Pittsburg frontier days included a battle for independence.
By Emily Reily
Gov. Barefoote's Brawl
Scott Poteet reflects on the Polaris Dawn flight as he trains for more triathlons.
By Crystal Ward Kent
The return of great white sharks is a story of conservation success. Now, researchers are left to fill in the missing pieces of the East Coast puzzle.
By Elisa Gonzales Verdi, Photography by Brittany Grimes
42 Lakeside Reverie
Set against lake and garden views at The Fells, local boutiques showcase the season's most sun-drenched looks and effortless silhouettes.
Styled by Chloe Barcelou, Photography by Jenn Bakos
54
Best of NH 2026
The results of the annual Best of NH Readers' poll and Editors' picks are your ultimate guide to exploring New Hampshire, from restaurants and resorts to shops and music venues. Compiled by NH Magazine Staff
84 Community
An imaginative Keene venue is mixing arcade nostalgia with local artistry and community building. By Kara McGrath
86 Out and About
Calendar of events
Compiled by Elisa Gonzales Verdi
94 Healthwise
Therapeutic cannabis use climbs in NH as researcher urges caution.
By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks
96 Live Free
The Lure of the Lake Home
By Brion O'Connor
ON THE COVER: We celebrate the 2026 Best of NH winners with a custom-made chocolate bar, photographed on location, at Huckleberry's Candies in Hampton.
Photo by Andrea Leahy, brasstacksphotography.com
Earrings: Crazy lace agate, labradorite, sapphire, pink tourmaline in 22k & 18k gold and fine silver. Pendant: Agate drusy, bi-colored tourmaline, kyanite. Suspended from garnet, labradorite and spinel beads in 22k & 18k gold and fine silver. kalledjewelrystudio.com
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The Best of Everything
A LONG-RUNNING AMUSEMENT among my co-workers at newspapers and magazines over the years has been sneaking song titles into headlines. Last month, I borrowed Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution.”
This time, it’s Tom Petty’s “The Best of Everything,” a song from his “Southern Accents” album and the title of a compilation released in 2018, the year after he died. Petty’s music — “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “American Girl,” — have always said “summer” to me.
This time of year, we’re gathering up the best of everything to celebrate New Hampshire both in the magazine (beginning on page 54) and at the Best of NH Party at Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee on June 25, when many of this year’s winners will be on hand to share samples of their winning food and drink, as chosen by readers and editors.
From perennial reader winners like The Common Man restaurants to Editors' pick Slightly Crooked Pies bakery, this year’s Best of NH winners are a great mix of the old and the new. Explore 16 major headings, including food and dining, fun and adventure, shopping, services and pets and dozens of categories within. Find your favorites, find our favorites — and discover new ones.
Since we borrowed a Tom Petty song, we should give props to former Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, who performs with his band, The Dirty Knobs, at the Portsmouth Music Hall on July 24 (themusichall.org).
Summer Teeth
Oops, I did it again. “Summer Teeth” is the name of one of my favorite Wilco albums. It might have also served as the headline for Assistant Editor Elisa Gonzales Verdi’s seafaring story about shark researchers. Check out “The Great White Coast” on page 32.
Pinball Wizard
My three now-grown still talk about how much fun they had playing vintage arcade games at Funspot on Weirs Beach in Laconia during a visit to their grandparents. Now Monadnock area residents and visitors can experience that tactile thrill at Artcade in Keene, Kara McGrath reports (page 84) on the downtown gathering spot, which includes a new Pokémon pinball game, also offers arts and crafts classes.
Rocketman
Nearly two years after rocketing into space on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn flight, New Hampshire native Scott Poteet reflects on becoming an astronaut at age 50, journeying to the stars and competing in Ironman Triathlons. Check out the “In Their Own Words” Q&A by Crystal Ward Kent (page 24).
If you’re still playing, you’ve picked up my nods to Britney Spears, the Who and Elton John. May your summer — and your summer soundtrack — feature the best of everything.
Andrea Schwanbeck is a Seacoast-based photographer who specializes in wedding, portrait and product photography. She shot this month's cover image at Huckleberry's Candies. Check out more of her work at brasstacksphotography.com.
New Hampshire Magazine fashion editor Chloe Barcelou styled this month's summer fashion feature, "Lakeside Reverie" shot at The Fells in Newbury.
Assistant editor Elisa Gonzales Verdi wrote this month's feature about great white sharks and their relationship with our East Coast waters.
Brittany Grimes currently works as a full-time photographer in southern New Hampshire. She photographed this month's feature, "The Great White Coast."
Don’t Eat Fuzzy Fiddleheads!
The May issue “Navigator” photo of fiddleheads on pages 10 and 11 by photographer Carol Horton prompted a pair of careful readers to issue the following warning: Don’t eat these!
“Edible ostrich fern fiddleheads aren't fuzzy,” Laurie Kaiser of Hinsdale wrote. “They are deep, smooth, glossy green and covered in a light brown ‘paper’ that needs to be removed before boiling. I'm a native New Englander who forages for fiddleheads and happily eats them — well cooked, of course.”
Kaiser directed us to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website for “Facts on Fiddleheads,” which includes a photo of the edible ostrich fern fiddlehead.
“Nearly all ferns have fiddleheads, but not all fiddleheads are edible,” according to a team of Maine researchers. “The ostrich fern fiddleheads are edible, and can be identified by the brown, papery scale-like covering on the uncoiled fern.”
Horton, whose nature photography can be found at carolryderhortonsphotos.com, says she didn’t mean to a cause a fuss over
fiddleheads. In the caption of her photo, she noted her love of fiddleheads came from her mother, who used to pick them in the forest and cook them for dinner.
“I took my photo in good faith! I never knew that some fiddleheads were not edible, but it now appears that the ones in my photo are not,” the Randolph-based photographer said via email.
Reader Claire Scanlon of Manchester said she thought “the fiddlehead photo by Carol Horton is exquisite,” but she wanted to make sure readers know which ones are fit for eating.
“I’ve been eating fiddleheads for close to 70 years. My father would forage for them in the woods of Maine, near where he and my mother grew up,” Scanlon wrote. “My parents would wash them until not a piece of the smooth, brown skin was visible.”
Maine Cooperative Extension recommends fiddlehead fans cook them properly as raw or undercooked fiddleheads can cause foodborne illnesses.
But handled well, fiddleheads are well worth foraging.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE to enter our 3rd Annual Scenic New Hampshire Photo Contest! It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned professional, or a weekend shutterbug — we want to see your shots of the Granite State’s beauty! You have until Monday, June 15 to enter, and have the chance to win a $500 Editor’s Pick Grand Prize, $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place, and a 1-year subscription to New Hampshire Magazine for 3rd place, all winners and honorable mentions. All winners and honorable mentions will also have their winning photograph featured in our August issue, on our website and on our Instagram! Visit nhmagazine.com/ photo-contest to for rules and entry! All photos must be taken in New Hampshire.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT GIVING CREDIT where credit’s due, and right now that pertains to our March/April 2026 issue. Amanda Reid, founder of Boston-based interior design firm, Mandarina Studio, was the interior designer on the home whose kitchen was on the cover, and we wanted to give her a proper shoutout here. This Amherst project was a beautiful representation of her work that focuses on refined residential interiors shaped by proportion, materiality and continuity. mandarinastudio.com
Spot FOUR newts like the one here, hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a gift certificate for $50 to use at The Common Man Restaurants. Each month’s gift card will be different, which adds to the overall Newt fun. Let the hunt begin!
To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name, email address and mailing address to: Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101
You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com.
Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is John Ballard of Dover. June issue newts were on pages 21, 85 and 93. (Newt No. 4 jumped off the page again!)
Out On the Water
“It was a beautiful day in Exeter — the sun was out and the sky quite blue with a smattering of white clouds. I was quite taken with the way that the clouds were reflected on the water, and the two people on paddle boards provided another focal point that, along with the clouds on the water, were far more interesting to me than the buildings in the distance. It was a pivotal day, the end of July and the sense of summer beginning to end, as August loomed ahead and with it, the prospect of autumn.”
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH TRAGASH
Republic of Indian Stream
Pittsburg’s frontier days included a battle for independence
BY EMILY REILY / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN
With its miles of trails, waterways, campsites, cozy lakeside cabins and peaceful vistas, the town of Pittsburg really does have it all — including an origin tale rooted in New Hampshire’s independent spirit.
At roughly 281 square miles, it’s also the largest New Hampshire town by area, with a population hovering around 730. It’s the only New Hampshire town that borders Quebec, Canada, and the only New Hampshire town fully north of the 45th parallel.
Here, in the Great North Woods, you’re halfway between the equator and the North Pole. And if you keep driving north through Pittsburg on U.S. Route 3, you’ll reach the U.S./Canada border.
The Connecticut River, its northern tributaries of Hall Stream, Indian Stream and Perry Stream; the First, Second and Third Connecticut lakes; and Lake Francis
provide ample opportunities for recreation and international tourism.
Fishing, boating, hunting and snowmobiling are part of Pittsburg’s identity as a northern New England outpost with a small-town feel — New Hampshire’s own vacationland.
Pittsburg’s origin story, a slice of American history, is a symbol of frontierism, bravery and the ongoing search for freedom from taxation.
From July 9, 1832, to Aug. 5, 1835, settlers had their own country called the Republic of Indian Stream, a population of about 300 in an unrecognized state with an elected government and constitution. They celebrated independence until international diplomacy stepped in.
But the tiny settlement still links the two countries. Several years ago, a small group of Pittsburg residents, including some Indian Stream Republic descendants, collaborated
with a group from Quebec to enrich their countries’ cultural histories through education and awareness.
It’s a complicated story.
Before Pittsburg was incorporated in 1840, an area called the Territory of Indian Stream originally belonged to the Abenaki indigenous people. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, failed to specify the U.S. and Lower Canada boundaries, only indicating it would be at the “northwesternmost head of the Connecticut River.” The river’s tributaries of Hall Stream, Indian Stream and Perry Stream were also eyed as possible international boundaries.
Despite the ambiguity, both British Canada and the U.S. claimed the territory. By the late 18th
century, land agents on both sides illegally sold parcels along Indian Stream, including Drayton Township in Lower Canada.
Loggers, hunters and trappers started settling here, but boundary disputes continued, and settlers were taxed by both countries.
Fed up with indecision, on July 9, 1831, settlers created the Republic of Indian Stream, drafting their own government and constitution, tapping Luther Parker as their representative.
Somewhat similar to the U.S. Constitution, the 13 articles in the bill of rights included “the right to life, liberty, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness,” and the right to religious freedom.
Armed skirmishes between settlers and both U.S. and Lower Canadian authorities continued to push the matter. From November 1835 to February 1836, the New Hampshire militia occupied the Republic, and in 1840 the state replaced Indian Stream Republic with the town of Pittsburg. As for the boundary dispute, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of Aug. 9, 1842 officially designated Hall Stream as the international boundary.
Top: A plaque looks out onto the Third Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg, part of a historical circuit of panels describing the once-free Republic of Indian Stream. Bottom: This bridge in Pittsburg, which opened in 2019, signals the beginning of the historical trail. Each panel on the trail is in English and French.
A Walk to Canada
Descendants of the Republic of Indian Stream have lived here for generations, including Lindsey Gray of Pittsburg. Gray lives on Indian Stream, close to the Canada border. He says he can walk there from his house, which is just a few miles “over the hill from me.”
Now retired, Gray worked for the Pittsburg Fire Department. He still works, cutting wood and driving a truck in the summer. A member of the Pittsburg Historical Society, Gray has extensively researched Indian Stream Republic.
Gray’s grandmother, a U.S. citizen, taught school in Hereford, Quebec. Gray’s great-grandfather, a cheesemaker, worked at factories in Clarksville, Pittsburg and Hereford, Quebec.
Gray says back then, people crossed the border regularly.
“People didn’t think anything of it,” Gray says.
Avoiding taxation was a big factor for settlers, “just like it is today,” Gray says. “They didn’t want to be double-taxed. That’s what it amounted to.”
Retiree Bobby Ormsbee worked for the
Pittsburg post office for 28 years.
He says his great-great-grandfather, John Langdon Haynes, helped found the Republic.
“It’s in my family. My great-grandmother’s father was John Langdon Haynes, and her grandfather was John Haynes, one of the land agents for the Bedel Company that got the land from the Indians,” Ormsbee says.
“Together these commemorations tell a richer story than either side alone.”
— FRANCOIS BOUCHY-PICON
The Connecticut River was a major source of revenue and transportation of goods for the area, he says.
“Early settlers came from Lisbon, Bradford, Vermont, down around Charleston (Vermont), because these towns were along the river, and that’s what they use for their transportation. There was no roads, so they came via the river,” says Ormsbee, who is writing a book about the Republic of Indian
Stream with the president of the Pittsburg Historical Society, David Covill.
Gray says since events span two countries, there are conflicting interpretations.
“(Canada) has a different story. We went west, and they went east somewhere. We met in the middle, two different stories, two different versions,” Gray says.
One Canadian group agreed, and wanted to do something about it.
Diane Lauzon Rioux was a member of a recreational and cultural planning committee representing the Quebec towns of East Hereford, Saint-Herménégilde and Saint-Venantde-Paquette called The Three Villages.
The group soon realized both countries’ closely knit histories should work together, and contacted Covill at the Pittsburg Historical Society, who agreed to collaborate.
“Even if Pittsburg and East Hereford had a marker about the Republic of Indian Stream in each town, the joint committee thought that we could elaborate more on that history,” Lauzon Rioux says in an email.
From 2016 to 2019, the “cross-border committee” researched various books and archives to create a series of plaques, maps, historical markers, pamphlets and interpretive panels.
Here, in the Great North Woods, if you keep driving north through Pittsburg on scenic U.S. Route 3, you’ll reach the U.S./Canada border.
“On our side, books from Mgr. Albert Gravel and Francois Audet. I went to Montreal at Archives Nationales du Québec to find other information,” Lauzon Rioux says.
“Daniel Doan’s ‘Indian Stream Republic’ book became our go-to resource and seemed to be the most accurate account of events. Extensive research was conducted … yet there always seemed to be another story to tell. We tried to adhere to verifiable facts,”
David Covill writes in an email.
Their work resulted in an international “cultural circuit” with16 sites — nine in Canada, seven in Pittsburg.
Pittsburg sites include Hollow Cemetery on Hill Road, where 56 men out of 59 signed the Republic’s Constitution; Indian Stream Bridge, on U.S. Route 3, where Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton signed the treaty designating Hall Stream as the border; Indian Stream Cemetery on Tabor Road, where early settlers are buried; and Diamond Ridge on Magolloway Road, a former Republic outlook.
Ormsbee, his son, and Covill also distributed information around Pittsburg highlighting key locations.
“Together these commemorations tell a richer story than either side alone,” writes Francois Bouchy-Picon, a Canadian cross-border committee member.
