, CCCNH Chair Tara Reardon, and Building on Hope cochairs Jonathan Halle and Karen Van Der Beken.

Behind them are just a few of the many hands that joined up to make the project happen.

Photo by Joe St. Pierre

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By Lynne Snierson Photos by John Benford and Joe St. Pierre

to the Rescue

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he old structure was worn down, worn out and tired.

It was battered, bruised and broken. It was not unlike the domestic violence and sexual assault victims who arrived in the dead of night, some with children in their arms, with little more than the clothes on their backs to seek refuge from abuse and suffering.

But now when they knock on the purple door and are welcomed into the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire in Concord, the newly dignified edifice represents the respect, understanding and caring support to be found within. It’s also a reminder that the community around them cares and will not overlook them in their time of need.

Through the bigheartedness of the community organization Building on Hope and the generosity and skills of its legion of donors and volunteers, the overcrowded and outdated shelter, which had been what is politely called “maintenance deferred” for at least 20 years and had an unworkable floor plan, received an extreme makeover.

The finished product, costing upward of $500,000 in donated goods and services, is a beautiful, functional, modern and magnificent living space anyone would be proud to call their own.

“The old house made you feel that you didn’t have any self-worth,” says CCCNH board member Tina Smith, who shares that she endured 10 years of childhood sexual assault. But now, she adds, “when they walk in there, I know they will automatically feel like, ‘I’m worth all of this. I’m really worth having someone do all of this and I’m worthy

Above: Alyssia Zevos of 3W Design Inc. gets a good view at the groundbreaking.

of this beautiful space. Yes, I am.’ This project will have a huge impact on survivors.”

The mission of the Crisis Center, which has trained advocates who are available on a 24/7 basis, is to treat victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and stalking in an atmosphere of dignity, fairness and compassion, and to give them a safe place where they can begin to rebuild their lives. Services are

Dignitaries dig in (from left): NH Sen. Dan Feltes, Sen. Maggie Hassen, Madison Lightfoot of the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Karen Van Der Beken, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Paula Wall, Jonathan Halle and Tara Reardon.

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free and provided regardless of a person’s age, gender, race, religion, income, sexual orientation or physical abilities.

Building on Hope is an all-volunteer, charitable community organization that mobilizes a volunteer army of builders, architects, designers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, skilled laborers, marketers and many others willing to pitch in. In a very short time, the assembled group, many of whom started as strangers, completely makes over a nonprofit that was operating in a facility in dire need of extensive rehabilitation, renovation and improvements.

Building on Hope tackles one massive project every two years, and CCCNH was selected as the 2018 recipient from among 38 applicants from all over the state. It proved to be the perfect match.

“What pushed CCCNH over the top was that they had a dream for the shelter and a five-year plan to have a family justice center,” says Building on Hope cochair Karen Van Der Beken, who works for Easterseals New Hampshire. “We were very impressed that they had a vision of what they wanted to be and what they wanted to change in the community. We felt that if we selected this building, we would be able to help them realize their dream much sooner, and we could help them transform their offerings.”

“When they walk in there, I know they will automatically feel like, ‘I’m worth all of this. I’m really worth having someone do all of this and I’m worthy of this beautiful space.”

-Tina Smith, Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire board member

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The dream, and the project, was twofold. Included in the total revamp of the cramped shelter, which is located at an undisclosed Concord location for security reasons and to comply with state law, was the relocation of the administrative offices to a separate building at 79 South State St. Although what is now the Family Justice Center was newly purchased with help from an extremely generous private donor, it too needed a considerable makeover, costing another $50,000.

“We have a vision and now we are well on our way to it,” says Paula Kelley-Wall, executive director of the Crisis Center, which has served Merrimack County since 1978 and was formerly known as the Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center. “With the purchase of the second building we created a space where we can co-locate victims’ services so that they aren’t going from place to place anymore,” adds Kelley-Wall. “We can bring to one location the most requested services like pastoral care, legal services and child protective services, and they can meet with law enforcement or someone from Health and Human Services if they want.

Now they can do that in a place that they are comfortable in and familiar with instead of having to go all over the county to get those needed services.”

Even better, that move to a separate building makes the structure now housing the shelter exclusively a home. And what a beautiful and inspirational home it has become for victims and survivors, who each stay an average of four to six months as they rebuild their lives and create a better future for themselves and their children.

“It’s like a lovely boutique hotel,” says Emily Shakra of the Bedford staging and design company that bears her name, who was one of the 15 interior designers on the project.

“It’s a miracle,” was another sentiment often expressed by many about the total transformation.

But it certainly didn’t happen overnight.

Or easily.

Although the buildout was accomplished in just eight days, the planning takes well over a year. Van Der Beken says that there was no general contractor, although her cochair Jonathan Halle of Warrenstreet Architects in Concord spearheaded the effort.

“There were 15 contractors,” says Van Der Beken. “We had 260 companies donate product and/or a crew of employees to work on the project, and some of the workers also came back and worked on their own time to make sure it was finished on time.

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There were another 200 individuals who volunteered. We don’t want one plumbing company — we need 10 and each takes a room,” she adds.

That many skilled workers were needed to complete the project, and just in time, for the big reveal and ribbon-cutting on Sunday, May 20.

All the old siding was stripped off the building’s three-story exterior, the chimney was dismantled and discarded, some interior walls were torn down, those remaining

Ricky Melloy (son of designer Ellie Melloy of Artistic Tile LLC) has an important message.

were gutted to the studs, all the flooring was ripped up, the bathrooms and kitchens were totally torn out and major systems were overhauled.

When finished, the new efficient floor plan doubled the shelter’s capacity from four bedrooms with 13 beds to seven bedrooms and 24 beds. Moreover, a lift was installed so the shelter is, for the first time, handicapped accessible and in compliance with ADA (the American Disabilities Act) standards. Halle says that’s a big plus because now the shelter

is eligible to apply for federal funding.

The increased capacity will make a difference right away.

In 2017, CCCNH served 1,184 people in Merrimack County, answered 4,950 hotline calls and provided 2,991 bed nights. But many more in desperate and dangerous circumstances were turned away simply for lack of space and tragically that forced terrified victims to return to their abuser, sleep in their car or wind up in another unsafe situation.

Now CCCNH is New Hampshire’s largest domestic violence shelter, and it’s also the most appealing and most well-organized with an open, workable and flowing floor plan filled with comfortable and attractive accommodations for adults and children.

Every detail was considered, and every challenge was conquered.

Through the kindness of the donors, everything in the shelter, including furnishings, houseware accessories and appliances, is new. Nothing is secondhand, used, scuffed or scarred, because that was a clear message those involved in the project wanted to send to the victims and survivors.

While each of the rooms is an individual work of art as well as state-of-the art, all serve a specific purpose. Start with the kitchen, for the hearth is always the center of a home.

“When coming up with the concept, it’s always function first,” says Leslie Rifkin of L. Newman Associates, a full-service interior design firm in Manchester, who, along with Shakra, created the kitchen and open dining space that now allows families to eat together. “We were also directed by the CCCNH staff to consider storage space, along with the amount of refrigeration and cooktops they needed. Function is always primary and that had to become part of the element.”

They junked the old, beat-up four-burner stove and ancient refrigerator, the yellowed and cracked linoleum, the stained laminate countertops and clunky old cabinets. Next they took down a wall, which was painted in an outdated shade of yellow, to create open space.

The replacements include a shiny commercial stainless steel stove with eight burners and a griddle; four large commercial refrigerators, which will allow each guest to store her own food; glossy quartz countertops; a texturized, non-skid and indestructible vinyl plank wood floor; vinyl wallpaper for easy cleaning; open shelving holding all nonbreakable drinkware and dishes, and chalkboards that kids can write on.

“Capital Kitchen [& Bath] donated the

kitchen, and their designers helped us with the plans,” says Shakra. “We knew it was going to be a small area, so we chose the open concept for the shelving so that it would feel more spacious. Where there are going to be so many people coming in and out of the kitchen, the open shelving makes it easy to grab your glasses and your plates instead of going in and out of cabinets,” she explains.

“Then we decided on colors and the feeling that would give this kitchen some dignity so that when you came in, it would feel right and be embracing and not intimidating,” Rifkin adds.

The color scheme is silver, gray, plum and shades of white. The plum is integral as purple is the color representative of

By installing this lift, the building became ADA compliant, enabling the center to apply for additional federal funds.

domestic violence awareness, and so purple is incorporated into every room.

“The mood created in this kitchen is serenity and dignity. It feels new and fresh, and there is a timelessness to it,” says Rifkin.

“It’s ‘now’ and it will live for another 25 years because of the commercial element to it. We wanted warmth. We wanted it to feel homey and like you can just jump right in and enjoy it. Let there be spilt milk!”

For the first time, there is a first-floor handicapped-accessible bedroom and bathroom. All the bedrooms have a chair and a desk supplied with notebooks, pads and writing implements, and there are crisp linens, soft pillows, plush comforters and cozy throws and toss pillows on the beds.

One of the third-floor bedrooms is equipped with a crib holding soft blankets

and cuddly little stuffed animals appropriately safe for a baby. The wall shelves hold children’s books and toys.

Each bathroom has stone counters atop the vanities, tiled showers and new flooring, and each is supplied with luxurious towels, toiletries, paper products and soaps. Closets are stocked with hangers, which may seem like a small detail, but is something that’s always on a shelter’s wish list.

The second floor is the location of the newly created adults-only sitting room. The sofa, chairs, rug, throw pillows and artwork incorporate soft grays with purple accents and touches of fuchsia. Recessed lighting and table lamps give off a soft glow, and the large bay window allows natural light to stream in. Candles, live plants and a small statue of the Buddha invite peace and tranquility, and provide a place for the gathering of thoughts, reflection or meditation.

“I call it the serenity room,” says Tina Smith. “I walked in and got so emotional that I couldn’t stop crying because I could feel how much that room is going to mean to a survivor. She’s going to go in there and sit and take some long deep breaths and immediately feel relaxed in that room. She’s going to feel safe in that room. That means more than anyone else could ever know.”

Then there is the room that encourages a little wild and crazy, and it has more than a bit of whimsy. It’s the children’s playroom.

“This was our third project with Building on Hope and we like a challenge,” says Kim Carole, who owns Impeccable Nest Interior Design along with her daughter Emma Carole Paradis. “Our challenge in delivering this room was storage. Our first thing was to get built-ins and storage so it’s an easy clean-up. The other challenge was to be able to have activities for ages zero to teenager, so we figured out puzzles, books, arts and crafts, toys, stuffed animals and things for all those ages. From there it was to also make it delightful and inspiring and a warm and fun place to be, because it certainly wasn’t that before,” says Carole.

But things didn’t quite go according to plan. In November, Carole and Paradis decided that wallpaper was the way to go, but when they walked into the house two days before the big reveal, the room was, in their words, a mess, and they had to quickly come up with another idea.

“When you do a Building on Hope project, you do a lot of regrouping,” says Carole. “We had leftover paints from some other jobs so we used a color scheme of violet, teal, orange and chartreuse. We gave nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Every effort was made by the construction and design teams to make the center into the kind of place that women and their kids could call home for the duration of their stay. The bedroom above was designed by Patti Harvey of DMH Development LLC and the kitchen below by Emily Shakra Staging & Design and Leslie Rifkin of L. Newman Associates/Paul Mansback, Inc. with cabinets donated by Capital Kitchen & Bath.

This is a totally different vibe. Kids can be in there alone and the adults can come out here and yet be near them and see into the playroom,” she adds. “It’s serene, but it isn’t too much or cluttered and there aren’t fussy things. The furniture is durable. Our objec-

tives were fun, sustainable and durable, easy to clean and maintain, and yet also bright, cheery, very modern and very now.”

Each designer is responsible for the fundraising and donations to redo and furnish his or her assigned room, which

photo by joe st. pierre

it a trial on our T- shirts and said, let’s just go up there and splatter paint on white walls and the ceiling. We were afraid to come in on Saturday to see what the heck we did. But we think it’s magic.”

It surely is. The effect is sprinkles on vanilla ice cream, a frosted party cake and confetti.

“I’m the mother of three children and this project is very close to my heart,” says Paradis, who, along with her mom, rehabbed the room’s dollhouse, bringing it back to life.

“All mothers and children need a safe and happy place to grow up and play and have fun. We hope we delivered a safe and happy room.” It’s noteworthy that Paradis’ kids have all accompanied their mom to meetings of the Building on Hope steering committee and have become mascots for the projects on which she has worked, so her family, like that of many volunteers, is part of the history of the organization and vice versa.

The mother-daughter (and granddaughters) team also created a haven for the adults on the second-floor balcony just off the playroom.

“I think this space speaks for itself,” says Carole. “Who doesn’t like to sit outside and have fresh air? It’s colorful yet relaxing. We used patio furniture, ottomans, lanterns, candles, real hanging plants and greenery.

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Kim Carole of Impeccable Nest poses in her splatter-painted children’s playroom.

makes the statement each makes that much more personal.

Kelley-Wall thinks they succeeded, and that the other designers were spot-on as well.

“It’s all wonderful. When I walked into the house for the first time I couldn’t catch my breath. I cried. I was overwhelmed by how thoughtful all the designs were, how accessible the rooms are and how beautiful the house is. It is truly overwhelming,” she says.

The survivors, who during the buildout were moved to a hotel, courtesy of a generous donor, also gave their stamp of approval.

“When the guests came in, they were ecstatic. It was wonderful to see how welcome they felt and how comforting the space felt

for them. It was a wonderful surprise for them, as it was for the staff who hadn’t been at the ribbon-cutting,” says Kelley-Wall.

Everyone connected with CCNH expresses deep gratitude and appreciation for what Building on Hope accomplished. With this project, the operative word truly was hope.

“The buildout is magnificent,” says Kelley-Wall. “This has been an incredible experience, and working with Building on Hope has really helped shape our future. This is what we needed to be. This is not just a shelter, it is a place now where people will have dignity in their home, and it will help build self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence.”

She adds that honoring someone in need with such care is what changes lives. “They are in a place that isn’t just paint and paper,” she says. “It’s a space that’s very thoughtful and is designed for a survivor to heal.”

Concord Mayor Jim Bouley says, “This may be a building of bricks and mortar, but it’s a building of love.” The home is perfectly designed for people who are in crisis and a point of desperate need in their lives. “I think this can put them on the path to rectifying their situation,” adds Bouley.

“This project says we hear you, we care about you and we’re here to help you. That the capacity is now doubled is a tremendously positive message.”

It’s a message that affects even those who helped make it happen.

“When you go into these rooms and look at them, you can see the amount of love that everyone has showered into this building.

It’s overwhelming,” says Halle. NH

Hope Abides

Be vid ab ut

The Crisis Center project was just the latest in a series of remarkable volunteer efforts that have made more than $1 million in improvements to worthy New Hampshire nonprofits, each poised to benefit from an extreme makeover with a renewed and empowered mission. The next project will take place in two years, but the process of selecting it starts this summer. If you know of an organization that should be the 2020 target for Building on Hope, put them in touch with the organization. If you’d like to get involved as a contractor, designer, volunteer or donor, they would love to hear from you.

Donations are still being accepted for the work of the Crisis Center of Central NH and can be made at buildingonhope.com.

Visit the Building on Hope website for an exhaustive list of all the companies that joined hands to ensure that this project was a success.