He says while Pittsburg’s history emphasizes independence, local pride and frontier governance, the Hereford/Coaticook side sees Indian Stream Republic in terms of migration, cross-border kinship and cultural continuity across a “porous” border.
Bouchy-Picon says the Republic created “a frontier community that improvised its own institutions when empires disagreed.”
“The Indian Stream story becomes a symbol of cooperation, not conflict. It offers a rare example of a binational micro-history where both sides preserve different facets of the same lived experience. It strengthens regional identity on both sides of the 45th parallel,” says Bouchy-Picon.
In Pittsburg, Gray has spoken to elementary school kids about what life was like in Indian Stream.
“We don’t know what it is to live without being able to go to the grocery store to get matches to build a fire. (Matches) weren’t common. You didn’t have a heated house. You didn’t run water. We judge it on today’s standards. We do all of history,” he says.
This marker in town briefly summarizes the events of the Republic of Indian Stream.
Lindsey Gray and his dog, Piper, stand on his property near Indian Stream in Pittsburg. Tabor Notch is in the background. Gray says some of his ancestors, who were Republic of Indian Stream settlers, are buried nearby.
PHOTO COURTESY ANN GRAY
Researching his own family tree and finding details beyond town records has also given Gray a different perspective on what his relatives were really like.
“You see a side of them that you never knew before,” Gray says.
Gray says “independence” is the most important thing people should know about Indian Stream Republic. But what impresses Gray most about living in Pittsburg is its quiet seclusion and anonymity.
“I can walk outdoors at night and walk down the road, or out in the woods, and no one bothers me. You’re perfectly safe. I can be in the woods away from everybody.”
Gray says residents stick up for one another in times of need, no questions asked.
“Everyone tries to help everybody else. Maybe that’s something (that) we’re losing a little bit,” Gray says.
Ormsbee, who is creating additional material about the early settlers, also wants his family to stay engaged in their roots. Ormsbee regrets he didn’t always retain what his relatives taught him years ago.
“I never sat down with my grandfather or anything and asked him what he remembered. I’ve forgotten so much. There’s no more history than in the cemetery,” Ormsbee says.
But preserving history comes at a cost.
“When you only got six people that are really active (in the project), it’s hard. Everybody’s working,” Ormsbee says.
Both worry that people may forget about the Republic, or not learn about it at all.
“Yes, we have a sign in that park that says ‘The Indian stream Republic.’ But people and kids, it’s just a sign to them, you know? There’s so much history. It means a lot more to me,” Ormsbee says.
Ormsbee and Gray encourage others to learn more, saying Daniel Doan’s 1997 book “Indian Stream Republic: Settling a New England Frontier, 1785-1842,” the Pittsburg Historical Society, and the New England Historical Society are good resources. NH
Pittsburg Historical Society historicalsocietypittsburgnh.com
New England Historical Society historicnewengland.org
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Gov. Barefoote’s Brawl
A 1685 document describes a knockdown fight between Walter Barefoote & Thomas Wiggin Jr.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON
I’m standing in lush, green, knee-high poison ivy and suspect I am going to regret it in a day or two. I’m at a small opening in the woods not far from the shore of New Hampshire’s Great Bay. In the center of this clearing is a large boulder engraved, “Gov. Thomas Wiggin 1633-1667.”
The dates presumably indicate the years he served as governor. But I suspect a “typo” in the inscription because Wiggin served as governor from 1633 to 1637, not “1667” as it reads on the rock. Historical records also reveal Gov. Wiggin was born about 1601 and died in 1666, so if the engraving on the rock is correct ... then he continued to serve as governor for a year after he died.
Arguably, Wiggin was the first governor of New Hampshire, but there is room for debate
depending on whether you count provincial governors who were chosen by the proprietors or the king of England.
Wiggin was the first governor of the Upper Plantation of Piscataway, an early settlement colony that today would include Dover, Durham, Stratham, Newmarket and parts of Greenland and Newington.
But I’m not here looking for the final resting place of Gov. Wiggin. I’m looking for the grave of Walter Barefoote, another provincial governor. Barefoote’s final resting place is rumored to also be here in this small clearing. But unlike Wiggin’s grand boulder, Barefoote’s headstone is said to be a small upright fieldstone with no inscription.
My interest in Barefoote was piqued when I discovered a 1685 document describing
a knockdown bareknuckle brawl between Barefoote and Thomas Wiggin Jr., son of Gov. Wiggin, buried beneath this large boulder. The old document contains sworn affidavits and reads like a tag-team wrestling match. It also names the two other combatants. Aligning with Barefoote is Robert Mason, and backing up Thomas Wiggin Jr., is Anthony Nutter.
In December, 1685, Thomas Wiggin Jr., one of the richest men in the colony, along with Anthony Nutter, called on Barefoote and Mason to dispute debts owed and protest conflicting land claims.
The brawl that followed is described in an oath sworn by Barefoote:
I, Walter Barefoote, Esq., Deputy Governor of the Province of New-Hampshire, do make oath that upon the 30th of December last, Thomas Wiggin and Anthony Nutter, yeoman, being at my house, Wiggin did give Robert Mason, Esq., proprietor of the Province, very provoking language, so that Mr. Mason bid him several times to go out of the house, and I did also intreat the said
A 1685 arrest warrant for Thomas Wiggin demanding he appear and answer charges of “Dangerously hurting ye Honorable Walter Barefoote, Esq., Deputy Governor.”
Wiggin to be gone, fearing some mischief might also ensue; telling him that Mr., Mason had the use of the house during his stay in the country, and the servants were his; but Wiggin would not go out, being encouraged to stay by the said Nutter, who did bid Wiggin not to go, but to stay. Then Mr. Mason opened the door, and took Thomas Wiggin by the arm, bidding him be gone, for that he should not stay there. Thereupon Thomas Wiggin laid hands upon Mr. Mason, and threw him upon the fire, and by force kept him down, so that I had great difficulty to pluck him off; and I do verily believe Mr. Mason had been murdered had it not been for me. And Thomas Wiggin did also assault me, and threw me into the same fire, and fell upon me, so that two of my ribs were broken, and one of my teeth came out. Walter Barefoote.
Taken upon oath the 8th of March, 1686.
Additional details are provided by Prudence Gatch, a maid servant of Robert Mason, who was present at the time. Her testimony reveals Mason’s clothes, wig and foot were badly “scorched.” She testified that Barefoote intervened, attempting to rescue Mason, but Wiggin then threw Barefoote into the fireplace; Mason called out for her to “fetch his sword,” which she did. But when she gave it to Mason, Nutter, the biggest man in the group, took it away from
him and strode around the room laughing, apparently amused at seeing Barefoote and Mason being soundly thumped by Wiggin despite the 2-on-1 odds. The maid then ran from the house screaming of “the murder of her master” which brought neighbors running and ended the fight.
Both Thomas Wiggin Jr. and Anthony Nutter were prosecuted for assault in “high contempt” of royal authority. Wiggin was found guilty, and both he and Nutter were ordered to “behave as gentlemen” and put on probation, which included posting bonds of 500 pounds each. Although Barefoote and Mason prevailed in court, Wiggin and
Nutter won the sentiment of the colony, which already disliked Gov. Barefoote and refuted the land claims alleged by Mason. The Barefoote administration became the laughingstock of the settlement and ended in May 1686.
Friction had previously existed between Mason and Wiggin over the competing land claims and debts from disputed tenant rents. Animosity also existed between Barefoote and the Wiggin family. In an earlier lawsuit alleging unpaid sawmill debts, Barefoote sued Andrew Wiggin, brother of combatant Thomas Wiggin Jr. During that lawsuit, in open court, Andrew Wiggin approached Barefoote under the pretense of reconciling with him ... but instead bit him in the face.