CCCNH Director Paula Kelley-Wall embraces Sue Bee from Opportunity Networks, a previous Building on Hope project, in an emotional moment at the reveal of the newly rebuilt center. nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS

MANCHESTER

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HAVERHILL

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STRATHAM

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NASHUA

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CHELMSFORD

2018

BEST ofNH It’s no easy feat to climb to the top, but these winners have made it to the upper rungs of success in food, fun, Shops, services, arts, entertainment & the undefinable.

FOOD DRINK AND

Smoothie Bowl The fresh, joyful atmosphere at Laney & Lu Cafe in Exeter is represented in their smoothie bowls. Made with whole, delicious, plant-based, gluten-free, paleo and local ingredients, it’s no wonder that their colorful bowls are as good for the eyes (and perfect for your Instagram) as they are for the stomach. They are creatively concocted, made with love, and will make you smile from the inside out. laneyandlu.com

Photo by Emily Heidt

Bakery Harvey’s Bakery and Coffee Shop

Bakery Nashua Area The Black Forest Café & Bakery

Dover

Amherst

harveysbakery.com

theblackforestcafe.com

Bakery

Bakery Salem Area Klemm’s Bakery

Frederick’s Pastries

Windham

Multi-location Local Amherst, Bedford and North Andover, Mass.

pastry.net

Bakery Concord Area Bread & Chocolate Concord

klemmsbakery.com

Bakery Seacoast Region Popovers on the Square Epping and Portsmouth

popoversonthesquare.com

Facebook

Bakery Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery Hanover

Bakery White Mountains Region Leavitt’s Country Bakery Conway

Facebook

Barbecue KC’s Rib Shack

lous-restaurant-bakery. myshopify.com

photo by jenn bakos

FOOD & DRINK

Food and Drink

Bakery Great North Woods Region Polish Princess Bakery

Session Meads At Ancient Fire Mead & Cider in Manchester, you can sit and stay a while, thanks to the fact that their meads and ciders don’t creep up into crazy-high alcohol levels. You can order pints, but a great way to sample a few of their many creative flavors is with a flight of four. Start with the Maker’s Legacy, the traditional mead, then branch out to something like the Leaping Off the Ledge, made with lemon and hops. Learn more about the process of making mead during the hour tour offered on Saturdays. ancientfirewines.com

Lancaster

polishprincessbakery.com Manchester

Bakery Lakes Region Laconia Village Bakery

ribshack.net

Bartender Scott Black from Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery

Laconia

Creative Vegetarian

Community Brewery

Forget stuffed peppers and frozen veggie burgers. At Gypsy Café in Lincoln, those who eschew meat aren’t just an afterthought. Vegetarians are used to pasta, but probably not Navajo pumpkin pasta with herb chipotle pumpkin sauce. There’s also a portobella mushroom quesadilla, an actually good spicy black bean burger, cranberry mac and cheese and the unforgettable malai kofta. These North Indian potato and vegetable balls — that are somehow not heavy at all — are served in a lick-the-plate-clean spicy tomato cream sauce over basmati rice. gypsycaferestaurant.com

Once upon a time, before Prohibition, most towns had their own brewery. Today, Marlaina Renton and Ian Dowling of Rek’•lis Brewing Company in Bethlehem have recaptured that sense of place and community, though, of course, all are welcome to visit. The brewpub’s walls feature local artists, and events range from live music to $10 pizza and pint nights. The brewery might be small, but the beers are big and flavorful.

From smoked porters and IPAs to pale ales and stouts, there’s something for every beer lover. reklisbrewing.com

Facebook

Bakery Manchester Area Michelle’s Gourmet Pastries & Deli

North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

Breakfast Parker’s Maple Barn

Manchester

Mason

michellespastries.com

parkersmaplebarn.com

Bakery Monadnock Region Kristin’s Bistro & Bakery

Breakfast

Keene

Multi-location Local

Tucker’s

Multiple Locations

tuckersnh.com

kristinsbistroandbakery.com

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Milford

Multi-location Regional

theriverhousecafe.com

Portsmouth

Multi-location Local

The Friendly Toast thefriendlytoast.com

Breakfast Concord Area The Newell Post Concord

Breakfast Nashua Area The Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner

Multiple Locations

redarrowdiner.com

Breakfast Concord Area

Breakfast Salem Area Maddie’s Bagel & Eatery

Multi-location Local

Salem

Multiple Locations

Breakfast Salem Area

newellpostrestaurant.com

The Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner redarrowdiner.com

Breakfast Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Country Kitchen Newport

Facebook

Breakfast Great North Woods Region Polish Princess Bakery Lancaster

polishprincessbakery.com

Breakfast Lakes Region Kitchen Cravings Gilford

kitchencravingsnh.com

Breakfast Manchester Area The Purple Finch Café Bedford

purplefinchcafe.com

Breakfast Manchester Area Multi-location Local

The Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner

Multiple Locations

redarrowdiner.com

Breakfast Monadnock Region The Pub Restaurant and Caterers Keene

thepubrestaurant.com

Breakfast Nashua Area The Riverhouse Café 72

maddiesnh.com

Multi-location Local

MaryAnn’s Diner Derry, Salem and Windham

Facebook

Breakfast Seacoast Region The Big Bean Café Newmarket

photo by susan laughlin

FOOD & DRINK

Breakfast

thebigbeancafe.com

Breakfast White Mountains Region Polly’s Pancake Parlor Sugar Hill

pollyspancakeparlor.com

Brewery Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

Brewery Concord Area Henniker Brewing Company Henniker

hennikerbrewing.com

Brewery Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille New London

flyinggoose.com

Brewery Lakes Region Kettlehead Brewing Company Tilton

kettleheadbrewing.com

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Friendly Breakfast There’s nothing better than service with a smile. At Dover’s 2 Home Cooks, the servers are friendly, helpful and occasionally dressed in their pajamas, just for the laughs. The buttermilk pancakes are light and tender, and dotted with chocolate chips, blueberries or bacon. Waffles are an option, but consider the waffle BLT — it’s breakfast and lunch all in one. They’re open for breakfast and lunch with all menu items available until 2 p.m.

2homecooks.com

Mead Cocktails Two trends collide at Sap House Meadery’s charming, rustic pub in Center Ossipee — mead and craft cocktails. In addition to flights or glasses of their mead, you can try one of their inventive drinks, such as the delicious Petal to the Metal, which combines their traditional mead with rose lemonade, wild rose and honey bitters. If nothing catches your eye, let the creative Sap House folks design a drink just for you. saphousemeadery.com

Pulled Platter Indecisive diners (and barbecue fans) will love the 3 Amigos at Kirby’s Q in Alstead.

The dish includes some of your favorite

barbecue basics — pulled pork, brisket and pulled chicken. Add on the collard greens for the complete experience. Ken Urbanski, originally from Tennessee, has perfected low-and-slow barbecue over the course of three decades. Facebook

Silver Rum New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery is charming, from the lovely tasting room to its 50 acres of land where they raise chickens and grow heirloom cider apples, grapes, blueberries and juniper berries. Located in the small town of Winchester, they produce a variety of spirits, including the Kingfish Silver Rum. Made in the Colonial American tradition with black strap molas-

Burger Concord Area The Barley House

backyardbrewerynh.com

thebarleyhouse.com

Brewery Monadnock Region Elm City Brewing Company

Burger Dartmouth/ Lake Sunapee Region Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille

Manchester

Keene

elmcitybrewing.com

photo by emily heidt

Brewery Nashua Area Able Ebenezer Brewing Company Merrimack

ableebenezer.com

Tea Parlor Built in 1871, the three-story Victorian Silver Fountain Inn & Tea Parlor in Dover has it all — Italian carved plaster ceilings, Belgian light fixtures, French Caen sandstone fireplaces, and a high tea experience that will make you feel like you just stepped into a scene from “Downton Abbey.” Their lunch menu includes traditional items such as sandwiches, quiche, soup and salads. End your elegant experience with the fancy “Duchess,” a three-tiered platter of tea sandwiches, scones and assorted desserts and a delicious cup of tea. Pinkies up, everyone. silverfountain.com ses, it’s ideal for sipping. It makes a pretty mean mojito (or cocktail of your choice) as well. newenglandsweetwater.com

Authentic Hawaiian Luau There’s a ton to love at Big Kahunas Cafe & Grill in Merrimack, but next time you want to really wow your guests, have Big Kahunas cater your event Hawaiian-style with an authentic luau. This four-day process uses the traditional method of wrapping an entire pig in banana leaves and wet canvas, then slowly roasting it in a stone-lined pit covered with soil. On the day of your event, your guests can watch as the pig is removed from the pit, which is truly a sight to see. nhkahuna.com

Fusion Egg Rolls Lobster Q owner and executive chef Sean Hopkins is constantly refining the menu of seafood and barbecue offerings at his Hampstead restaurant, and his latest appetizer creations are a hit. The Reuben egg rolls are filled with tender black pastrami laced with tangy, crisp sauerkraut and a strip of marble rye bread, which is then rolled and deep-fried. The prime rib egg roll is made with shaved smoked prime rib, roasted onions and American cheese. It gets hand-rolled, fried and served with horseradish aioli. lobsterq.com

Blueberry Pizza Next time you’re out exploring the natural beauty of the Great North Woods, refuel at The Burg, a lively Pittsburg spot that often hosts live music. There are many creative options, but don’t pass up the blueberry pizza. Yes, blueberries. On pizza. It’s weird, and it works. Things are always happening here, from live music to special funky pizza combinations (they once made a roasted Jonah crab pizza with avocado, smoked mozzarella and everything bagel spices). Facebook

Texas-style BBQ Gabi’s Smoke Shack in Londonderry is both a restaurant and a mobile kitchen complete with hickory smoker. Stop in any time of the week or year for beef brisket, pulled pork or pulled chicken — either in sandwich or taco form — and definitely do not forget to order a side of mac and cheese. On weekends they serve beef brisket chili (winter only) and the pork ribs (half or full rack) fresh from the smoker. gabissmokeshack.com

Vodka Veteran-owned Smoky Quartz Distillery in Seabrook makes a handful of different spirits, but their original spirit — the Solid Granite Vodka — continues to set them apart. It’s handcrafted in small batches and distilled with corn harvested from within

Brewery Salem Area 603 Brewery

Concord and North Hampton

New London

flyinggoose.com

Burger Dartmouth/ Lake Sunapee Region Multi-location Regional

Salt Hill Pub

Londonderry

Multiple Locations

603brewery.com

salthillpub.com

Brewery Seacoast Region Throwback Brewery North Hampton

throwbackbrewery.com

Burger Great North Woods The Black Bear Tavern Colebrook

Brewery White Mountains Region Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewing Company North Conway

blackbeartav.com

Burger Lakes Region Patrick’s Pub & Eatery Gilford

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Brewpub Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

patrickspub.com

Burger Manchester Area New England’s Tap House Grille Hooksett

Brunch The Old Salt Restaurant at Lamie’s Inn

taphousenh.com

Burger Monadnock Region Local

Hampton

Keene

oldsaltnh.com

localkeene.com

Burger Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery thetuckaway.com

Burger Nashua Area Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen

Burger

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Raymond

Multi-location Regional

Milford

Lexie’s Restaurants Multiple Locations

peaceloveburgers.com

FOOD & DRINK

Brewery Manchester Area Backyard Brewery & Kitchen

Burger Salem Area Granfanallys Pizza Pub Salem

granfanallys.com nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Portsmouth and Portland, Maine

brgr-bar.com

Burger White Mountains Black Mountain Burger Co. Lincoln

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Burritos Burrito Me

Laconia and Plymouth

burritome.com

Burritos

Multi-location Regional

Dos Amigos Burritos Multiple Locations

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Butcher Shop Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery Raymond

thetuckaway.com

Cakes Jacques Fine European Pastries Suncook

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Cakes

Multi-location Regional

Frederick’s Pastries

Amherst, Bedford and North Andover, Mass.

pastry.net

Chicken Tenders Puritan Backroom Restaurant Manchester

puritanbackroom.com

Chili Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

Chili

Multi-location Local

Red Arrow Diner Multiple Locations

redarrowdiner.com

Chinese Restaurant Lilac Blossom Nashua

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lilacblossom.us

Chocolatier Granite State Candy Shoppe Concord and Manchester

granitestatecandyshoppe.com

Clam Chowder Multi-location Regional

Wethervane Seafood Restaurants Multiple Locations

weathervaneseafoods.com

Clam Chowder Newick’s Lobster House

Dover and Concord

newicks.com

Cocktails Copper Door

Bedford and Salem

copperdoorrestaurant.com

Coffee Roaster A&E Coffee Roastery & Whole-leaf Tea Manchester and Amherst

aeroastery.com

Coffee Shop Breaking New Grounds

photo by susan laughlin

FOOD & DRINK

Burger Seacoast Region BRGR Bar

Portsmouth and Durham

bngcoffee.com

Coffee Shop Concord Area True Brew Barista Concord

truebrewbarista.com

Coffee Shop Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Lucky’s Coffee Garage Lebanon

luckyscoffeegarage.com

Coffee Shop Great North Woods Region Polish Princess Bakery Lancaster

polishprincessbakery.com

Coffee Shop Lakes Region Wayfarer Coffee Roasters

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Craft Cocktails Cocktails are works of art at The Wilder in Portsmouth. The ingredient list is as intricate as a five-star menu description. For example, there’s “The Jackalope,” with fig-and-cacao-nib-infused bourbon, peated scotch, lemon, ginger, honey, garam masala, black pepper and ginger beer. One could get overwhelmed just reading this list. But be not fearful. There are also “Guilty Pleasures,” like the “Dolla Dolla Bill” with gin and cream soda and a touch of pepper. There are even fun No ABV drinks, including the refreshing Ginger-Aid with fresh ginger, lemon and sparkling water. wilderportsmouth.com 125 miles of the distillery. They use local grains, which they ferment themselves, and New Hampshire spring water. With a clean finish that doesn’t burn, it’s great neat, on the rocks or in your favorite cocktail. smokyquartzdistillery.com

Cocktail Culture

Macarons

in Nashua, is a delightful ode to the past.

These meringue-based confections look deceptively simple, but in fact require some serious baking know-how. At La Maison Navarre in Portsmouth, a lovely display case housing a rainbow of macarons beckons. The rose, lavender and earl grey flavors are all interesting, delicious standouts. mnpastry.com

Craft cocktails are all the rage, but when you add a highly imaginative environment, it somehow adds flavor to the sip.

Chuck’s BARbershop, a relative of CodeX The room is dark and sexy, and the drinks seductive. Look for the striped pole by the door in Eagle Square, the hub of Concord.

Tip: You may need to pick up the old rotary telephone and answer a simple riddle. And yes, you will soon be able to get a shave and a haircut in the lobby. Facebook

wayfarerroasters.com

Coffee Shop Manchester Area A&E Coffee Roastery and Whole-Leaf Tea Manchester and Amherst

Coffee Shop Monadnock Region Prime Roast Coffee Keene

primeroastcoffee.com

At The Stage in Keene, a wide bowl is heaped with juicy shrimp, silky scallops, calamari and several varieties of fish, enlivened by slices of spicy chorizo. Crusty Tuscan bread waits alongside to catch the last drops of savory tomato-based broth. Dine outside in the summer overlooking the bandstand in Central Square and pretend it’s a sidewalk café on the Riviera. thestagerestaurant.com

Lunch Specials

Mr. Fezziwig represented everything good in Dicken’s novel “A Christmas Carol.”

Nostalgia for the happy parts of the past are highlighted at Fezziwig’s Food & Fountain in Portsmouth, especially with the ice cream fountain. Find classic ice cream sodas made with seltzer water, egg creams and a host of fanciful sundaes featuring birthday cake, espresso, brownies, pop rocks or crispy rice treats. Consider vanilla ice cream and caramel sandwiched between a brioche bun and grilled on a panini press for something both hot and cold. pickwicksmercantile.com

The lunch specials at the Sunrise Shack in Glen are different every day, and can range from a sandwich of warm roasted turkey with asparagus and melted fontina on a baguette to beer-battered shrimp tacos with sriracha, or their version of jambalaya with chicken, chorizo and garlicky shrimp. If you’re really, really lucky it will be the chef’s spectacular version of shepherd’s pie loaded with moist lamb, shitake mushrooms, leeks and thick creamy mashed potatoes. Facebook

Ice Cream Treats

photo by susan laughlin

Multiple Locations

redarrowdiner.com

Diner Concord Area Northwood Diner

West Lebanon

Coffee Shop Salem Area The Grind Rail Trail Café

Named for one of the co-owners’ daughter’s creative interpretation of what cats look like (one of her drawings is framed on the taproom wall), Long Blue Cat Brewing Company in Londonderry has beer as creative as its name. Especially tasty is the LBC honey ale, which is crisp, refreshing and made with local honey. You should also try Lemon Drop, a juicy, cloudy, New England-style IPA. longbluecat.com

Multi-location Local

Diner Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region 4 Aces Diner

unioncoffee.co

Bouillabaisse

Diner

(603) 942-5018

Milford

Honey Ale

thecman.com

Northwood

Coffee Shop Nashua Area Union Coffee Company

Not to be confused with trendy macarons, macaroons are sweet mounds made with coconut. The version at jajaBelle’s Pastry & Coffee Shop is huge and tender, with a delightful mouthful of fresh-tasting toasted coconut. This Nashua Main Street café also has a nice selection of Greek pastries along with brownies, pop tarts and scones. jajabelles.com

Tilton

The Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner

aeroastery.com

Macaroons

FOOD & DRINK

Diner Tilt’n Diner

Laconia

4acesdiner.com

Diner Lakes Region 104 Diner

Derry

New Hampton

thegrindnh.com

thecman.com

Coffee Shop Seacoast Region BeanTowne Coffee House

Diner Manchester Area Airport Diner

Hampstead and Cambridge, Mass.

beantownecoffee.com

Coffee Shop White Mountains Region Metropolitan Coffee House North Conway

metcoffeehouse.com

Manchester

thecman.com

Diner Monadnock Region Peterborough Diner Peterborough

peterboroughdiner.com

Diner Nashua Area Joey’s Diner Amherst

Crab Cakes Surf Restaurant

joeysdiner.com

Diner Salem Area Nancy’s Diner

Nashua and Portsmouth

surfseafood.com

Nashua

Facebook

Crab Cakes Multi-location Local

Diner Salem Area

Multiple Locations

MaryAnn’s Diner

The Common Man

Multi-location Local

thecman.com

Derry, Salem, Windham

Cupcakes Queen City Cupcakes Manchester

qccupcakes.com

Delicatessen Biederman’s Deli Plymouth

Facebook

Diner Seacoast Region Roundabout Diner & Lounge Portsmouth

roundaboutdiner.com

biedermansdeli.com

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Littleton

littletondiner.com

Favorite Restaurant Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Molly’s Restaurant Hanover

mollysrestaurant.com

Favorite Restaurant Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Multi-location Local

Distillery Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile Tamworth

tamworthdistilling.com

Doughnuts Donut Love North Hampton

donutlove603.com

Family-Friendly Dining Puritan Backroom Restaurant Manchester

puritanbackroom.com

Family-Friendly Dining Multi-location Local

T-BONES Great American Eatery Multiple Locations

t-bones.com

Favorite Restaurant Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery Raymond

thetuckaway.com

The Common Man Multiple Locations

thecman.com

Favorite Restaurant Great North Woods Region Rainbow Grille & Tavern Pittsburg

rainbowgrille.com

Favorite Restaurant Lakes Region Patrick’s Pub and Eatery Gilford

patrickspub.com

Favorite Restaurant Lakes Region Multi-location Local

The Common Man Multiple Locations

thecman.com

Favorite Restaurant Manchester Area The Copper Door Bedford and Salem

Favorite Restaurant Concord Area O Steaks and Seafood

copperdoorrestaurant.com

Concord and Laconia

Peterborough

magicfoodsrestaurantgroup. com/osteaks

Favorite Restaurant Concord Area Multi-location Local

The Common Man Multiple Locations

Favorite Restaurant Monadnock Region Pearl Restaurant pearl-peterborough.com

Favorite Restaurant Nashua Area Surf Nashua and Portsmouth

surfseafood.com

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nhmagazine.com | July 2018

photo by susan laughlin

FOOD & DRINK

Diner White Mountains Region Littleton Diner

Gluten-free Gnocchi Chefs are having a tough time keeping the public happy. We are so fussy, and apparently allergic to one or more ubiquitous ingredients. At XO on Elm in Manchester, the gnocchi is a gluten-free dream. It’s Latin-inspired and made with plantains. Instead of banging their heads on the walk-in freezer door, the team here has come up with a long list of interesting meals for those with dietary restrictions. xoonelm.com

Chicken Satay The small Bali Sate House in Somersworth is a great ethnic restaurant run by immigrants from Indonesia. The chicken sate (Indonesian spelling) is grilled, succulent and drizzled with a perfectly spiced peanut sauce. The beef rendang, among other dishes, is authentic, and the restaurant has found a strong following with lovers of this flavorful cuisine. Facebook.

The lighted plastic cylinder holds about 13 margaritas and gives patrons the ease of self-service. The guacamole is fresh and can be made tableside in a molcajete. They really up the fun on Thursday evenings with live mariachi music. elcolima.com

Pretzels

Happy hour is always a great start to an evening. At Bonfire on Elm Street in Manchester, they up their game with a free basket of bacon, along with bargains that include $1 tacos, $2 fries and beer, and $3 burgers and wine from 4 to 7 p.m. bonfire.country

Family recipes and lots of love helped start this local pretzel company in Portsmouth.

Port City Pretzels offers three different flavors — depending on your mood or taste buds, the cinnamon sugar is perfect for the sweet touch, feisty hot is for the spice lovers, and the dill ranch is just plain addictive. Just see how long a bag will last with your favorite beer. Available online or in select stores. portcitypretzels.com

Margarita Tower

Brewery Bite

If you really like colorful tequila drinks, head to El Colima in the heart of Nashua.

Better yet, bring several friends and order up one of their colorful margarita towers.

Every nook and hamlet in the state seems to boast its own brewery. But good beer needs to pair with good food for all these new establishments to survive. At Kettlehead

Bacon Happy Hour

SHOT WORTH T K KING 100% PURO AGAV AGAVE A E TEQUILA AV

#AShotWorthTaking Drink Responsibly.

Hornitos® Tequila, 40% alc./vol. ©2018 Sauza Tequila Import Company, Chicago, IL

Derry

Salem

Nashua

tamalfi.com

Favorite Restaurant Salem Area Multi-location Local

The Common Man Multiple Locations

thecman.com

Favorite Restaurant Seacoast Region Surf Nashua and Portsmouth

surfseafood.com

Favorite Restaurant White Mountains Region Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

Favorite Restaurant White Mountains Region Multi-location Local

The Common Man Multiple Locations

thecman.com

Fine Dining Restaurant Hanover Street Chophouse Manchester

hanoverstreetchophouse.com

Gluten-Free Options Kitchen Cravings Gilford

kitchencravingsnh.com

Gourmet Pizza 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria Manchester and Epping

900degrees.com

Gourmet To Go All Real Meal Manchester

allrealmeal.com

Greek Restaurant Amphora Restaurant 78

amphoranh.com

Ice Cream Shop Hayward’s Ice Cream haywardsicecream.com

Ice Cream Shop Concord Area Arnie’s Place Concord

arniesplace.com

Ice Cream Shop Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region Sanctuary Dairy Farm Ice Cream Sunapee

icecreamkidbeck.com

Ice Cream Shop Great North Woods Region Moose Alley Cones Pittsburg

partridgecabins.com/about-us/ moose-alley-cones

Ice Cream Shop Lakes Region Jordan’s Ice Creamery Belmont

Facebook

Ice Cream Shop Manchester Area Puritan Backroom Restaurant

Breakfast Pizza Tuscan Kitchen in Portsmouth and Salem offers a pizza for breakfast featuring their own artisan bread and charcuterie. The housemade dough is stretched by hand and layered with prosciutto, baby spinach, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and a perfectly soft egg, just ready to run when you cut into it. The wood-fired oven provides the crisp crust, while the chewy interior speaks to the quality of the dough. tuscanbrands.com

Manchester

puritanbackroom.com

Ice Cream Shop Monadnock Region The Walpole Creamery Walpole and Keene

walpolecreamery.com

Ice Cream Shop Monadnock Region Multi-location Regional

Kimball Farm

Jaffrey and Mass.

Locations

kimballfarm.com

Ice Cream Shop Nashua Area The Big 1 Ice Cream Stand Nashua

thebig1icecream.com

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

photo by susan laughlin

FOOD & DRINK

Favorite Restaurant Salem Area Trattoria Amalfi

Brewing Company in Tilton, the menu is short, but has just the right bite to go with beer. The Hog Wings are succulent and the perfect size — bigger than chicken wings, but smaller than a shank. Their flagship beer is The Agent, a nice hoppy IPA with plenty of citrus. kettleheadbrewing.com

Destination Dining The Thompson House Eatery in Jackson had long been a local favorite until it closed several years ago. New owners Kate and Jeff Fournier have refreshed the space, planted a garden, and locals are reveling in the new comfortable space with a locally sourced menu. Find a few Italian-inspired pasta dishes, including foraged mushroom risotto, roasted farm chicken, house-pickled vegetables, and a retro but much improved housemade fennel-and-sea-salt russet potato chips with caramelized onion dip. Get there early or make reservations. thethompsonhouseeatery.com

Under-$20 Menu Finding a menu with “supper” entrées under $20 is like finding the dining unicorn. At The Crown Tavern in Manchester, enjoy steak frites, veal schnitzel, cedar plank salmon, plus “blue plate specials” — like Monday’s braised pork shank — priced for $20 and under. Other gastropub options include classic burgers with two patties and a special sauce, interesting wood-fired pizzas and more. Tip: Get there early and enjoy the pleasant outdoor patio. Also open for lunch and brunch. thecrownonhanover.com

Survivor Louie’s in Portsmouth excelled in service, ambiance and had a well-executed menu — the triple crown for restaurant success. But a fire in the nearby State Street Saloon affected them as well, and they closed abruptly. Now, more than a year later, the Louie’s team has relocated to The Carriage House in Rye.

Derry

moosplace.com

Ice Cream Shop Seacoast Region Lago’s Ice Cream Rye

photo by susan laughlin

lagosicecream.com

Ice Cream Shop White Mountains Region Slick’s Ice Cream Woodsville

Facebook

Indian Restaurant Shalimar India Portsmouth

Light Coffee Roast

shalimarindia.com

Coffee beans can be roasted until they’re black, but Claudia Barrett of Flight Coffee Co. wants to extract every nuance from the bean with a lighter touch. She and her team in Bedford work to develop the wide spectrum of flavors that can be coaxed from beans with just the right time and temperature. Think watermelon, hibiscus and jackfruit — and that’s just from the Ethiopian Gidney Limu Kossa. The Bedford roasting lab offers a small tasting bar, while Flight Coffee Company in Dover is a full-service coffee shop, complete with a pour-over bar, tempting pastries and a used book store. Also find their roasts at Restoration Café and The Bookery in Manchester. flightcoffeeco.com They feature a significant nod to the nearby sea with an extensive raw bar that includes caviar and oysters, while crowd-pleasing lobster and cod are on the menu as well. Be assured the same level of care will transfer to this new spot. carriagehouserye.com

International Pizza The owners of Street 360 recently opened Street’za. This Portsmouth eatery features pizzas that explore Greece with feta and lamb, Korea with bulgogi and kimchi, and India with tikka masala sauce, curry chicken and cilantro. If no country fits the bill, design your own trip with the Create’za — your choice of crusts (NYC-style, gluten-free cauliflower or vegan/gluten-free), sauce, cheese, veggies, meats and more. Bon voyage! streetza360.com

Tapas At Candela Tapas Lounge in Hanover you can sample the essence of Spanish and Caribbean flavors and cultures. Natalia Karaulova’s passion for food is directly translated to the restaurant’s delectable shared appetizers. You can find Natalia and her husband, Jimmy Van Kirk, working alongside their creative culinary staff while you enjoy your setas montaditos. candelatapas.com

Siamese Platter

Irish Pub Patrick’s Pub and Eatery Gilford

patrickspub.com

Italian Restaurant Angelina’s Ristorante Italiano Concord

Dinner Special

Multi-location Local

Fratello’s Italian Grille

Manchester, Nashua and Laconia

fratellos.com

Multi-location Regional

Tuscan Kitchen

Salem, Portsmouth and Burlington, Mass.

tuscanbrands.com

Japanese Restaurant Shio

Manchester

republiccafe.com

Lunch Spot Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond

thetuckaway.com

Mac and Cheese Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond

thetuckaway.com

Mac and Cheese

Manchester, Portsmouth and Tyngsboro, Mass.

mr-macs.com

Martini Cotton cottonfood.com

Mediterranean Restaurant Mediterrano Turkish & Mediterranean Restaurant Hillsborough

mediterranoo.com

Mexican Restaurant Hermanos Concord

hermanosmexican.com

Mexican Restaurant

Multi-location Local

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant

Portsmouth

shiorestaurant.com

Lobster Roll Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond

Manchester, Hooksett and Derry

lacarretamex.com

New Restaurant hop + grind Durham

thetuckaway.com

Lobster Roll

Locally Sourced Menu Republic

Manchester

angelinasrestaurant.com

Italian Restaurant

Shortbread cookies, a Scottish tradition, can be more than just buttery goodness. At New England Biscuit Company, owner/ baker Laura Brown is putting seasonal twists

thebeachplum.net

Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese

Italian Restaurant

Shortbread

Epping, Portsmouth and North Hampton

Multi-location Regional

Next time you want to feed a crowd, order the Siamese Platter from the Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant in Amherst. Enjoy a sampling of chicken and shrimp satay, curry triangles and more. It’s served with an array of peanut sauce, cucumber salad and sweet chili sauce. chiangmaifinethaicuisine.com

Any Thursday night at North Conway’s Wild Rose Restaurant at the Stonehurst Manor you and your sweetie can each savor the famous prime rib for the price of one.

The generous thick cut of succulent beef is the chef ’s specialty, pit-smoked, aged and slow-roasted for 18 hours. Or choose from any of the other entrées on the regular menu — a half-rack of grilled lamb, pan-seared jumbo sea scallops with polenta, lobster ravioli — and if there’s an uneven number in your party, the odd person gets dinner for half-price. stonehurstmanor.com

The Beach Plum

FOOD & drink

Ice Cream Shop Salem Area Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream

hopandgrind.com

Multi-location Local

Outdoor Dining Town Docks

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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thecman.com

Pancakes Polly’s Pancake Parlor Sugar Hill

pollyspancakeparlor.com

Pastries

Multi-location Regional

Lake Sunapee Region Lui Lui West Lebanon

luilui.com

Pizzeria Dartmouth/ Lake Sunapee Region

Frederick’s Pastries

Multi-location Regional

pastry.net

Multiple Locations

Amherst, Bedford and North Andover, Mass.