Since Gov. Barefoote and the Wiggin family violently disliked each other, you might wonder how they came to be buried together in this family cemetery? The answer is that Gov. Barefoote’s sister, Sarah, was also the wife of Thomas Wiggin Jr. So, while the brothers-in-law hated each other to the point of physical altercations, Sarah (Barefoote) Wiggin is rumored to have been able to persuade her husband to allow her brother to be buried in the very back of the family cemetery, albeit in an almost unmarked grave.
Perhaps that rumor isn’t true, and the brawling Gov. Barefoote is buried somewhere else, in a grave unknown to historical record. We may never know for certain, but I am certain I’m now going home and shedding these poison-ivy-covered clothes. NH
Could this small upright stone mark the grave of Walter Barefoote, the deputy governor and acting governor of the NH Province from 1685 to 1686?
Gov. Thomas Wiggin served as governor from 1633 to 1637 — not 1667 as this marker suggests.
Spaceman, Ironman
Scott Poteet reflects on the Polaris Dawn flight as he trains for more triathlons
BY CRYSTAL WARD KENT / PHOTOS COURTESY OF POTEET
It has been nearly two years since Scott Poteet rocketed into space on SpaceX’s groundbreaking Polaris Dawn flight. Poteet was mission pilot, and becoming an astronaut was a long-held dream — though one he was surprised to achieve at age 50.
A former combat fighter pilot, and member of the Air Force’s elite Thunderbird aerial precision team, Poteet is now back at home in his native New Hampshire. He reflects on his experience journeying to the stars.
New Hampshire Magazine: Space flight is in the news again with the Artemis launch. Has it hit you that you’ve actually been to space?
Scott Poteet: Enough time has passed that I’ve been able to reflect on that experience and what it meant, not just to me, but to space travel. There were so many elements to that journey, and it was 10 years in the making, so the build-up was enormous. Humans aren’t built to survive in space so the fact that we successfully go there and do what we do is pretty amazing.
NHM: Take us back to what it was like to “ride the rocket” and journey into space.
SP: The most challenging part is saying farewell to your family. You don’t say “good-bye,”
you say “see you soon,” but you know they are left with this burden of fear and anxiety. You may feel nerves and fear, but there are so many things to do that a certain calm takes over; your training kicks in. It’s like being in combat — once the mission is underway, you compartmentalize and do your job. You don’t think of anything else.
With the rocket launch, as you ride over and go up the tower, it’s more anticipation than anything else — you are eager to finally be underway. Then you are in your suit, your helmet is on, visor is down; you are buckled into a bucket seat and you realize, you no longer have any physical control over what is going to happen. It is out of your hands. It brings a kind of peace because you have to surrender to the moment and put your faith in others. Then the countdown begins …
We do launch simulations in training, but I don’t know if anything truly prepares you for launch. It is like an earthquake going off all around you; the rocket is accelerating and you are experiencing all of these G forces. It takes about 10 minutes for the rocket to get
Scott Poteet floats in the Zero-G flight “vomit comet” during a Polaris Dawn training session. The flight exposed the team to micro-gravity.
The Baldwin: Modern Senior Living
QW hen should people start planning for where they will live as they age?
AThe simple answer is the earlier the better. Many people think they’ll just remain in their homes as they age, but the home that was perfect for raising a family may not be as suitable for aging. As health and abilities change, the average house will need modifications — some of them significant — to accommodate aging independently and safely. Issues of maintenance and lawn care also can become major sources of stress. And, especially for people who live alone, staying in the home too long can lead to loneliness and fewer opportunities for social connection.
Knowing all this, more people are recognizing the benefits of moving to a Life Plan Community. With maintenance-free residences designed for easy living and services that make life easier, residents discover a
Qnew level of freedom and time to do the things they truly enjoy. In addition, engaging amenities and programs encourage social interaction and contribute to physical, emotional and cognitive well-being.
W ith the growing popularity of Life Plan Communities and the rapidly increasing number of older adults, are there enough communities?
ADemand is quickly outpacing supply. As a result, the most desirable communities usually have years-long waitlists. The Baldwin is embarking on an expansion to help meet demand, but the sooner you start considering your options — and get on the waitlist for your desired community — the better.
—
Kathleen D’Amico, Marketing Director, The Baldwin
The Baldwin in Londonderry, NH, is expanding to help meet demand with 66 new apartment homes. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Understanding Retirement Living Options with Silverstone Living
Q When should people begin planning for retirement community living?
ARetirement planning is most effective when it begins early. Many individuals start exploring options in their early 60s, when they are healthy, active, and able to make decisions without pressure. Early planning offers greater choice and allows people to align housing, lifestyle, and long-term care preferences thoughtfully. It also brings financial and emotional clarity for both individuals and families.
Q
W hat role does Silverstone Living play in senior living in New Hampshire?
ASilverstone Living is a New Hampshire–based family of not-for-profit senior living communities dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of older adults. The organization includes two Life Plan Communities in Nashua, Hunt Community and The Huntington at Nashua, both offering vibrant, independent lifestyles supported by a continuum of care.
Silverstone Living also offers At Home By Hunt, a Continuing Care at Home program designed for individuals who want the assurance and benefits of a Life Plan Community while remaining in the home they love. In 2023, Webster at Rye joined the Silverstone Living family, providing assisted living, memory care, nursing, and skilled rehabilitation in a scenic New Hampshire Seacoast setting.
Qfour-season recreation, and a tax structure many find favorable. Together, these elements support both lifestyle enjoyment and long-term peace of mind.
What options exist for individuals who want to remain in their own homes?
ASilverstone Living offers At Home By Hunt, an innovative Continuing Care at Home program. This option extends the benefits of a Life Plan Community to individuals who prefer to age in place. Members receive care coordination, access to services, and future care coverage while remaining in their own homes. The program serves members throughout the state, from the Monadnock Region to the Seacoast and beyond.
Q
W hat distinguishes independent living within a Life Plan Community?
A
Independent living in a Life Plan Community blends autonomy with long-term security. Residents enjoy private apartments and cottages, manage their own schedules, and pursue personal interests, while benefiting from services such as maintenance, dining options, wellness programming, and social opportunities. Importantly, coordinated care is available on the same campus if health needs evolve, reducing the likelihood of disruptive moves later in life.
Q How important is location when choosing a retirement community?
A
Location is a critical factor. Nashua offers a vibrant downtown with cultural activities, restaurants, and community events, along with proximity to major hospitals, physician practices, and specialty medical care. New Hampshire also provides advantages for retirees, including natural beauty,
Q
How can couples plan effectively if they have different retirement goals?
A
Couples benefit from open discussions about lifestyle priorities, health considerations, and long-term expectations. Touring communities, learning about available services, and understanding future care options often help couples find shared solutions. Life Plan Communities offer flexibility that can support both partners, even as needs change at different times.
Q
What considerations are important for individuals planning to age solo?
A
Aging solo requires proactive planning, particularly around housing, healthcare, and social connection. Community living offers built-in opportunities for engagement and support while reducing the responsibilities of homeownership. Planning early helps individuals maintain independence while ensuring access to care and resources when needed.
— Jeremy Blydenburgh-Cote, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Silverstone Living
Taylor Community
Since Michael Flaherty joined Taylor Community as president and CEO more than a decade ago, the Lakes Region continuing care retirement community (CCRC) has grown to three sites, expanding form its Laconia flagship to locations in Wolfeboro and one in Meredith that it acquired from other providers.