Pastries Popovers on the Square

Epping and Portsmouth

popoversonthesquare.com

Pie Black Forest Café & Bakery Amherst

theblackforestcafe.com

Pie

Multi-location Local

Red Arrow 24 Hr Diner

Multiple Locations

redarrowdiner.com

Pizzeria La Festa Brick & Brew Pizza Dover

lafestabrickandbrew.com

Pizzeria

Multi-location Regional

Flatbread Company

Portsmouth, Hampton and North Conway

flatbreadcompany.com

Pizzeria Concord Area Constantly Pizza Concord

constantlypizza.net

Pizzeria Concord Area Multi-location Regional

Sal’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

sals-pizza.com

Pizzeria Dartmouth/ 80

Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza ramuntos.com

Pizzeria Great North Woods Region Mary’s Pizza Gorham

maryspizzanh.com

Pizzeria Lakes Region Tilton House of Pizza Tilton

Facebook

Pizzeria Manchester Area Alley Cat Pizzeria Manchester

alleycatpizzerianh.com

Pizzeria Manchester Area Multi-location Regional

Sal’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

sals-pizza.com

Pizzeria Monadnock Region Athens Pizza House and Restaurant Keene

(603) 352-5370

Pizzeria Monadnock Region Multi-location Regional

Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza

on her delicious bites with a biscuit-of-themonth flavors series, including Earl Grey, pine needle, and coming for fall, pumpkin spice and cranberry almond. Order online or find at Stock + Spice in Portsmouth. newenglandbiscuit.company

Poké Bowl Find the fresh taste of poké (pronounced pokay) at Ohana Kitchen in Portsmouth.

The fish, ahi tuna or salmon, or even chicken or tofu, can be served on white or brown rice, quinoa or just artisan greens for a low-carb treat. Adding to the flavor profile are a variety of sauces including a tradition ponzu and ginger chili. Add-ons range from apple to seaweed to sweet potatoes to really build the bowl. ohana.kitchen

Shawarma Middle Eastern foods are known for exotic flavors, but what makes great shawarma is a subtle blend of spice and texture and creaminess that reveals it to be a perfect comfort food. Little Lebanon To Go in Dover gets the balance down by using a family recipe, fresh ingredients — often local and organic — and by the overall high quality of everything they sell out of their tiny restaurant built into the shell of an old Dover gas station. quicktogo.us

Charming Winery Good wine doesn’t have to be complicated.

The varieties offered at the Gilmanton Winery (based in the former home of “Peyton Place” author Grace Metalious) are all tasty and approachable, even for the novice oenophile. Names like Girls Night Out, Pumpkin Pie and Green Apple Riesling suggest the winemakers are having too much fun, but what’s wrong with that, when the wine tastes this good? gilmantonwinery.com

Fusion Restaurant The lively Mexican-Latin fusion menu at Revolution Cantina cites culinary influences ranging from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and Dominican, Costa Rica, to Miami, Florida, and Claremont, NH, where the cantina lives in the heart of the city. The aesthetics are hip and spare, the service is friendly and efficient, and the menu is an invitation to explore new tastes. revolutioncantina.com

Multiple Locations

Rum Cake

Pizzeria Nashua Area Nashua House of Pizza, Nashua

There’s a reason that rum cake is a popular holiday gift item. They are addictively delicious, so making them a seasonal specialty prevents you from eating them every day.

Well, your resolve may fail once you discover Black Cat Rum Cake Company in Nashua.

ramuntos.com

nashuahouseofpizza.com

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

photo by susan laughlin

FOOD & DRINK

Meredith

New Café You can see the love that has been put into the City Moose Café in Nashua — tidy farm-style tables with fresh flowers, a varied menu of pressed sandwiches, soups and salads — all with a little extra pizzazz, including a nice selection of flavored teas. They are proud of their local sourcing and are a pickup point of a CSA. Open until 3 p.m. weekdays now, but more to come later. Plus, there’s plenty of parking at 30 Temple St., the old Indian Head Plaza. citymoosenh.com Their recipe, which dates back to southern Mississippi from the 19th century, presents a moist, rich complexity that will keep your tongue guessing as it tries to identify the source of the pleasure you are experiencing as you down one slice after another. blackcatrumcake.com

Reimagined Classics Chef Corey Fletcher has done a lot to raise the standards for dining in our capital city, and Concord foodies are reveling in his creation of his own restaurant, Revival Kitchen and Bar, which sits snugly on a downtown side street. The restaurant name refers to the chef ’s personal take on classic dishes using farm-to-table sensibilities and an intimate knowledge of where and when to find the best local ingredients. revivalkitchennh.com

Completely turning the idea of a typical brewpub on its head is the new Chapel + Main in Dover. Opened by the team behind über-popular Kittery, Maine, spot, The Black Birch, the menu here is refined comfort fare with plenty of seasonal, local ingredients.

The cocktail and wine lists are great too, but you shouldn’t pass up their interesting beer, which ranges from a Belgian-style white ale with chamomile, orange and coriander to interesting sours, stouts and an on-trend New England-style IPA. chapelandmain.com

Historic Dining New Hampshire history isn’t all about our Colonial past. Newport, closer to the Connecticut River than the Piscataqua, is dense with important state history that you can contemplate while enjoying fine dining at The Old Courthouse, a beautiful Federalist-era building (it’s on the National Register of Historic Places) in the heart of the town’s historic district. Look up author Sarah Josepha Hale, robber baron Austin Corbin or disgraced judge John Fairbanks before making your reservation, and you’ll have lots to discuss over a elegant meal of creative American cuisine. eatatthecourthouse.com

Pizzeria Nashua Area Multi-location Regional

Sal’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

sals-pizza.com

Pizzeria Salem Area Granfanallys Pizza Pub Salem

granfanallys.com

Pizzeria Salem Area

Multi-location Regional

Sal’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

sals-pizza.com

Multi-location Regional

Sal’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

sals-pizza.com

Pizzeria White Mountains Region Boston Brothers Pizzeria North Conway

Sandwich Biederman’s Deli

Tacos

tacobeyondo.com

Plymouth

biedermansdeli.com

Multiple Locations

dosamigosburritos.com

Restaurant With Best Beer List New England’s Tap House Grille

Soup Collins Brothers Chowder

Hooksett

taphousenh.com

Restaurant With Best Beer List

Multi-location Local

Exeter

thirstymoosetaphouse.com

Dover, Portsmouth and Manchester

Restaurant With Best Wine List Bedford Village Inn

Multi-location Regional

Dos Amigos Burritos

Seafood Restaurant Surf Restaurant Nashua and Portsmouth

Thirsty Moose Taphouse

Pizzeria Seacoast Region

Hillsborough

bedfordvillageinn.com

bostonbrotherspizzeria.com

Pizzeria Seacoast Region Front Row Pizzeria frontrowpizzeria.com

Bedford

surfseafood.com

Thai Restaurant Thai Smile Plymouth

Nashua

collinsbrotherschowder.com

Sports Bar Billy’s Sports Bar Manchester

thaismilenh.com

Vegetarian Restaurant Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro & Bar Portsmouth

greenelephantnh.com

Winery/Vineyard LaBelle Winery

billyssportsbar.com

Steakhouse Buckley’s Great Steaks

Amherst

labellewinerynh.com

Merrimack

Wings Wing-Itz

Tacos Taco Beyondo

Portsmouth

buckleysgreatsteaks.com

wing-itz.com

Stay at the Lake.

— Mill Falls at the Lake —

4 Inns • 5 Distinctive Restaurants • 10 Marketplace Shops • Beautiful Event Spaces • Cascade Spa & Salon Lake Activity Center • Located on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee Mill Falls at the Lake • 312 Daniel Webster Highway • Meredith, New Hampshire • (877) 684-9892 • millfalls.com nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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FOOD & drink

Restaurant & Brewery

shops services AND

Photo by Alex Tourigny

New Book Store Everything is perfect at The Bookery in Manchester, from the uniquely curated book selection to the welcoming, peaceful atmosphere to the homemade donuts with your choice of dipping glaze. Grab a book, a bowl of alphabet soup or a cup of tea, and get comfortable by the “fireplace” in one of their cozy armchairs. You’ll never want to leave. bookerymht.com 82

nhmagazine.com | July 2018

Don’t have time to plan a meal, gather ingredients and cook it? Local Baskit in Concord has you covered with their cookat-home meal kits, complete with fresh, inspiring recipes and ingredients from New Hampshire farms and food artisans. Pick from artisan, fresh and simple baskit styles, with dishes such as roasted tomato, kale and farro risotto or crockpot chicken gnocchi.

Partake in their weekly subscription plans or try it out with a same-day single baskit. localbaskit.com

Farm Market Moulton Farm in Meredith is truly a onestop shop for the grocery shopper looking to make a healthy, locally inspired dinner or to take one home. Find Sal’s super-fresh seafood, produce of all kinds from the fields, and sweets and breads baked onsite.

The farm kitchen prepares entrées and side dishes to grab and go. On weekends, look for Cider Bellies’ plump cider donuts and grab a bagful. The party continues with farm-to-table brunches held monthly throughout the season and brunches on Sunday. moultonfarm.com

Out-of-the-Box Catering El Camino Foods in Exeter brings authentic Puerto Rican dishes to New Hampshire. The

company name comes from the road that owner Elizabeth Silva traveled as a child to visit her grandmother when living in Puerto Rico. She keeps her grandmother in mind when cooking dishes that include empanadas, savory half-moon pastries filled with your choice of meat; rellenos de papa, buttery mashed potatoes filled with ground beef with a crispy crust; pernil asado, slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in citrus and spices; and many more. Don’t have a party planned but want a taste? Find them at the Portsmouth and Exeter farmers markets from May until fall. See the schedule and full catering menu on the website. elcaminofoods.com

Steak Tips The family-owned Mr. Steer Meats Marketplace in Londonderry is the place for backyard barbecue supplies. They have just about every cut of meat you could ever want, but if you’re looking for a tasty grilling shortcut, check out their famous line of marinated meats, which, of course, includes steak tips. Go bold with the cayenne pepper sauce (Chubby’s Firemaster), classic with the steakhouse blend, international with the fajita-inspired sauce or strive to impress with Chubby’s Grillmaster. No matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong. mrsteermeats.com

Shops and Services Antique or Vintage Shop Robin’s Egg Eclectic Décor & Antiques Milford

robins-egg.com

Automotive Group Grappone Automotive Group Concord

Barbershop

kamafitnessnh.com

Florist Cobblestone Design Company Concord

cobblestoneflorist.com

churchillsgardens.com

Garden Center — Tie Wentworth Gardens Rollinsford

Topstone Barber Co. New London

topstonebarber.com

Beer Store Bert’s Better Beers

wentworthgreenhouses.com

Hair Salon Wingate Salon & Spa Stratham

wingatespa.com

Bicycle Shop S&W Sports

Home Décor Shop — Tie Chickadee Lane Interiors

Concord

Concord

swsports.net

chickadeelaneinteriors.com

Bicycle Shop

Home Décor Shop — Tie REVIVED Furniture and Home Décor

Multi-location Local

Goodale’s Bike Shop Nashua, Hooksett and Concord

goodalesbikeshop.com

Caterer Celebrations Distinctive Catering Manchester

Comic Book Store Double Midnight Comics Manchester

dmcomics.com

Eyeware Boutique The Eyeglass Shop Portsmouth

Derry

revived-furniture-and-home-decor.myshopify.com

Independent Bookstore Gibson’s Bookstore Concord

celebrationsmenu.com courtesy photo

Manchester

Exeter

bertsbetterbeers.com

Terragia in downtown Nashua is a hybrid shop and café that adds beauty and peace to breakfast or lunch. Enjoy a fresh smoothie bowl or rich and tender quiche while surrounded with a vast collection of houseplants, fresh floral arrangements and cute garden gift items. This creative place is sure to grow on you. shopterragia.com

Fitness Instructor Karlene Linxweiler from Kama Fitness

Garden Center — Tie Churchill’s Garden Center

grappone.com

Hooksett

Green Café

shops & services

Locally Sourced Meal Kits

gibsonsbookstore.com

Independently Owned Fitness Center Dynamic Strength and Conditioning Nashua

dynamicsc.com

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Manchester

fortcycle.com

Jeweler Bellman Jewelers Manchester

bellmans.com

Kid’s Clothing Shop Puddlejumpers Children’s Shop Exeter

puddlejumpersnh.com

Lingerie Shop Top Drawer Boutique Bedford and Exeter

topdrawerboutique.com

Local Jeweler with Store Jonathan’s Jewelers Bedford

jonathansjewelers.com

Men’s Clothing Shop George’s Apparel Manchester

georgesapparel.com

Music Store

Pet Groomer Mac and Copper’s Pet Supply Outlet Portsmouth and Somersworth

macandcoppers.com

Pet Groomer

Multi-location Local

The Barking Dog Derry, Exeter and Hooksett

thebarkingdog.com

Pet Supplies Store Friendly Pets Lee

friendlypets.com

Artistic Cakes

Composting

At Autumn Nomad Cakes & Café in Jackson, owner and cake artist Jaime Melfi creates wildly inventive — and gorgeous — custom wedding cakes. Her range is impressive, from rustic to glamorous, with each style perfectly reflecting the couple and event. No need for a custom cake?

The charming café has a daily selection of cakes available by the slice or whole special occasion cakes in the grab-and-go case.

They also serve freshly baked pastries, muffins, scones, croissants, cookies and much more in addition to breakfast and lunch. autumnnomad.com

Recycling has seen its ups and downs over the years based on demand for our castoffs from places like China, but the latest trend in recycling keeps things close to home.

When you contract with Mr. Moo’s Compost to take away your kitchen and yard waste, once a year they provide you with a big bucket of black, rich compost to deposit on your own vegetable or flower beds. They only serve the Manchester area at this time, but the curbside pickup makes the process tidy and painless for the user. And your gardens (and the Earth) will thank you. mrmooscompost.com

Pet Training Friendly Pets Lee

friendlypets.com

Secondhand Clothing Shop M&C Clothing and Gifts Amherst

mothersays.shoprw.com

Skincare/Specialty Makeup Boutique Wingate Salon & Spa Stratham

wingatespa.com

Specialty Food Store Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop Manchester

Pitchfork Records Stereo Concord

pitchforkrecordsconcord.com

Music Store

Multi-location Regional

Bull Moose

Multiple Locations

bullmoose.com

Pet Boarding D La Pooch Resort Manchester

dlapoochresort.com

Pet Boarding

Multi-location Local

The Barking Dog Derry, Exeter and Hooksett

thebarkingdog.com

angelaspastaandcheese.com

Toy Store — Tie Whirlygigs Toy Shop Exeter

whirlygigstoyshop.com

Toy Store — Tie G Willikers!

Portsmouth

gwillikerstoys.com

Wine Shop WineNot Boutique Nashua

winenotboutique.com

Women’s Clothing Shop Gondwana & Divine Clothing, Concord clothingnh.com

Yoga Studio Sol Power Yoga Bedford

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photo by susan laughlin

shops & services

Indoor Cycling FortCycle

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Flavored Oils Cucina Aurora’s flavored oils start with a good olive oil, which is rare in the industry.