Flaherty recently stopped by NH Business Review to appear as a guest on the “Down to Business” podcast with editors Amanda Andrews and Mike Cote. This article was adapted from the interview. Listen to the entire conversation at nhbr.com
QQA nd that helps longevity, right?
A“You hear a lot of laughter in the dining rooms and other places on our campuses because residents are reconnecting with their peer group and developing lasting friendships.”
Taylor Community is a nonprofit with three campuses. Can you share the services that you offer and what you provide?
ATaylor Community is a life plan community, or what some people call a continuing care retirement community. CCRCs essentially provide peace of mind through a range of services.
One is obviously the continuum of care. People move in primarily independently and enjoy an active retirement lifestyle and ideally remain independent for the rest of their lives. But if that changes, there’s the security of knowing a full continuum of care is available on campus, including assisted living, memory care and nursing.
It’s also an insurance product that’s overseen by the Department of Insurance. If someone outlives their financial resources, they’re going to be all set and well taken care of for the rest of their life at Taylor Community. This coming fiscal year, we expect to provide close to $2.5 million in charitable care.
The third thing we provide is maintenance-free living in well-appointed apartments and cottages. We call them cottages, although some are over 3,000 square feet.
And then the fourth thing that we provide is the social experience. I often describe it as college for seniors: There’s the arts, dining and, most importantly, friendships. You can only stay home so much. You hear a lot of laughter in the dining rooms and other places on our campuses, because residents are reconnecting with their peer group and developing lasting friendships. It’s really great to see. That’s probably the most important thing that we’re able to provide for folks. TAYLORCOMMUNITY.ORG
Being alone is associated with a range of health outcomes, many of them negative. It can lead to depression. But if you provide opportunities for people to be active and engaged, it’s not just mental but physical health that really prospers.
QSince you joined Taylor Community, it has expanded to three different campuses, in Laconia, Wolfeboro, Meredith. Can you walk us through that growth?
AI was working for a small consulting group and had spent most of my career in different versions of this field. At the time, the board of trustees, many of whom are still with us, recognized the need for a new direction and new leadership. They brought me in as a consultant, but it quickly became clear it was more of an interview than anything else. When I confirmed what they already understood, they asked me to step in and build a new management team.
The community had a lot of potential, but it was facing some financial challenges. We created a long-term strategic plan with great cooperation between the board and the management team, and then set out to implement that plan.
At that point, we had to make a decision: Do we want to be acquired by a larger organization, or do we want to chart our own path forward? To do that, we needed to grow. Because if you’re not growing, costs continue to rise, and ultimately those costs fall on residents. Over time, it becomes more expensive to maintain the same level of service, and at some point, it can become unaffordable because you just don’t have enough customers.
About six years ago, Sugar Hill in Wolfeboro, partially owned by residents and partially by Huggins Hospital, approached us about an acquisition. They were struggling financially, and it wasn’t their primary business. We acquired Sugar Hill and nearly doubled in size. Then, in November 2024, we essentially did the same thing with Meredith Bay.
With those two acquisitions, we grew from about 250 residents to roughly 800, and from around 130 employees to about 400.
We do want to continue to grow, but we also have to make sure that we’re successful in digesting what we’ve taken on up to this point.
QThese are places that are relatively close together. Is part of your strategy to be a Lakes Region entity?
AW ho knows what the future will bring. But over the next 10 years, that’s really where the organization is focused. If you stepped back and said, “OK, we’re starting from scratch in the Lakes Region, where do we want to be?” It would be Laconia, Meredith and Wolfeboro.
— Michael Flaherty, President & CEO, Taylor Community
Why Wait to Enjoy the Life You’re Planning For?
RIVERMEAD.ORG
QI understand the value of planning ahead, but I still feel like moving to a retirement community is something I can put off. Why do many people wish they had made the move sooner?
AOne of the most common things we hear from residents is, “I wish I had done this sooner.” Not because they needed care, but because they discovered how much there was to enjoy.
Moving to a LifeCare community before you feel you “need to” gives you time to fully experience the lifestyle: meeting neighbors, joining clubs, attending programs, enjoying meals with friends, using the fitness center & classes, traveling with peace of mind and saying yes to more of what interests you. It is not just a plan for future care. It is a way to make everyday life easier and more connected now.
Waiting can mean spending more years managing home maintenance, snow removal, repairs, cooking, driving and the quiet work of keeping everything going. Moving sooner allows you to trade some of those responsibilities for time, energy, and community.
RiverWoods
Q
How can a smaller home actually support a bigger life?
A
Many residents discover that an efficiently designed home can provide everything they need while freeing them from the responsibilities of a larger house. Instead of spending time on maintenance and household chores, they find more opportunities to connect with friends, pursue interests, and enjoy new experiences. When considering a move, it can be helpful to shift the question from “How much space do I need?” to “How do I want to spend my time?”
Q For someone living alone, what are the benefits of community living?
A Many solo agers tell us they value the balance of privacy and connection community living provides. Residents have a home of their own, while also having a welcoming community just outside their door whenever they choose to engage. Whether you’re looking for companionship, new friendships, or simply the comfort of knowing others are nearby, community living offers more opportunities to live well. RIVERWOODSNH.ORG
The best time to explore your options is before you need them. To learn more about what life can look like at RiverMead, visit rivermead.org.
— Kim Murphy, Director of Marketing & Sales, RiverMead
QHow important is flexibility when considering your future home?
AOne of the biggest misconceptions is focusing on the floor plan square footage rather than the lifestyle community living provides. Being open to a home style you may not have originally considered—such as a onebedroom—can often significantly shorten the time you spend on a community’s wait list and allow you to begin enjoying community life sooner.
The return of great white sharks is a story of conservation success. Now, researchers are left to fill in the missing pieces of the East Coast puzzle.
BY ELISA GONZALES VERDI / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY GRIMES
With the engine roaring, Capt. Jack Farrell and his Boston Whaler, the Shining Star, cruise up the New Hampshire coast. Today, he’s accompanied by Nathan Furey, a UNH professor of fisheries biology; Mark Cotreau, the (now former) Rye fire chief; and two members of the NH Beach Patrol, Capt. Jeff Kelley and Chief Patrick Murphy. They’ll be placing five seasonal acoustic telemetry receivers along the shores of New Hampshire’s most popular beaches in Hampton and Rye. These receivers will spend their summer deep underwater, listening for the unique pings emitting from a tagged animal.
These five receivers are joining the ranks of around 50 that cover the East Coast from Great Bay and the Isles of Shoals up through Portland’s Casco Bay. The other 50 receivers were placed with the intention of tracking various fish, from rainbow smelt, cod and more. But the five placed along New Hampshire’s coast at the beginning of every summer are listening for something much larger and more mysterious — the great white shark.
“Each tag is like a unique ID,” Furey said. “These tags are sending out little chirps or pings, like Morse code.” He explained that the receivers listen for the pings, and when
heard, they’re recorded into a database that lets researchers know which tagged animal was near which receiver, when and for how long.
“Everything we’ve learned about white sharks, we’ve learned in the last two decades or so,” said white shark expert, Greg Skomal, a shark biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. “Everything we knew until the last two decades was based on dead fish.”
Megan Winton, another leading white shark expert and senior scientist with Cape Cod’s Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, said that it wasn’t until white sharks
Above: The Shining Star is a private charter boat based out of Portsmouth, capable of carrying 49 passengers.
Right: With Capt. Jack Farrell at the helm, the Shining Star is capable of traversing the Piscataqua River and ocean coastline.
returned to the Cape, and it became a hotspot, that researchers had predictable access to the species in the Atlantic.