Based in Salem, owner Dawn Hunt has made cooking at home easy with her naturally flavored oils that bring a bit of magic to each and every dish. Flavor enhancements include a taste of lemon, rosemary, and oregano, roasted garlic, peppercorn and sage and sundried tomato. It’s not hard to think of dishes that would be enhanced with a flavor boost from Cucina Aurora. cucinaaurora.com

photo by jeff at short creek

shops & services

Legacy Ski Shop It’s billed as “America’s Oldest Ski Shop” and considering NH’s role in the early days of the sport, that’s believable. Lahout’s in Littleton (with a second shop in Lincoln) is serious about having the best equipment for any day skiing the slopes (or the backcountry), but the quirky sense of style and humor of second-generation owner, Joe Lahout, is in evidence as well. Lahout died last year after spending most of a century in the business, but his son and grandson carry on, know how to treat customers, and remember most of the stories, so the Lahout’s legacy lives on. lahouts.com

Local Lamb Riverslea Farm has been a working farm in Epping for over 200 years. The options are endless when it comes to their incredibly tender, mild-flavored meat. You can use their lamb sausage in soups and kabobs or use their shanks for stews. They recommend marinating the meat in apple cider, honey and rosemary for a more classic taste. Feeling adventurous? Bake your chops on a shallow rack rather than grilling, and coat with a paste of mustard and thyme. riversleafarm.com

Sausage Shop A sausage on the grill is one of the joys of summer, but you take it up a notch when you know the sausage was made by local hands and locally raised beef and pork. Short Creek Farm in Northwood is dedicated to sausage and charcuterie and uses their own pastured pork, grass-fed beef and heirloom vegetables to make their products. Their sausage recipes are imaginative (with names like Bourbon Coffee Bacon, Harissa & Mint, Moroccan Quince or Smoked Chili & Pumpkin) and they are just as delicious as they sound. shortcreeknh.squarespace.com

MARKETPLACE

Shop. Dine. Explore.

Spend the day with us on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee!

10 Unique Marketplace Shops • Five Distinctive Restaurants • Waterfront Boardwalk and Park Award-Winning Sculpture Walk and Gardens • Al Fresco Dining • Friday Night Music in July & August Mill Falls Marketplace • Shops open daily at 10 a.m. • Routes 3 & 25. • Meredith, NH • millfalls.com nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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Photo by Susan Laughlin

Public Art Nashua’s arts communities have coalesced and the results are sweet music in the air, beauty evolving in reclaimed mill buildings and sculptures throughout the city. The Nashua Art Walk, happening on October 13-14, is a showcase for all the great things happening downtown, including a series of sculptures by international artists, pianos on Main Street for impromptu music, and displays by photographers, painters and other artisans who work in the Picker Building. Other arts groups will also showcase their performing arts talents and availability of classes. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. cityartsnashua.org 86

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History Lesson

The 2018-19 Symphony NH season is something to talk about. If you think symphonic music is stuffy and boring, think again. Mark & Maggie O’Connor will be bringing their hot fiddles to the classics, while the Nashua-based Symphony NH will tackle the music of John Williams with “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” themes.

Guest musicians, the Classical Mystery Tour, bring a tribute to the Beatles. Yes, “Yesterday” with acoustic guitar and a string quartet, and “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section. Oh, then there’s “An Irish Christmas” with tenors, uilleann pipes and Irish whistles. Get your tickets now. symphonynh.org

Perhaps it’s obvious when you think about it, but one of the best places to learn your NH history is to visit New Hampshire’s historic Statehouse in Concord, either for a tour or just as a self-guided experience.

It’s the oldest statehouse in which the legislature still sits in its original chambers, and the walls are festooned with fascinating tidbits from past trials (like the Civil War) and triumphs (like the huge portrait of First American in Space Alan Shepard).

Start at the friendly and exhibit-packed visitor’s center where you can book a tour (or do it online). gencourt.state.nh.us

Generation of Music They weren’t exactly born on the 4th of July, but close. This month marks the 20th anniversary of the NH Gay Men’s Chorus.

It’s been a long, strange trip as they have sung live for thousands and on local TV and for millions on CSPAN, all the while fulfilling their mission of spreading joy and acceptance through music. Since the group’s founding, much has changed for the LBGTQ community — they have a lot to sing about. Catch them August 25 when they perform in Rochester’s Central Square for the Pride festivities. nhgmc.com

Arts and Culture Art Gallery AVA Gallery & Art Center avagallery.org

Independent Movie Theater

The Exchange with Laura Knoy, NHPR Concord

nhpr.org

Red River Theatres Concord

redrivertheatres.org

Large Music Venue Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Gilford

Performing Arts Venue The Palace Theater Manchester

palacetheatre.org

Small Music Venue Tupelo Music Hall

banknhpavilion.com

Londonderry

NH AM Radio Station WGIR 610 AM

TV News Anchor Erin Fehlau, WMUR

tupelohalllondonderry.com

Manchester

Manchester

wgiram.iheart.com

wmur.com

NH FM Radio Station NHPR

TV News Reporter Ray Brewer, WMUR

nhpr.org

TV Sports Anchor Jamie Staton, WMUR

Manchester

wmur.com

Concord

NH Radio Morning Show Greg and the Morning Buzz, WHEB

photo by jay philbrick courtesy of castle in the clouds

NH Radio Talk Show

Lebanon

Fortnightly Rant In this age of 24/7/365 ranting on cable TV and social media, it’s amazing how a more measured and timely rant can sound a lot like common sense. That’s not to make a value judgment about the politics of Steven Fowle, editor of the freely distributed New Hampshire Gazette, just about his temperament. Fowle’s front-page editorials may drive conservatives to crank up Fox News, but his words are carefully chosen and arranged with insight and a sense of humor. OK, dark humor — still, the view of the world from the Portsmouth offices of the “Nation’s Oldest Newspaper” is always enlightening and entertaining, even when exasperating. nhgazette.com

arts & culture

Classics for the Masses

Manchester

wheb.iheart.com

Manchester

wmur.com

Weatherperson Josh Judge, WMUR Manchester wmur.com

Museum Currier Museum of Art Manchester

currier.org

Music Night Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough is a grand, historic New Hampshire estate with stunning views, hikes to cascading waterfalls, horseback riding through the mountains and most recently, music nights in the summer. These popular evenings include dinner and music from musicians like Tim & Dave. Watch the sun set over Lake Winnipesaukee as you dance the night away. castleintheclouds.org nhmagazine.com | July 2018

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arts & culture Band on the Verge A band that’s as tight as a new drumhead with snappy horns, dreamy melodies and seductive vocals is a band that’s going places. Gretchen & the Pickpockets started as a college band at UNH and have matured into a first-rate touring act, making jazzy, soulful waves wherever they perform. Tune in now and they could become the sound of your summer for 2018. Wait too long and the rest of the country may discover them first. gretchenandthepickpockets.com

Our North Country is kind of spread out geographically, but it’s united by a rustic pioneer spirit, a love of the outdoors, and by the FM signal of Conway’s WMWV Radio, where the legendary Joe Dodge once read the weather each morning. That duty just changed hands again when local “weather observer” Briggs Bunker passed on to Ed Bergeron the task of rating the day’s weather on a scale of a nickel to 50 cents (they once distributed piggy banks where listeners could deposit the requisite coinage every day). The station has kept abreast of the times with topical interviews and a great and eclectic music mix that includes the deep cuts of their Blues Summit and the good vibes of Scarlet Begonias — a weekly hour dedicated to the Grateful Dead. wmwv.com

Children’s Performer Catchy kids tunes can be a bit too catchy as many a parent has discovered on a long trip with the young’uns. It helps when 88

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the performer is a multi-instrumentalist with the chops to write and play in just about any genre. Mr. Aaron operates his Rattlebox studio out of Concord, but he made his name heading up the Jitterbugs program for kids in Brooklyn. His second album, “Maximum,” gets a big CD release party this month at the Capitol Center for the Arts and his song “All My Friends Are Giants” could become your new favorite earworm. mraaronmusic.com

Beyond Bluegrass Bluegrass music has influenced so much of our contemporary soundscape that it’s fair play when Rockspring, an energetic bluegrass quintet, weaves in the sounds and attitudes (and songs) of other genres like pop, rock and alternative folk music. Strong songwriting and exemplary vocals and musicianship combine to make Rockspring’s riffs and melodies infectious to bluegrass fans and to make converts of just about anyone who will lend an ear. reverbnation.com/rockspring

Funny Guy When it comes to making people laugh, Jimmy Dunn is a natural.

That’s why he’s a regular performer at top comedy festivals and has appeared on the late-night shows of David Letterman and Conan O’Brien. He co-starred on the late and much-lamented CBS sitcom “The McCarthys,” basically playing himself.

He’s technically a Boston comedian (it’s a genre) but he hails from Hampton, New Hampshire. Catch him at this month’s Hampton Beach Comedy Festival that he headlines along with a roster of some of the funniest people in the business. jimmydunn.com

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North Country Radio

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fun adventure AND

Huttopia, which offers a top-of-the-line glamping experience, premiered its White Mountains locations last summer. Picture a camping trip where somebody else pitches the tent and unpacks the gear. One with a real bed, fridge and running water. Huttopia’s safari-style tents are like little canvas cabins, with floors and electricity; the biggest of them have indoor loos and mini kitchens with French-press coffee pots and real wine glasses. The best part? There’s a food trailer with espresso and crêpes for breakfast. canada-usa.huttopia.com/en/site/white-mountains 90

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Glamping

Executive Chef Justin Dain at Pine in Hanover has a way with food, to say the least. His mettle was tested this past year by preparing a meal at the famous James Beard dinner in New York City that offered everything from hamachi crudo with coconut emulsion and duck breast with foie gras to short ribs with bone marrow and a warm local cornmeal cake with a chestnut mousse.

In addition, each course was perfectly paired with wine. A few months later, he recreated the experience in Hanover. It was a success, and now monthly wine dinners are on the slate. Additionally, Chef Dain is showcasing his creativity in weekly three-course, winepaired menus as a prix-fixe or à la carte options. pineathanoverinn.com

New Beer Tour Manchester-area beer enthusiasts need no longer look to the Seacoast with envy.

In the last few years, a number of excellent breweries opened in the Queen City, Londonderry, Derry, Concord, Nashua and other surrounding towns. With a wealth of great beer comes a problem — how to get safely from place to place. Enter the new

Manchvegas Brew Bus, which debuted in April. Created by local residents Alli and Bill Seney (Alli, a musician, performs as Alli Beaudry and Bill is one half of the popular local trivia duo Trivia Night With Bill & Cody), they offer a number of fun tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. manchvegasbrewbus.com

Historic Dinners Colonial merriment survives in the historic William Pitt Tavern at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth when the folks from Pickwick’s Mercantile take over the space in full Colonial costume and music of the era. Near Christmas time, carolers stroll through the rooms, along with a fiddler and guitarist, bringing holiday cheer to the guests enjoying a four-course hearty dinner with authentic utensils of pewter. It’s all washed down with pitchers of local beer. Glad tidings to all! pickwicksmercantile.com

Farm-to-Table Dinners The folks behind Alnoba in Kensington dream big. Their slogan “where inspirations meets action” brings powerful thoughts to reality. One of their ideals is to promote the power of local food. To that

Fun & Adventure Cooking Classes LaBelle Winery

The Fells Historic Estate & Gardens

Newbury

Amherst

thefells.org

Day Spa Wingate Salon & Spa

Summer Attraction White Mountains Story Land

labellewinerynh.com

Stratham

Glen

wingatespa.com

storylandnh.com

Resort/Hotel Spa Wentworth

By The Sea

Summer Attraction Lakes Region Gunstock Mountain Resort

New Castle

Gilford

wentworth.com

Bed and Breakfast Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery

gunstock.com

Summer Attraction Great North Woods

North Woodstock

woodstockinnnh.com

Family Friendly Resort Inn at East Hill Farm Troy

east-hill-farm.com

Bear Rock Adventures

Ski Resort Loon Mountain

Pittsburg

Lincoln

bearrockadventures.com

loonmtn.com

Campground Gunstock Mountain Resort

Summer Attraction Monadnock Region Inn at East Hill Farm

Gilford

Troy

gunstock.com

east-hill-farm.com

NH Sports Team New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Summer Attraction Seacoast

Manchester photo by cindy jones

nhfishercats.com

Summer Attraction Canobie Lake Park Salem

canobie.com

Charming Rustic Resort Since 1897, Rockywold Deephaven Camps has hosted families on the shores of Squam Lake. This all-inclusive resort is steeped in vintage, rustic charm, and it invites you to unplug from your busy life for a truly relaxing summer vacation. Cottages have a private dock, fireplace, a screened-in porch and an old-fashioned icebox. Forget about tablets, phones and TVs — among many other activities, you can rent kayaks, canoes or paddle boats, take a yoga class, hike, swim, play in a tennis tournament or learn about the world around you on a guided nature walk. Take a step back in time and experience this beautiful piece of New Hampshire history. rdcsquam.com

Summer Attraction Dartmouth/ Sunapee — Tie Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Cornish

nps.gov/saga/index.htm

Summer Attraction Dartmouth/ Sunapee — Tie

Prescott Park Arts Festival Portsmouth

prescottpark.org

Summer Attraction Merrimack Valley Chuckster’s Chichester

chuckstersnh.com

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Wine Dinners

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fun & adventure View from Mt. Willard

Family Basecamp

end, acres of produce have been planted, 11 greenhouses raised and animals brought to pasture. Their monthly farm-to-table dinners are a model of action for bringing health and sensibility to our food chain.

Executive Chef Dan Dumont leads with a guest chef on board for this series, running about once a month and held in their beautiful timber frame building. For an everyday taste of Alnoba’s local foods, have lunch at Eastman’s Corner and shop their market. alnoba.org

Beer Events Last year, we told you about Nashua’s Flight Center, a craft beer lounge and bottle shop that offers one of the best selections of local beer in the state. For those looking to dive a little bit deeper, they also offer a number of special events throughout the year, including the Brewery of the Month series. Each month, you’ll find a number of the chosen brewery’s beers on tap, and it always kicks off with a beer pairing dinner. During these evenings the courses are paired to the beers and the 92

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photo by susan laughlin

The most user-friendly of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s huts is tucked into Pinkham Notch and surrounded by the state’s greatest natural treasures. Still, the rustic vibe at Joe Dodge Lodge and the hearty dinner and breakfast (included with a night’s stay) set the mood perfectly should you just want to hit a trail at your own pace and breathe in the splendor of the White Mountain National Forest. outdoors. org/lodging-camping/lodges/pinkham brewer is on hand to answer questions.

Keep an eye on the website or Facebook page for event announcements. flightcenterbc.com

Food and Drink Festival Summer and fall are filled with brewfests, but if you have to choose one, this combo of fiery bites and local brews is well worth the ticket. Exeter’s Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival takes place on October 6 at Swasey Parkway, and offers live music, plenty of chili from local restaurants and, of course, huge tents housing some of the best local beer from New Hampshire and beyond. Taste the chili, vote for your favorite and wash it all down with delicious craft beer. powderkegbeerfest.com

Overlooked Grand Hotel Wentworth by the Sea, Omni Mount Washington Resort and Mountain View Grand Resort are often collectively cited as New Hampshire’s grand hotels, which overlooks the historic Wentworth Inn in Jackson — you could call it the “baby grand.” While it may not be as sprawling as the other three,

Romantic Getaway The Inn at Pleasant Lake in New London has entered another chapter in its storied history. Now under new ownership, this bed and breakfast, which dates back to 1790, offers gorgeous rooms and a number of resort amenities including watercraft rentals, bocce, tennis and volleyball courts, beach chairs and more. Perhaps the two best arguments for staying here though are the stunning views of Pleasant Lake and the gourmet dining. The Oak & Grain restaurant — which overlooks the lake — serves locally sourced dishes created with an eye to New England history. It’s fine dining at its best, with menus that change daily in order to take advantage of produce from local farms. innatpleasantlake.com

photo by susan laughlin

“Misuse” of Machinery

New Wine Event Last fall, Fulchino Vineyard in Hollis debuted the New Hampshire Grape Festival, a fundraiser for Symphony NH (20 percent of wine sales benefited the symphony). The day included Old World food and fun, including gelato, Italian ice, samples of table grapes, wine tasting and, to cap it all off, a chance to toss your shoes and hop in a barrel for some grape stomping. Look for this year’s festival on September 16. fulchinovineyard.com

As soon as the internal combustion engine was invented, there were people thinking of ways to have some terrifying (but hopefully safe) fun with it. The ultimate result of that ambition can be witnessed at the NH Grass Drags and Watercross in Fremont.