“Of the subpopulations of white sharks around the globe, the Northwest Atlantic population was the most mysterious on the planet,” Winton said.
Pulling back the veil on the mystery of the Northwest Atlantic white shark is due thanks to the grey seal population’s rebound over the last 15 years.
“It’s very much a conservation success story for both species,” Winton said. “We’re
“With the acoustic technology, we’re able to track sharks for a period of almost a decade to see what they do year-to-year.”
— MEGAN WINTON
a couple of decades beyond putting that protective legislation in place, and we’re starting to see the recovery of that population, which is awesome from a management perspective and demonstrates that fisheries management can work — even though New England is a very complicated place for fisheries management.”
Now, with an abundant population of gray seals on Cape Cod, and with gray seal colonies growing up the East Coast, researchers have entered a rapid period of being able to ask and answer basic questions about white sharks. With technological advances in tagging and acoustic telemetry receivers, marine researchers are able to track migration patterns, locate historical hotspots and identify any new migratory patterns and behaviors.
“Almost everything we’re doing has been new to shark science,” Winton said. “We’re seeing white sharks occur now in where they historically occurred, based on fisheries and sightings records.”
Much like how the Atlantic Ocean touches the shores of different states and
countries, the researchers who study it work together without border, especially along the East Coast.
“Marine Fisheries has a really close working relationship with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy,” Skomal said. “It’s a really good public and private partnership when it comes to better understanding white sharks in New England.”
For a while, New Hampshire was basically an 11-mile dead zone for acoustic receivers. On occasion, some of Furey’s receivers on the Isles of Shoals would log a ping from a white shark, but there weren’t many receivers between Cape Cod and the Shoals — until 2020, that is.
As part of the AWSC’s education and outreach initiatives, Winton gave a talk to the National Association of Lifeguards, who happened to have their annual meeting on Cape Cod. It was there that she met Pat Murphy and Jeff Kelley.
“Jeff approached me afterwards and said ‘Hey, would you guys be interested in putting receivers off the coast of New Hampshire?’ ” Winton said.
The duo had the safety of their beaches in mind, following a fatal shark attack off the coast of Bailey Island in Maine earlier that year. Knowing more about white shark activity in New Hampshire means that the NH State Beach Patrol is better equipped to train lifeguards and keep beachgoers safe.
“It’s the ocean,” Murphy said. “We’re always asking ourselves, ‘How can we better protect people?’ ”
“They expressed an interest in monitoring their more popular beaches for the presence of tagged white sharks,” Skomal said. “The logical step there was to provide them with acoustic receivers, which I did.”
NH State Beach Patrol was initially given two or three acoustic receivers to start with, but the process of deploying them, and receiving the data, is labor-intensive and requires an understanding of how the systems work.
At the same time, Furey was building his array of receivers for his research off the Isles of Shoals. To Skomal, the partnership was kismet.
“It was an organic relationship that built between us, Dr. Furey and the beach patrol folks,” Skomal said.
It’s also a symbiotic one. Winton, Skomal and their teams tag juvenile and teenage white sharks off the coasts of Cape Cod and South Carolina before they head north. Furey, the beach patrol and the Rye Fire Department work together to place the receivers and remove them at the end of the summer. Furey handles the data and shares any detections with Winton and Skomal, and they share any pings of Furey’s tagged fish with him. You hear that team harmony? It’s all acoustic.
From a research standpoint, everyone had the same question. What exactly are white sharks doing in New Hampshire?
It turns out, they are doing the same thing as anyone who has sat in summer traffic just past the Hampton tolls on I-95 north is doing. They’re just passing through to spend their summer farther North.
“The Cape is a great buffet,” Winton said. “There are individuals that will stay here, but there’s lots of other food and resources out there. In New Hampshire, they’re pretty much cruising by — it’s so interesting to see the difference in how they’re using these areas.”
From mid-July through late fall (occasionally as late as November), Furey sees pings from tagged white sharks — though they aren’t usually close to shore, and they aren’t staying for long.
“We’ve only had two or three instances where we’ve detected the same animal for more than an hour,” Furey said. “Oftentimes, it’s very brief — 10 or 15 minutes. We hear more of white sharks from our receivers that we’re using for Atlantic cod right now, which are a few more miles offshore.”
Overall, it seems that white sharks treat New Hampshire’s waters as more of a rest stop along the aquatic I-95 corridor while they make their way into the Canadian Atlantic. The receivers filling in the gaps in New Hampshire and Maine have helped confirm that migratory pattern.
“There’s a lot of shark activity in Nova Scotia and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in the summer and fall, which really surprises people. One of the biggest white sharks ever caught was off of Prince Edward Island in the ’80s,” Winton said.
Winton said that the tagging technology has been super cool, and helpful, in understanding where this species goes.
Of the 350 sharks that they’ve tagged since 2009, some have been detected as far north as Nova Scotia, and as far south as South Padre Island, Texas.
“With the acoustic technology, we’re able to track sharks for a period of almost a decade to see what they do year-to-year,” Winton said. “We’ve really been able to document this recovering population kind of reclaiming its ancestral home.”
Nathan Furey’s goodie bag includes various zip ties, his notebook, and acoustic telemetry receivers waiting to be deployed off the coast of New Hampshire in the hopes of tracking tagged fish migration.
Above: Among the items in Furey's UNH Lab is a deck box, transponding hydrophone and a sticker for Ocean Tracking Network. OTC is based out of Nova Scotia, and is one of the many organization he has worked with in his studies of marine life.
Below: Furey looks at photos of a marine specimen that a student took through a microscope in the UNH lab.
As the waters in the Gulf of Maine warm faster than anywhere else on earth, this data, and the partnerships it’s created, is more important than ever.
“The acoustic telemetry is really important for monitoring how that distribution might change in the future,” Winton said, “because the northwest Atlantic is one of the most rapidly warming portions of the global oceans and we’re already starting to see shifts in a lot of species. I’m glad we were able to lay this baseline distribution for what sharks as the species made a comeback.”
Winton and Skomal’s partnerships extend across the entire Eastern Seaboard, including the Bahamas.
“The best scientific studies and long-term monitoring programs are always the result of big collaborative efforts,” Winton said. “We can learn so much more together than we can individually.”
“When you deal with a highly migratory species like the white shark, it’s critical, as far as I’m concerned, to collaborate with others,” Skomal said.
As if the traffic wasn’t a giveaway, it turns out everyone really does drive (or swim) north for the summer. NH
Sharks … With Cameras on Their Heads?
This isn’t some Austin Powers villainy. Advances in technology have allowed shark researchers to see the lives of sharks like they’ve never seen them before.
“It’s been very cool,” said Megan Winton. “We've been deploying camera tags on white sharks off of Cape Cod for the past couple of years, and we started working with the charter fishermen in South Carolina to do the same down south. Those tags record 10 or 11 hours of video footage.”
The view from the camera tags means that for about half a day, researchers are able to ride on the back of a great white, and see everything it does. While to us it may seem very “Big Brother,” the sharks don’t seem to mind.
“The camera tags have been a really transformative technology because they allow us to see what that animal is actually doing in different environments, and (the tags are) outfitted with an array of different sensors that record the animal's movements and behavior and aspects of its physical environment 20 times a second, which is phenomenal and overwhelming,” Winton said.
The camera tags have given an eye-opening day-to-day view into the life of the great white, both dramatic and comedic.
“We saw one (great white) get shocked by a torpedo ray,” Winton said. “She kind of made a fool of herself. She swam down to look at this object on the bottom, and we realized it was a torpedo ray and it zapped her. She did not enjoy the experience.”
Winton hopes that the camera tags will also help inform public safety experts, as they learn more about how the sharks are hunting seals off the Cape.
“The technology is just going to keep getting better. I feel very lucky to be a scientist in this day and age because of some of the technology,” Winton said. “It makes me really excited for future generations of scientists, with the kind of technology they're going to have at their disposal, and the sort of things that they're going to be able to learn about these animals. It's just a super exciting time.”
Above: Evidence of last year’s sea life grip on to an acoustic telemetry receiver as it waits to be returned to the water.
Lakeside Reverie
Set against lake and garden views at The Fells, local boutiques showcase the season’s most sundrenched looks and effortless silhouettes
Fashion Editor & Styling: Chloe Barcelou
Photography: Jenn Bakos
Hair And Makeup: Tracy Hines
Model: Carole Lang
Location: The John Hay Estate at the Fells, Newbury
Assistant: Maya Ghosh
Summer’s here again in the Granite State, but rather than reaching for the same old staples in the back of your closet, why not explore some of our favorite local retailers for pieces that inspire your next lake-to-lunch adventure? Shot at the iconic John Hay Estate at the Fells in Newbury, let your warm-weather style draw inspiration from its breezy, floral cottage aesthetic with these local-meets-luxe lakeside looks.
Iron Gates
Emmaline floral maxi dress by For Love & Lemons ($288) is layered underneath the Wedelia floral bustier ($109), both from The Ivy Edit. Layered over that is the ruffled lace maxi dress by Blue B ($68) and the crochet and lace tiered maxi vest ($80) with silver and turquoise dangle earrings ($40), a fur cuff with pendant ($40) and a silver heart pendant necklace ($66). Beaded horse crossbody club bag by Bamboo Trading Company ($46) and a white straw cowboy hat ($28), all from Adorn. Flower necklace in Bouquet by Krista Larson ($92).
Farm Rio
Beaded, embroidered and belted 100% European flax sustainable linen maxi skirt by Farm Rio ($298) paired with a black and white gingham peplum blouse by Free People ($98) under a faux leather crop top by Commando ($98). The Donna black cropped leather jacket is by Lamarque ($695). Black Frye Sacha Mule ($198), Claire shortie strap crossbody bag in French Blue ($395), Mother Sierra Arriba Native beaded necklace ($188), and 100 percent silk Scarf-It-Down head scarf by Mother Superior ($165). All from Bella Funk. Black and gold fringe chandelier earrings ($40) from Adorn.
Lakeside Linen
Carole wears a cozy natural linen set by Beachwood, featuring a ruched, tiered skirt ($196) and an off-the-shoulder top ($120), layered under a 100% cashmere cardigan ($368) and paired with white leather Gemma sandals by TKEES. Gorgeous natural stone jewelry rings and a cuff made by Emile Shapiro add texture on Carole’s hand, with the Orion Ring ($188) on the right and the Hazy Sky ring ($184) and the Guardian Ring ($112) on the left. Thick gold cuff with aquamarine and emerald ($291) from Bella Funk. Leather concho belt in bone by Most Wanted ($64), silver heart dangle earrings ($30) and matching heart necklace ($70) are all from Adorn. Green woven Gloria crossbody bag in sage by Urban Expressions ($80) from The Ivy Edit.
The White Dress Edit
White cotton mini dress with a ruffled skirt and lace detail by Heyson ($86) from Adorn, layered with the lace cami day dreamer top by Free People ($98) from The Ivy Edit, paired with a beige 100 % cashmere cardigan sweater by Beachwood ($368) and Shelby deco stitch cowboy boots by Frye ($298), both from Bella Funk.
Golden Meadow
Yellow and white cotton floral blouse ($198) and matching floral jeans ($228), both by Mother Superior Denim. Banana cream ruffled hugger crew socks by Le Bon Shoppe ($16) and sidecut punch sports shoes in white by Rollie ($189). Accessorized with Freestyle dainty yellow beaded choker ($68) and yellow flower Le Gardin earrings by Claire V ($68), paired with the ($180) terrapin leather crossbody bag in natural by Kingdom Leather, all from Bella Funk. Beige leather belt ($24) from Eastern Styles. (Vintage daisy hat is the stylist’s own.)
In the Garden
Long linen pinwheel slip in cream landscape ($532), layered over the foundation slip in pear with gold dots ($575) with ginko necklace in pear bird ($92), all by Krista Larson. Shoes are snakeskin flipflops by TKEES ($82) from Bella Funk. Green sequin hoop earrings ($36) from Adorn. (Vintage daisy hat is stylist’s own.)
Disco Daisy
Natalie blue and white floral dress by For Love & Lemons ($319) is from The Ivy Edit, paired with a white crochet vest by POL ($38). A rhinestone bow necklace ($30) and matching earrings ($30), plus a rhinestone heartshaped bag ($60) — are all from Adorn.
Bluebell Cowgirl
Blue and white floral smocked dress by Storia ($84) layered under a billowy baby-blue crochet top by POL ($48) and a rhinestone-embellished light-wash denim jacket by Blue B. Accessorized with a white straw cowboy hat ($28), a fur cuff bracelet with a silver and turquoise pendant ($40) and matching dangle earrings ($40). All items are from Adorn. (White cowboy boots are stylist’s own.)
Pink Parasol
Pink floral baylin bustier by ASTR the Label ($109) from The Ivy Edit layered over a printed lace and rhinestone-embellished top ($58) from Adorn. This is layered over the Burlesque mesh cami in shell ($530) and peek-a-boo bloomer pants ($497), both from Krista Larson. Tulle, floral-printed tiered skirt ($68) and a silver sparkly beaded club bag ($46), both from Adore. Cotton printed floral socks by Tiepology ($12) and glitter jelly lattice sandals ($28), both from Eastern Styles. (Vintage pink tulle umbrella is the stylist’s own.)
A special thanks to John Hay Estate at the Fells, the location for all of the photos in this story, along with the shops who provided clothing and accessories that made this feature happen.
Adorn Boutique / 8 Glen Road, West Lebanon / adornboutiquenh.com
The Ivy Edit / 35 S Main St., Suite 101, Hanover / theivyedit.com
Bella Funk / 9 Main St., Littleton / bellafunkboutique.com
Eastern Styles / 56 Main St., Littleton / shopeasternstyles.com
Krista Larson / 410 Middle Road, Brentwood / kristalarson.com
The Reality Behind Reliable Power
Unitil takes proactive steps to keep NH connected
Most residents only think about the electric grid when a storm rolls through, the power goes out or a bill arrives in the mail. Yet behind every flipped light switch is a year-round effort to balance reliability, affordability and safety across an increasingly complex energy landscape. As a regulated public utility, Unitil occupies a unique role in New Hampshire communities: not to create energy, but to maintain the infrastructure that delivers it to homes and businesses.
That responsibility requires constant planning, investment and coordination. From trimming trees along power corridors and preparing for severe weather to upgrading equipment and supporting customer choices, utilities operate in a world where much of the most important work happens before customers ever notice it. For Unitil, that also means proactively helping customers understand how the system works and dispelling common misconceptions about the utility industry. Here are some of the realities behind the work Unitil does to keep the best businesses in New Hampshire connected.
Myth: Utilities cut down my favorite tree for no reason.
Reality: Tree trimming around power lines is done to maintain safe and reliable
electric service. Unitil crews manage vegetation on an ongoing cycle throughout the year.
“So much the work we do for storm preparation happens well before a storm ever happens,” said Alec O’Meara, director of external affairs for Unitil.