Ever wondered what your snow machine could do on a dirt track with a monster jump at the end? Or why do you have to wait for a pond to freeze to drive over it at high speed? Maybe you’d like to enter your souped-up riding mower in a 60 mph race.

Or, better yet, just watch someone else do it. It’s all there at NH Snowmobile Association’s annual October event. nhsa.com/ nh-grass-drags-and-watercross

Bowling Bar You don’t find a lot of candlepin bowling north of the notches, but a couple of years ago a young entrepreneur decided to change that by lovingly restoring six century-old lanes in Woodsville and

attaching a pub bar and grill. Now named Room 111 at Victory Lanes (in honor of the owner’s freshman dorm room number and the original name of the alley), the establishment provides a warm welcome to locals and North Country tourists, and has even revived an interest in weekly bowling league nights. Facebook

Indoor Firing Range Gun ownership may be controversial, but gun safety training is more needed than ever with the surge in purchases over the past decade. The biggest and best place in the state to learn how to handle a firearm is Manchester Firing Line. They provide classes in safety and gun use, rentals for the curious and group rates for corporate events, birthday and wedding or “just because.” gunsnh.com

Laser Tag This sport has been around since the early days of electronic gaming, and the technology keeps improving. The brand-new Laser Tag Arena at White Lake Speedway in Tamworth is state of the art (featuring 100 percent DMX game-controlled LED lighting) and offers the perfect indoor fun for tourists and locals alike. Facebook

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the Wentworth Inn nevertheless exudes that same historic charm. Its history goes back some 125 years, and even today, you can feel the echoes of European and turn-of-the-century traditions. thewentworth.com

this that

AND

Sandbox for Grownups

One sure sign of a town’s nightlife is the number of eateries that stay open after 9 p.m. Rochester has its share, but has one that’s open for business until the wee hours of the next morning from Wednesday to Sunday all summer long. Wowzers Wieners has become a tourist attraction in its own right. It’s located on Rochester’s Main Street (next to the district courthouse) where owner/entrepreneur Chris Ragno parks his cart and sells his all-natural hot dogs with odd names (like the Trailer Trash Dog and the Ugly Stepsister) to the late-night crowd. His bacon-wrapped dogs, topped with one of his specialty relishes, is a popular item. July 18 is National Hot Dog Day and Wowzers sells dogs for a dollar to celebrate. Facebook

City on the Rise The creative sprawl of Portsmouth has already enlivened neighboring towns, with Dover catching most of the overflow, but 94

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next is line is Rochester, and the downtown businesses are not waiting passively. In fact, there’s a significant grassroots movement to bootstrap the city into prominence as a center for art, culture, dining and economic vitality. Great bone structure helps, notably the unique and historic Rochester Opera House that hosts touring acts and has its own production company for the stage, plus a new Performance & Arts Center for smaller acts and events. Curlies Comedy Club opened last year in an old Chinese restaurant on Union Street and has gained a rep for its authentic stand-up vibe and the quality of talent it attracts. The Rochester Museum of Fine Art uses the city’s community center and library, plus pop-up galleries

in downtown storefronts to spread culture to the masses. Local individuals were the force behind a new ARTWalk and improved navigational signage for pedestrians that will help connect all the dots on Rochester’s rise.

Podcast After 11 million downloads in 136 countries, “Crime Writers On” has become the industry tastemaker in true crime entertainment.

With their fast-paced humor, intelligent insight and honest reviews, hosts Rebecca Lavoie, Kevin Flynn, Lara Bricker and Toby Ball have broken into iTunes’s Top 10 chart.

The show recently won the Podcast Madness tournament, beating Goliaths like “Criminal,” “S-town” and “This American Life” in headto-head matchups. crimewriterson.com

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Late-night Hot Dog Stand

If you loved playing in a sandbox, you’ve probably gazed at a bulldozer moving earth around at a construction site and taken at least a few moments to consider a job change. The Heavy Construction Academy in Brentwood wants you to think a little harder about that. They offer six-week courses spanning every big-boy toy you could imagine, from excavators to front-end loaders, and the lessons and exams take place, for the most part, in a 12-acre sandbox. The program is popular with veterans and others looking to change or rethink their careers. operator-academy.com

this & that

Body Art Underworld Tattoo Company of Salem has an otherworldy approach to its applications of permanent ink to human skin.

Artist Tyler Malek takes the “art” in body art as a serious challenge and adorns spots, limbs or entire bodies with his visions in startling color or elaborate schemes and patterns of black.

His tattoos seem to burst off the bearer with a life of their own. Mind-blowing scenes from anime, film, myth and fantasy are all in his inventory, and with Underworld Tattoo Company, not even the sky is the limit.

Bring your dreams in your head and walk out with them on your skin. Find them on Facebook.

make-it labs photo by susan laughlin; courtesy photos

General Store The Brick Store in Bath calls itself “America’s Oldest General Store” and while such claims rarely go unchallenged, they’ve been in business since around 1790. But it’s what’s new here that really makes it worth a visit. The owner’s recent upgrades added period lights and fans, a new boardwalk (with hand-cut square nails for authenticity), a new stone wall and stone benches, an outdoor antique clock and a real Civil War cannon. With their own smokehouse for meats and cheeses and a newly opened ice cream shop, the old Brick Store has become a hot new attraction. thebrickstore.com

P R E S E N T S

Maker Space MakeIt Labs on Court Street in Nashua is the first “community workshop” in the Granite State, and it’s the biggest and best-equipped with both hardware and know-how. The proximity to the Boston tech bubble and Nashua’s own engineering history ensures that there will always be old hands and newbies around to see what you can do with an electronics and computer lab, plus wood and machine shops, welding and fabrication equipment, an automotive garage and rapid prototyping area, all operated by avid volunteer makers. The functioning R2D2 (minus holographic projector and space jets) pictured above was built there. makeitlabs.com

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603 Living

“Only spread a fern-frond over a man’s head and worldly cares are cast out, and freedom and beauty and peace come in.” – John Muir

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Health 98 How To 100 Local Dish 102 Events 104 Dine Out 116 Ayuh 120

Serenity Now

Combining yoga and nature

Yogiventure founder and director Traci Wolfe

There’s no doubt that most of us could benefit from putting down our phones, switching off the news and taking time to check in with ourselves. In other words, practicing mindfulness (see even more about the importance of mindfulness in “Health” on page 98). But how? For Traci Wolfe at the White Mountains-based Yogiventure, one answer is the combination of two things she loves — yoga and hiking.

Wolfe, a model and actress best-known for her role in the “Lethal Weapon” films, is the founder and director of Yogiventure, offering custom guided hikes, adventures and retreats, all of which include yoga instruction, meditation and more.

When Wolfe discovered her passion for yoga, she trained and graduated from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Combining her new skills with hiking seemed like a perfect fit.

“My hikes were meditative,” she says.

“They gave me a chance to reflect, to notice what I wanted to change in my life.”

Most of us likely recognize the restorative, peaceful feeling just being out in nature can bring. Taking that inherent positive quality of the great outdoors and combining it with yoga and meditation instruction is a surefire way to lessen stress.

To start planning a corporate retreat, bridal shower, team-building exercise, girls’ getaway or other event, visit yogiventure. com or call (717) 585-0130​. nhmagazine.com | July 2018

97

HEALTH

Focus on the Now

Live in the moment for better health

BY KAREN A. JAMROG

W

e live in an era of nonstop stimulation, when information and tempting distractions foist themselves upon us at every opportunity.

Staying on task can be a pretty tall order when you know that something potentially interesting and easier on your brain is just a click away.

As if wreaking havoc with our productivity isn’t bad enough, a plugged-in lifestyle can also take a toll on our health. “There are numerous studies now that have shown the negative impacts of electronics on our physical and emotional health,” says Matthew M. Hand, DO, a pediatric nephrologist and integrative medicine specialist at Elliot Hospital. “I don’t think this is even really up for questioning anymore — the effects that [heavy electronics use] has on depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder,” Hand says. “Those of us who practice, we know that this happens — we see it every day.”

One way to counteract the effects of a typical 21st-century existence is to live

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more mindfully. Mindfulness means being mentally present in the moment and the environment you are in at any given time.

Unfortunately, being mindful does not come naturally for most of us. Within a mere minute or two, our thoughts can nimbly jump hither and yon, from today’s to-do list, to wondering what to make for dinner, worrying about an upcoming meeting and realizing we’re overdue for a checkup at the dentist.

“The reality is, our mind is rarely in the moment,” Hand says. “[It] is rarely in the moment and in the now, aware of the sights and sounds, and how our body feels and why our body feels a certain way. What we smell, what we sense — mindfulness is being aware of all of those things.”

The concept of mindfulness dates back thousands of years, but it has seen a resurgence in recent times, possibly due to concerns surrounding the ubiquitous electronics in our lives. Today’s researchers have proven that mindfulness can reduce stress hormone levels, and that regular practice of mindful-

ness can even physically alter the brain by shrinking the amygdala, a part of the brain related to emotional processing and the “fight-or-flight” response, while thickening the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with higher thinking and reasoning.

“There are true physiologic changes that can happen when people learn to deal with a stressful situation in a different way than they used to,” says Mary A. Danca, MD, an OB/GYN at Concord Hospital Family Health Center. “No one can erase the stress from your life, but you can learn to approach it differently.” Mindfulness enables you to “see stress for what it is,” Danca says, and betters the chance that rather than reacting to stress in your habitual way, you will consider more measured and thoughtful responses.

As an example, Danca says, let’s say you’re in a hurry and stuck in a long line at the bank, and just as your turn is drawing near, a patron in front of you — who clearly is not in a rush — plops a bag of pennies on the counter and starts to chat with the teller. You feel your aggravation increase from a simmer to a boil, but mindfulness can help you recognize your reaction to the stress, and remind you to breathe deeply, calm down and consider your options, such as leaving the bank to complete other errands rather than continuing to stand by, frustrated and angry, while your stress hormones run amok.

With mindfulness training, the prefrontal cortex doesn’t just increase in size, it can become more active, Danca explains, and is “what we turn to first instead of just using the immediate fight-or-flight part of the brain.”

So calming ourselves in situations like the one at the bank might come a bit more easily.

But being mindful doesn’t just help us feel better and perhaps make us more pleasant to be around, it benefits us physically by reducing our risk of disease. Stress triggers inflammation in the body, and contributes to “the vast majority” of acute and chronic illnesses, Hand says, including heart disease, panic attacks, headaches, abdominal pain, rheumatological conditions and diabetes.

“Mindfulness-based training lowers that stress response,” Hand says, “and if you lower the stress response, you can lower the inflammatory response, and the two together lead to an overall improvement in most conditions.” Not only does mindfulness help alleviate many health problems, such as high blood pressure, stress, inflammation, anxiety and chronic pain, “importantly,” Hand says, “it improves your overall quality of life.”

illustration by gloria diianni

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“I have rarely seen a patient who didn’t benefit from some kind of mindfulness or mind-body therapy,” Hand says. But it takes practice. The best approach for beginners, he says, is to gradually work up to a mindfulness practice session of 10 minutes per day. How you choose to be mindful is up to you; whether you meditate for 10 minutes, do yoga, tai chi or gentle walking with breathing, if you are mindful while you do it, “you will start seeing the benefit,” Hand says. “But it can take two to eight weeks to see a response, so you have to be patient.”

In case you’re wondering, Hand and Danca don’t just talk the talk — each regularly practices mindfulness. Danca says her ability to be mindful benefits her patients as well as herself. When she goes into an exam room with a patient, “they can feel that I’m there with them,” she says.

“I’m not back with the patient I saw before them or worried about the person I’m going to see after them or [wondering if I am] going to get to lunch on time. When I can bring my full presence to the exam room with that patient, that’s where the gold is for me.” NH

How do I do it?

The Buddhists of ancient times might not have envisioned this (then again, who knows), but today’s approaches to mindfulness via yoga run the gamut, from gentle yoga to athletic yoga and yoga with beer.

Somewhat ironically, you can even enlist mindfulness help from electronic reminders and programs.

Some of the newer twists on yoga, such as laughing yoga or moving through yoga poses while bunnies or baby goats hop nearby (or on your back) sound great for relieving stress, but some question how effective they are as paths to mindfulness. Certainly such approaches are a world away from what we think of as traditional, quiet meditation.

“But you can make any activity mindful,” says Mary A. Danca, MD, an OB/GYN at Concord Hospital Family Health Center. “You can make brushing your teeth mindful. It’s a matter of focusing on what’s happening right now. If you can just focus on the feeling and the fun and the laughter of having the goat on you, that’s fine. If you’re so excited about it, you feel you’ve got to text your friend … then you’re kind of losing focus.”

Regardless of the specific method you use

to practice mindfulness, give yourself time to get the hang of intently focusing the brain.

“Everybody gets a little frustrated because they think they have to sit and meditate for 20 minutes,” says Matthew M. Hand, DO, a pediatric nephrologist and integrative medicine specialist at Elliot Hospital, “and quite honestly, for most people, that’s, if not impossible, really hard to do.” Beginners might want to start, Hand says, with a daily three-minute mindfulness session, gradually increasing to 10 minutes of mindfulness practice per day.

Helpfully, many of the available apps that can guide you through mindfulness practice are designed so that users don’t have to commit to long mindfulness sessions if they don’t want to.

“They help teach you how to meditate in very short little chunks,” Danca says. “You don’t have to be a yogi on a mountain for hours and hours of meditation to get a benefit.”

With practice, mindfulness can become a habit that stays with you throughout each day. If that seems like an impossible goal, remember that “we know how to be mindful,” Danca says. “I’ll bet you have a hobby or a liking or a child or a pet that you can be completely there for at times when you are nowhere else [mentally] but with that activity or that person. That’s mindfulness.”

10 years of great beer & fine food.

September 15, 2018

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DINE OUT

Good Eats OUR GUIDE TO FINE DINING

There’s always something happening at the Bedford Village Inn. And in summer, dining on the patio is not to be missed — especially when oysters are $1 from Monday to Wednesday. On Thursdays through Labor Day, listen to live acoustic music al fresco too. The patio opens for dinner nightly, lunch on weekdays and brunch/breakfast on weekends. Special events inside this summer include a Beer vs. Whiskey Rivalry dinner featuring Founders Brewing Company beer and Cleveland Whiskey.

Executive Chef Tina Verville will be preparing a special menu and you will decide the winner. $80, reservations required.

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Bedford Village Inn 2 Olde Bedford Way Bedford bedfordvillageinn.com (800) 852-1166

photo by susan laughlin

Summer on the Patio

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DINE OUT

Our restaurant listings include Best of NH winners and advertisers along with others compiled by the New Hampshire Magazine editorial department. Listings are subject to change from month to month based on space availability. Expanded and highlighted listings denote advertisers. For additional and more detailed listings, visit nhmagazine.com.

H Best of NH

$ Entrées cost less than $12 B Breakfast H Best of NH L Lunch 2018 Reader’s Poll D Dinner $$$$ Entrées cost b Brunch more than $25 $$$ Entrées cost between ( Reservations recom2018 Editor’s Picks

$18 and $25

mended

$$ Entrées cost between

New – Open for one year or less

$12 and $18

MERRIMACK VALLEY 900 Degrees H

PIZZERIA 24 Calef Hwy., Brickyard Sq., Epping; (603) 734-2809; 50 Dow St., Manchester; (603) 641-0900; 2484 Lafayette Rd. Portsmouth (new location ); 900degrees.com — Specializes in excellent wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza. $–$$$ L D

Barley House Restaurant H

ua; (603) 889-2022; 799 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-2022; fratellos. com; $–$$ L D

Giorgio’s Ristorante

MEDITERRANEAN 707 Milford Rd., Merrimack; (603) 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford; (603) 673-3939; 270 Granite St., Manchester; (603) 2323323; giorgios.com; $$–$$$ L D (

Granite Restaurant

NEW AMERICAN 96 Pleasant St., Concord; (603) 227-9000; graniterestaurant.com; $$–$$$$ B L D b (

Grill 603

AMERICAN 168 Elm St., Milford; (603) 213-6764; grill603.com; $–$$$ L D b

Gyro Spot

GREEK 1037 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 218-3869; 421 Central Ave., Dover; (603) 343-4553; thegyrospot. com; $ L D New Dover location

Hanover St. Chophouse H

STEAKHOUSE 149 Hanover Street, Manchester; (603) 644-2467; hanoverstreetchophouse.com; $$$–$$$$ L D (

Matbah Mediterranean Cuisine

MEDITERRANEAN 866 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 232-4066; matbahcuisine.com; $ L D

Mediterrano H

TAVERN/AMERICAN 132 North Main St., Concord; (603) 228-6363; 43 Lafayette Rd., N. Hampton; (603) 3799161; thebarleyhouse.com; $–$$ L D

TURKISH/MEDITERRANEAN 24 Henniker St., Hillsborough; (603) 680-4319; mediterranoo.com $ L D

The Birch on Elm

Mr. Mac’s H

NEW AMERICAN/TAPAS 931 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 782-5365; Facebook; $–$$ L D

Bonfire Country Bar H

AMERICAN 950 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 217-5600; bonfire.country — Happy hour (with free bacon) is a great way to experience this fun bar with a country theme. $ L D

Buckley’s Great Steaks

STEAKHOUSE 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack; (603) 424-0995; buckleysgreatsteaks.com; $–$$$$ D (

Cactus Jack’s

MEXICAN 782 S Willow St., Manchester; (603) 627-8600; 1182 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-7800; cjsgreatwestgrill.com — All of your favorite dishes are here served in a casual, family atmosphere.

The Cooper Door H

NEW AMERICAN 15 Leavy Dr., Bedford; (603) 488-2677; 41 S Broadway, Salem; (603) 458-2033 (new location); copperdoorrestaurant.com — Stylish, yet comfortable dining with approachable and upscale comfort food. $$–$$$ L D (

Cotton H

AMERICAN 75 Arms St., Manchester; (603) 622-5488; cottonfood.com; $$–$$$$ L D (

Cucina Toscana

ITALIAN 427 Amherst St., Nashua; (603) 821-7356; cucinatoscananashua.com; $ L D (

The Foundry

AMERICAN/FARM-TO-TABLE 50 Commercial St., Manchester; (603) 8361925; foundrynh.com; $$-$$$ D b

Fratello’s Italian Grille H

ITALIAN 155 Dow St., Manchester; (603) 624-2022; 194 Main St., Nash-

MAC AND CHEESE 497 Hooksett Rd., Manchester; (603) 606-1760; 2600 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 380-7916; mr-macs.com — Gourmet macaroni and cheese is made your way. $ L D

MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar

AMERICAN 212 Main St., Nashua; (603) 595-9334; mtslocal.com; $–$$$ L D

New England’s Tap House Grille H

TAVERN 1292 Hooksett Rd., Hooksett; (603) 782-5137; taphousenh.com — Elevated classic tavern fare, and be sure that you don’t miss the excellent poutine. The large draft list offers a number of local New Hampshire beers plus other favorites. $–$$ L D b

O Steaks & Seafood H

STEAKHOUSE/SEAFOOD 11 South Main St., Concord; (603) 856-7925; 62 Doris Ray Court, Lakeport; (603) 524-9373; magicfoodsrestaurantgroup.com; $$–$$$ L D

Republic H

MEDITERRANEAN 1069 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 666-3723; republiccafe.com; $–$$$ L D

Revival Kitchen & Bar H

AMERICAN 11 Depot St., Concord; (603) 715-5723; revivalkitchennh.com — Upscale yet approachable twists on New England classics with seasonal, local ingredients. $$–$$$ D (

Stella Blu

TAPAS 70 East Pearl St., Nashua; (603) 578-5557; stellablu-nh.com; $$–$$$ D

Surf Restaurant H

SEAFOOD 207 Main St., Nashua; (603) 595-9293; 99 Bow St., Portsmouth; (603) 334-9855; surfseafood. com; $$–$$$$ D b

T-BONES

AMERICAN/STEAK 25 South River Rd., Bedford; (603) 641-6100; 39 Crystal Ave., Derry; (603) 434-3200; 77 Lowell Rd., Hudson; (603) 882-6677; 1182 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-7800; 311 S Broadway, Salem; (603) 8933444 — Casual, family-friendly dining with everything from seafood and vegetarian dishes to steaks and burgers. $-$$ L D

Taco Beyondo H

MEXICAN 53 Henniker St., Hillsborough; (603) 464-5986; tacobeyondo. com; $ L D

Taj India

INDIAN 967 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 606-2677; 47 E. Pearl St., Nashua; (603) 864-8586; tajindia.co; $–$$ L D

Tuscan Kitchen H

ITALIAN 67 Main St., Salem; (603) 952-4875; 581 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 570-3600; tuscan-kitchen.com; $$–$$$ L D b

Villaggio Ristorante

ITALIAN 677 Hooksett Rd., Manchester; (603) 627-2424; villaggionh.com; $–$$ L D (

Weathervane H

SEAFOOD 174 DW Hwy., Nashua; (603) 891-1776; 379 Dover Rd., Chichester; (603) 225-4044; 2 Dover Point Rd., Dover; (603) 749-2341; Weathervane Drive West Lebanon; (603) 298-7805; weathervaneseafoods.com — Find all of your favorite seafood dishes from clam chowder and fried fare to the classic lobster bake dinner. $–$$$ L D

SEACOAST

900 Degrees H

PIZZERIA 24 Calef Hwy., Brickyard Sq., Epping; (603) 734-2809; 50 Dow St., Manchester; (603) 6410900; 2484 Lafayette Rd. Portsmouth (new location ); 900degrees.com — Specializes in excellent wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza. $–$$$ L D

7th Settlement

BREW PUB 47 Washington St., Dover; (603) 373-1001; 7thsettlement. com; $–$$ L D

Black Trumpet Bistro

INTERNATIONAL 29 Ceres St., Portsmouth; (603) 431-0887; blacktrumpetbistro.com; $$–$$$$ D (

Carriage House H

AMERICAN 2263 Ocean Blvd., Rye; (603) 964-8251; carriagehouserye. com; $$-$$$ D (

CAVA

TAPAS 10 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth; (603) 319-1575; cavatapasandwinebar.com; $–$$$ L D

Chapel+Main H

NEW AMERICAN 83 Main St., Dover; (603) 842-5170; chapelandmain. com; $$–$$$ D (

CR’s the Restaurant

AMERICAN 287 Exeter Rd., Hampton; (603) 929-7972; crstherestaurant. com; $$-$$$ L D (

Cure

NEW AMERICAN 189 State St., Portsmouth; (603) 427-8258; curerestaurantportsmouth.com; $$-$$$ L D (

Durbar Square Restaurant

NEPALESE/HIMALAYAN 10 Market St., Portsmouth; (603) 294-0107; durbarsquarerestaurant.com $-$$ L D (

Ember Wood Fired Grill

AMERICAN 1 Orchard St., Dover; (603) 343-1830; emberwfg.com; $$$$$ D b (

Epoch

NEW AMERICAN 2 Pine St., Exeter; (603) 772-5901; theexeterinn.com; $$$–$$$$ B L D b (

Franklin Oyster House

SEAFOOD 148 Fleet St., Portsmouth; (603) 373-8500; franklinoysterhouse. com; $-$$$ D

Green Elephant H

VEGETARIAN 35 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth; (603) 427-8344; greenelephantnh.com; $–$$ L D

Gyro Spot

GREEK 1037 Elm St., Manchester; (603) 218-3869; 421 Central Ave., Dover; (603) 343-4553; thegyrospot. com; $ L D New Dover location

Hop + grind H

BURGERS 17 Madbury Rd., Durham; (603) 244-2431; hopandgrind.com; $–$$ L D

Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café

SEAFOOD 150 Congress St., Portsmouth; (603) 766-3474; jumpinjays. com; $$$–$$$$ D (

La Festa Brick and Brew Pizzeria H

PIZZERIA 300 Central Ave., Dover; (603) 743-4100; lafestabrickandbrew.com; $–$$ L D

La Maison Navarre H

CAFÉ 121 Congress St., Portsmouth; (603) 373-8401; mnpastry.com; $ B L D

Laney & Lu Café H

VEGETARIAN & VEGAN/CAFÉ 26 Water St., Exeter; (603) 580-4952; laneyandlu.com; $–$$ B L D

Lobster Q H

SEAFOOD/BBQ 416 Emerson Ave., Hampstead; (603) 329-4094; lobsterq.com; $–$$$ L D (

Mr. Mac’s H

MAC AND CHEESE 497 Hooksett Rd., Manchester; (603) 606-1760; 2600 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 380-7916; mr-macs.com — Gourmet macaroni and cheese is made your way from a large selection of add-ins and cheeses. $ L D

Moxy

TAPAS 106 Penhallow St., Portsmouth; (603) 319-8178; moxyrestaurant.com; $$–$$$ D (

Nibblesworth Wood Fire Grill

NEW AMERICAN 409 The Hill, Portsmouth; (603)427-8022; nibblesworth.com; $$–$$$ L D

Otis

AMERICAN 4 Front St., Exeter; (603) 580-1705; otisrestaurant.com; $$–$$$ D

Revolution Taproom and Grill

GASTRO PUB 61 North Main St., Rochester; (603) 244-3022; revolutiontaproomandgrill.com — Choose from a nice collection of varied small plates such as patatas Africa or beer battered pickles, sandwiches, burgers and main dishes that range from fish

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603 LIVING and chips to paella. Beer lovers will find a nice selection. $-$$ L D

Ristorante Massimo

ITALIAN 59 Penhallow St., Portsmouth; (603) 436-4000; ristorantemassimo.com; $$-$$$ D (

Row 34

SEAFOOD 5 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth; (603) 319-5011; row34nh. com; $-$$$ L D b (

Shio H

JAPANESE 2454 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 319-1638; shiorestaurant.com; $-$$ L D

Sonny’s Tavern

NEW AMERCAN 328 Central Ave., Dover; (603) 343-4332; sonnystaverndover.com; $–$$ D b

Street

INTERNATIONAL 801 Islington St., Portsmouth; (603) 436-0860; Streetfood360.com; $ L D b

STREET’za H

PIZZA 801 Islington St., Portsmouth; (603) 431-7500; streetza360.com; $–$$ L D

Surf Seafood H

SEAFOOD 99 Bow St., Portsmouth; (603) 334-9855; surfseafood.com; $$–$$$$ D

Tuscan Kitchen H

ITALIAN 67 Main St., Salem; (603) 952-4875; 581 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 570-3600; tuscan-kitchen.com; $$–$$$ L D b New location open in Portsmouth.

Vida Cantina

MEXICAN 2456 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth; (603) 501-0648; vidacantinanh.com; $–$$ L D

Weathervane H

DINE OUT

AMERICAN 202 Pitman Rd., Center Barnstead; (603) 269-4151; crystalquail.com; $$$–$$$$ D (

Fireworks

ITALIAN/PIZZERIA 22 Main St., Keene; (603) 903-1410; fireworksrestaurant.net; $–$$ D (

DARTMOUTH/ LAKE SUNAPEE

Fratello’s Italian Grille H

Fox Tavern at the Hancock Inn

NEPALESE 3 Lebanon St., Hanover; (603) 643-2007; basecampcafenh. com; $-$$ L D

The Grove

Bistro Nouveau

Crystal Quail

ITALIAN 155 Dow St., Manchester; (603) 624-2022; 194 Main St., Nashua; (603) 889-2022; 799 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-2022; fratellos. com; $–$$ L D

Kathleen’s Cottage

IRISH PUB 90 Lake St., Bristol; (603) 744-6336; kathleenscottagenh.com; $–$$ L D

Lemongrass

ASIAN 64 Whittier Hwy., Moultonborough; (603) 253-8100; lemongrassnh.net; $–$$ L D

Local Eatery

FARM-TO-TABLE 21 Veterans Sq., Laconia; (603) 527-8007; laconialocaleatery.com; $–$$ D (

TAVERN 33 Main St., Hancock; (603) 525-3318; hancockinn.com $-$$$ L D ( AMERICAN 247 Woodbound Rd., Rindge; (603) 532-4949; woodbound.com; $$–$$$ B L D b (

Lee & Mt. Fuji

ASIAN 50 Jaffrey Rd., Peterborough; (603) 626-7773; leeandmtfujiatboilerhouse.com; 314 Main St., Marlborough; (603) 876-3388; leeandmtfuji. com; $–$$ L D (

Luca’s Mediterranean Café

MEDITERRANEAN 10 Central Sq., Keene; (603) 358-3335; lucascafe. com; $$–$$$ L D (

Marzano’s Trattoria

Cactus Jack’s

MEXICAN 782 S Willow St., Manchester; (603) 627-8600; 1182 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-7800; cjsgreatwestgrill.com — All of your favorite dishes are here served in a casual, family atmosphere.

Corner House Inn Restaurant

AMERICAN 22 Main St., Center Sandwich; (603) 284-6219; cornerhouseinn.com $$ L D b (

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Coach House

Nicola’s Trattoria

Flying Goose Brew Pub H

AMERICAN 128 Lee Rd., Moultonborough; (603) 476-2700; newwoodshed.com; $–$$$ D

O Bistro at the Inn on Main

AMERICAN 200 North Main St., Wolfeboro; (603) 515-1003; innnewhampshire.com/our-bistro; $$–$$$ D

O Steaks & Seafood H

STEAKHOUSE/SEAFOOD 11 South Main St., Concord; (603) 856-7925; 62 Doris Ray Court, Lakeport; (603) 524-9373; magicfoodsrestaurantgroup.com; $$–$$$ L D

T-BONES

The Old Courthouse H

NEW AMERICAN 30 Main St., Newport; (603) 863-8360; eatatthecourthouse.com; $$–$$$ L D b (

Papagallos Restaurant

ITALIAN/MEDITERRANEAN 9 Monadnock Hwy., Keene; (603) 3529400; papagallos.com; $–$$ L D (

Pearl Restaurant & Oyster Bar H

ASIAN 1 Jaffrey Rd., Peterbrough; (603) 924-5225; pearl-peterborough.com $$–$$$ D (

Pickity Place

Piedra Fina

BREWPUB/TAVERN 96 Lehner St., Wolfeboro; (603) 630-4186; burnttimbertavern.com; $–$$ L (Sat only) D

AMERICAN 27 South Main St., Hanover; (603) 643-9660; canoeclub. us; $–$$ L D (

ITALIAN 51 Railroad St., Keene; (603) 355-5242; Facebook; $$$–$$$$ D

Tavern 27

Burnt Timber Tavern H

Canoe Club Bistro

The New Woodshed

ITALIAN/AMERICAN 96 Lehner St., Wolfeboro; (603) 569-5788; miseenplacenh.com; $$-$$$$ L D (

The Wellington Room

AMERICAN 51 Mill St., Wolfeboro; (603) 894-4361; baysidegrillandtavern.com; $–$$ L D

TAPAS 15 Lebanon St., Hanover; (603) 277-9094; candelatapas.com; $$-$$$ D (

AMERICAN 353 Main St., New London; (603) 526-2791; thenewlondoninn.com/the-coach-houserestaurant;$ $–$$$$ D (

LUNCH 248 Nutting Hill Rd., Mason; (603) 878-1151; pickityplace.com — A historic and lovely place to lunch.

Fresh, local ingredients are used, including herbs from the onsite gardens. There are only three seatings offered at 11:30 a.m., 12:40 p.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are required. $$ L (

Bayside Grill and Tavern

Candela Tapas Lounge H

ITALIAN 6 School St., Peterborough; (603) 924-3636; marzanostrattoria. com; $–$$ L D (

AMERICAN/STEAK 25 South River Rd., Bedford; (603) 641-6100; 39 Crystal Ave., Derry; (603) 434-3200; 77 Lowell Rd., Hudson; (603) 882-6677; 1182 Union Ave., Laconia; (603) 528-7800; 311 S Broadway, Salem; (603) 8933444 — Casual, family-friendly dining with everything from seafood and vegetarian dishes to steaks and burgers. $-$$ L D

LAKES

AMERICAN The Center at Eastman, 6 Clubhouse Lane, Grantham; (603) 863-8000; bistronouveau.com; $–$$$$ L D (

Mise en Place

SEAFOOD 174 DW Hwy., Nashua; (603) 891-1776; 379 Dover Rd., Chichester; (603) 225-4044; 2 Dover Point Rd., Dover; (603) 749-2341; Weathervane Drive West Lebanon; (603) 298-7805; weathervaneseafoods.com — Find all of your favorite seafood dishes from clam chowder and fried fare to the classic lobster bake dinner. $–$$$ L D NEW AMERICAN 67 Bow St., Portsmouth; (603) 431-2989; thewellingtonroom.com; $$$–$$$$ D (

Base Camp Café

TAPAS/PIZZA 2075 Parade Rd., Laconia; (603) 528-3057; tavern27. com; $–$$ L D (

LATIN 288 Main St., Marlborough; (603) 876-5012; piedrafina.com; $–$$ L D (

Wolfe’s Tavern

FRENCH 47 Main Street, Walpole; (603) 756-9058; burdickchocolate. com; $–$$$ L D b (

NEW ENGLAND TAVERN 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro; (603) 569-3016; wolfestavern.com; $$–$$$ B L D b (

Restaurant at Burdick’s

The Spice Chambers

MONADNOCK

INDIAN 31 Winter St., Keene; (603) 3529007; spicechambers.com; $-$$ L D (

ITALIAN 1 Jaffrey Rd., Peterborough; (603) 924-6633; bantam-peterborough.com; $$–$$$ D (

AMERICAN 30 Central Sq., Keene; (603) 357-8389; thestagerestaurant. com; $-$$ L D

Bellows Walpole Inn Pub

Thorndike’s & Parson’s Pub

Bantam Grill

INTERNATIONAL/AMERICAN 297 Main St., Walpole; (603) 756-3320; bellowswalpoleinn.com; $$ L D (

Del Rossi’s Trattoria

ITALIAN Rte. 137, Dublin; (603) 5637195; delrossis.com $$–$$$ D (

Elm City Brewing H

BREW PUB 222 West St., Keene; (603) 355-3335; elmcitybrewing.com; $–$$$ L D

The Stage H

AMERICAN/PUB The Monadnock Inn, 379 Main St., Jaffrey; (603) 532-7800; monadnockinn.com; $–$$$ D (

Waterhouse

AMERICAN 18 Water St., Peterborough; (603) 924-4001; waterhousenh.com; $-$$$ L D b (

BREW PUB 40 Andover Rd., New London; (603) 526-6899; flyinggoose.com;. $–$$ L D

Inn at Pleasant Lake H

PRIX FIXE 853 Pleasant St., New London; (603) 526-6271; innatpleasantlake.com; $58 D (

Latham House Tavern

TAVERN 9 Main St., Lyme; (603) 795-9995; lathamhousetavern.com $–$$ L D

Lou’s Restaurant H

AMERICAN 30 South Main St., Hanover; (603) 643-3321; lousrestaurant.net; $-$$ B L D

Market Table

FARM-TO-TABLE 44 Main St., Hanover; (603) 676-7996; markettablenh.com; $–$$ B L D b

Millstone at 74 Main

AMERICAN 74 Newport Rd., New London; (603) 526-4201; 74mainrestaurant.com; $–$$ L D b

Molly’s Restaurant H

AMERICAN 11 South Main St., Hanover; (603) 643-4075; mollysrestaurant.com; $$–$$$ L D b (

Murphy’s

AMERICAN 11 South Main St., Hanover; (603) 643-4075; murphysonthegreen.com; $$–$$$ L D b (

Peyton Place

AMERICAN 454 Main St., Orford; (603) 353-9100; peytonplacerestaurant.com; $$ D (

Phnom Penh Sandwich Station

VIETNAMESE 1 High St., Lebanon; (603) 678-8179; phnompenhsandwiches.com; $-$$ L D

PINE at the Hanover Inn H

AMERICAN 2 South Main St., Hanover; (603) 643-4300; hanoverinn. com/dining.aspx; $$$–$$$$ B L D b (

Revolution Cantina H

CUBAN AND MEXICAN 38 Opera House Square, Claremont; (603) 504-6310; Facebook; $-$$ L D b

603 LIVING

DINE OUT

Stella’s Italian Kitchen

ITALIAN 5 Main St., Lyme; (603) 7954302; stellaslyme.com; $–$$ L D

Suna

AMERICAN 6 Brook Rd., Sunapee; (603) 843-8998; magicfoodsrestaurantgroup.com; $$–$$$ D (

Taverne on the Square

AMERICAN 2 Pleasant St., Claremont; (603) 287-4416; claremonttaverne. com; $–$$$ L D

Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine

THAI 5 S. Main St., Hanover; (603) 2779192; tuktukthaicuisine.com; $–$$ L D (

Weathervane H

SEAFOOD 174 DW Hwy., Nashua; (603) 891-1776; 379 Dover Rd., Chichester; (603) 225-4044; 2 Dover Point Rd., Dover; (603) 749-2341; Weathervane Drive West Lebanon; (603) 298-7805; weathervaneseafoods.com — Find all of your favorite seafood dishes from clam chowder and fried fare to the classic lobster bake dinner. $–$$$ L D

NEW AMERICAN 115 Main Street on Rte. 2, Gorham; (603) 466-5330; libbysbistro.org; $$–$$$ L D (

The Little Grille

Margarita Grill

MEXICAN Rte. 302, Glen; (603) 3836556; margaritagrillnh.com; $–$$ L D

May Kelly’s Cottage

IRISH PUB 3002 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway; (603) 3567005; Julykellys.com; $–$$ L D (

Moat Mountain Smokehouse H

BREW PUB 3378 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway; (603) 356-6381; moatmountain.com; $–$$ L D (

One Love Brewery

BREW PUB 25 South Mountain Dr., Lincoln; (603) 745-7290; onelovebrewery.coml $–$$ L D

Rainbow Grille & Tavern H

AMERICAN 106 Main St., Littleton; (603) 444-7717; bailiwicksfinerestaurant.com; $-$$$ L D (

The Beal House Inn

Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub

Bailiwicks

PUB 2 W. Main St., Littleton; (603) 4442661; thebealhouseinn.com; $$-$$$ D

STEAKHOUSE 3 Station St., Glen; (603) 383-4344; redparkapub.com; $–$$ L D

Black Cap Grill

Rustic River

PUB 1498 White Mt. Hwy., North Conway; (603) 356-2225; blackcapgrille. com; $-$$ L D

AMERICAN 5 Main St., North Woodstock; (603) 745-2110; rusticriverrestaurant.com; $-$$ L D

The Burg H

Schilling Beer Co.

PIZZA 8 Back Lake Rd,. Pittsburg; (603) 538-7400; Facebook; $ D

Chang Thai Café

THAI 77 Main St., Littleton; (603) 444-8810; changthaicafe.com — Find authentic Thai dishes at this upscale, yet comfortable restaurant.

The house specials are a great place to start. $-$$ L D

Chef’s Bistro

NEW AMERICAN 2724 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway; (603) 3564747; chefsbistronh.com; $-$$ L D

Delaney’s Hole in the Wall

AMERICAN/ASIAN 2966 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway; (603) 356-7776; delaneys.com; $–$$ L D

Gypsy Café H

INTERNATIONAL 111 Main St., Lincoln; (603) 745-4395; gypsycaferestaurant.com; $–$$ L D

Horse & Hound Inn

AMERICAN/TAVERN 205 Wells Rd., Franconia; (603) 823-5501; horseandhoundnh.com; $$–$$$$ L D (

Inn at Thorn Hill

AMERICAN 40 Thorn Hill Rd., Jackson; (603) 383-4242; innatthornhill. com; $$–$$$$ D (

Jonathon’s Seafood

SEAFOOD/AMERICAN 280 East Side Rd., North Conway; (603) 447-3838; jonathonsseafood.com; $–$$$ L D (

The Last Chair

AMERICAN/BREW PUB 5 Rte. 25,Plymouth; (603) 238-9077; thelastchairnh.com; $-$$ L D

The Original Farm-to-Table

AMERICAN/INTERNATIONAL 62 Cottage St., Littleton; (603) 444-0395; thelittlegrille.com; $–$$ L D

AMERICAN/TAVERN 609 Beach Rd., Pittsburg; (603) 538-9556; rainbowgrille.com — Serving a variety of comfort food from seafood to ribs. The tavern serves appetizers, hearth-baked pizzas and sandwiches. $–$$ D (

NORTH COUNTRY

Pickity Place

Libby’s Bistro & SAaLT Pub

A mecca for foodees gardeners or anyone looking for relaxation and inspiration.

Have a Pickity Day! Menu chAnges Monthly Visit our website to find out what’s cooking this month!

603-878-1151 ❧ Pickityplace.com

BREW PUB 18 Mill St., Littleton; (603) 444-4800; (603) 444-4800; schillingbeer.com; $-$$ L D

Shannon Door Pub

IRISH PUB Rte. 16 and 16A, Jackson; (603) 383-4211; shannondoor.com; $-$$ L D

Shovel Handle Pub

PUB 357 Black Mountain Rd., Jackson; (603) 383-8916; shovelhandlepub.com; $-$$ L D

Six Burner Bistro

AMERICAN 13 South Main St., Plymouth; (603) 536-9099; sixburnerbistro.com; $-$$ L D

us this summer ★ ★ Join on our outdoor patio!

Tony’s Italian Grille & Pub

ITALIAN 3674 Rte. 3, Thornton; (603) 745-3133; $$ L D (

Vito Marcello’s Italian Bistro

ITALIAN 45 Seavey St., North Conway; (603) 356-7000; vitomarcellositalianbistro.com; $$-$$$ D

The Wayside Inn

EUROPEAN 3738 Main St., Bethlehem; (603) 869-3364; thewaysideinn.com; $$–$$$ D (

★ Farm to Table Gastropub ★ 44 Beers on Tap ★ Happy Hour 3-6pm ★ Lounge/Game Room ELINES

TITY GUID

Best of the

D IDEN Seacoast BRAN

1

August 2017

– WINNER –

Woodstock Brewery H

BREW PUB Rte. 3, North Woodstock; (603) 745-3951; woodstockinnnh. com — With a menu that ranges from seafood and steak to linguine with “massive meatballs,” there’s something for all here. Plus, don’t pass up on their beer. $–$$ L

Visit nhmagazine.com/food for more listings around the state.

★ BEST BEER SELECTION ★ TOP 3 ON THE SEACOAST - BEST FARM TO TABLE - BEST BUSINESS LUNCH 61 N. Main St, Rochester NH 603-244-3022 www.revolutiontaproomandgrill.com

COAST THE SEA BEST OFnding Guidelines Bra

2/2017 —

— Updated 08/2

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illustration by brad fitzpatrick

603 LIVING

Mastering the Muggies It may be sweaty, but at least it isn’t winter

BY REBECCA RULE

W

e love New Hampshire summers, short as they are compared to places like Hawaii, Mexico and Connecticut. The joke is, “We usually spend the summer camping. Too bad it rained that weekend.”

Our summers are long compared to places like Siberia, the South Pole and Maine, but never long enough. Better grab it by the flipflops while it lasts. During a good summer, I bag 10-plus sunny days at camp, on or in the water. During a less-good summer, every stinkin’ time I drive up, the clouds come, temperature drops, and I end up playing cards, eating chips-n-dips and drinking cocoa, while the rain pounds the roof. Might’s well be April. Or October.

We love summer and look forward to it with the caveat “I’m complaining about the cold now, but I’ll be complaining about the heat come July.” Except it’s not generally the heat we hate. It’s the muggies. In March, it’s the muddies, in May, the buggies, and in summer, the muggies. With the muddies, drive the high ground. With the buggies, wear a net and douse yourself with bug

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spray. But what to do about the muggies, when the humidity climbs higher than the temperature, and you devolve into a stagnant pool of your own sweat?

When it’s cold, you layer up. But when the muggies set in, there’s only so many layers you can peel down. Take a shower, but soon as you step out, you’re sweating. Dive into the lake, but soon as you emerge, you’re sweating. Head to the ocean, plunk your chair in the waves and move with the tide. Sooner or later, you’ve got to go home — sandy, salty and sweating again. It’s dripping off your nose, dripping into your eyes, oozing from every pit.

Some hunker down by an air conditioner. But true Yankees eschew air conditioners. Heck, you only need one a few days a year, hardly worth the investment. At my house, when the muggies linger, we sleep in the screen house. We pile ice cubes on a cookie sheet and run a fan behind it. At my house, when the muggies linger, knock first or you might find us peeled down further than you’re used to.

But even a muggy summer beats no summer at all, like in 1816, also known as “The

Year Without a Summer” and “Eighteen Hundred and Froze-to-Death.” Snow in June was followed by frosts in July and August.

Gardens had barely sprouted when frost hit ’em where it hurt, smack in the chlorophyll.

A summer that cold doesn’t even qualify.

Nor do you want one that’s root-rot wet or dust-bowl dry. My friend Chuck said the drought a few summers back did his potatoes no good at all.

Fella says, “Your potato crop turn out?”

“No,” Chuck says, “Had to dig ’em.” He elaborates: “Some were the size of golf balls. Some the size of marbles. And then there were the little ones.” At Hannaford, they call small potatoes “gourmet.” Used to call them pig feed.

We love our New Hampshire summers for lots of reasons, even when it’s cold or muggy, even when rains too much for the beach or too little for the potatoes. Mainly we love summer because it ain’t winter. NH Writer Rebecca Rule is the author of a number of books for adults and children. Her latest is “Sixty Years of Cuttin’ the Cheese: Joel Sherborne and Calef ’s Famous Country Store.”