In New Hampshire, trees are one of the leading causes of outages during storms, especially those with heavy snow, ice, and high winds. Unitil’s vegetation management work is focused on preventing outages and reducing damage during severe weather, not removing trees unnecessarily.
Myth: Wildlife causing outages is pretty rare.
Reality: Wildlife and electrical infrastructure share the same space, and that relationship has an impact on electric reliability. Animals can cause outages by chewing on lines, building nests on equipment, or creating unintended electrical paths. Last year, a squirrel at a substation inadvertently cut power to 18,000 homes. At Unitil, wildlife is responsible for roughly 13% of power outages across its service territory, making it a common cause of service interruptions. Unitil uses protective equipment including transformer guards, diverters and pole caps to help deter wildlife from contacting energized equipment. In
limited areas where nesting species are particularly active, Unitil has utilized a different pole configuration to prevent nesting on equipment. These measures do double duty: they help maintain reliable service and reduce harm to wildlife.
Myth: Storm restoration is handled only by line crews responding after outages happen.
Reality: During major storms, Unitil staff shift into an all-hands-on deck emergency mode, where virtually every employee has a defined storm role in addition to their regular job responsibilities. While line crews restore power, other teams coordinate communications, logistics, mutual aid crews and emergency management support. Storm response is not a separate department within Unitil; it is a coordinated, company-wide operation involving all employees well before severe weather hits.
Myth: If my neighbor has power and I don’t, Unitil missed my house.
Reality: Unitil restores outages based first on public safety, critical services and the largest outages, not house by house. Hospitals, emergency services, substations, and major distribution lines are prioritized before smaller neighborhoods and isolated outages. Homes on the same street may be connected to different circuits, so one house may regain power sooner than
During major storms, Unitil staff shift into an all-hands-on deck emergency mode, where virtually every employee has a defined storm role in addition to their regular job responsibilities.
another depending on where the damage occurred.
Myth: Customers can’t choose their energy supplier.
Reality: Customers can choose between Unitil default service and a third-party competitive supplier for their electricity supply. Default service is a stable, protected option for customers who choose not to go with a third-party supplier. Regardless of who provides the supply, Unitil remains responsible for delivery and infrastructure maintenance to get electricity and gas safely and reliably to homes and businesses.
Myth: The charges on my Unitil bill are only based on how much energy I use.
Reality: A Unitil energy bill contains a few key components. Most customers are paying for both the energy they use and the system that delivers it.
For electric customers, that usually includes:
• Supply (cost of energy itself)
• Delivery (poles, wires, and equipment bringing energy to your home/business)
• Transmission (costs associated with moving electricity across New England grid)
• State-approved program charges (costs that support energy efficiency and other programs)
For natural gas customers, the bill is split between:
• Commodity supply (natural gas itself)
• Delivery (pipeline and system infrastructure)
• Regulatory and program costs
“When you look at a bill, there's all these different line items that cover distribution work, energy efficiency programs, or a separate line item for the cost of the energy itself,” O’Meara said.
“A common misconception is that going with a third-party supplier somehow has a negative effect on what a distribution utility is trying to do. Our infrastructure is there for you, whether you are only using energy, or if you are putting energy back onto the system (with solar), and the regulations in the state are designed in such a way that ensures that the work we do is paid for by all customers.”
What shows up on your utility bill is regulated by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. These components are set through regulated processes and regional energy markets, a customer’s bill reflects both energy used and the infrastructure required to deliver it.
Unitil’s goal remains straightforward: delivering the best service it can while helping customers better understand the system that powers everyday life.
Mobile Bar and Balloons
What’s a luxury bar without balloons? Derry’s The Traveling Cocktail pairs mobile bar tending with balloon styling for weddings, private parties and special events. Got a guest who ignored the “no kids” notice on the wedding invitation? At least you’ll have some balloons to keep them amused. thetravelingcoctailnh.com
Congratulations to all of this year's winners, chosen by our readers for our annual poll of the best stuff in the state. We also give a shoutout to staff favorites with our editors' picks. Cheers, winners!
FOOD & DRINK
Readers’ PICKS
BAKERY
CONCORD AREA
The Crust and Crumb Baking Co. Concord / thecrustandcrumb.com
The team behind Evolution Bistro & Bar in Manchester are all about the joy of eating and believe that great food doesn’t need to come with a tie and jacket. Their menu blends European flavors and techniques with a dash of New England for an exciting twist on pastas, butcher-cut meats and seafood, and with guilty-pleasure favorites like a good ole smash burger. evoultionnh.com
Crispy Chicken & Fried Seafood
Fish & Chix in Derry is serving up “fresh food with attitude.” Their crispy chicken and fresh seafood are their bread and butter and come in the form of a surf & turf burger, crispy chix tacos and everything in between. Don’t forget to try one of their “hurri-cones” with a waffle cone crunch on your way out! fshnchx.com
Foodie Lover Eats
Think completely customized, locally sourced culinary elements, elevated grazing tables and nostalgic cocktail hours — the team at The Brussel has your plate covered. Whether you’re craving approachable yet upscale bites like a French fry bar or mini tacos, or comfort classics “made fancy” like lavender-brined fried chicken, they’ll cook up an experience for you, your family and friends to go home stuffed full of fun and flavor. thebrussel.com
Greek-Inspired Popcorn
Switch up your summer movie night popcorn with an “opa!”-level flavorful snack. Women-owned company, Zoipop! popcorn is popped to perfection using cold-pressed olive oil from Greece and a blend of Himalayan pink sea salt. We recommend their “Zeus” size and pop cup options for your next cookout or celebration. zoipop.com
Beer of the Brave
Pints with a Mission, a collaboration between Bedford nonprofit Swim with a Mission and Londonderry’s 603 Brewery , helps support the needs of New Hampshire veterans. Mission Forward IPA “is more than a beer — it’s our way of giving back to the men and women who gave so much.” Find it at Common Man Roadside and Tuscan Market locations. swam.org
Coffee Cabin
Cream Coffee Bar in North Conway is the perfect place to fuel up before heading off on your next adventure in the mountains (or to lounge around in their cozy loft). Try a specialty coffee like a vanilla caramel or honey latte and fun breakfast options like their toast bar, loaded oatmeal or waffles with berries and maple syrup. creamcoffeenh.com
Greek Pastries
Barbara George, a.k.a. Auntie B, is here to share her mom and YiaYia’s melt-in-your-mouth recipes that have been passed down for generations. Auntie B’s Greek Pastries in Bedford gives you a taste of Greece in every bite, whether you’re enjoying butter cookies, Flo Flo’s famous Baklava nut rolls, powdered sugar cookies or pumpkin rolls. Not able to make it in-person? Auntie B will ship her treats right to you. auntiebsgreekpastries.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
LAKES REGION
Tilt'n Diner
Tilton / titndiner.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
MANCHESTER AREA
Tucker's Bedford / tuckersnh.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
MONADNOCK REGION
Parker's Maple Barn
Mason / parkersmaplebarn.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
NASHUA AREA
Bagel Alley
Nashua / bagelalley.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SALEM AREA
Maddies Bagel & Eatery LLC
Salem / maddiesbagels.com
BREAKFAST PLACE
SEACOAST REGION
The Airfield Café
North Hampton / theairfieldcafe.org
BREAKFAST PLACE
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Wildflour Café
Lisbon / wildflourbread.com
BREWERY CONCORD AREA
Northwoods Brewing Company
Northwood /northwoodsbrewingco.com
BREWERY
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Flying Goose Brew Pub
New London / flyinggoose.com
BREWERY
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Copper Pig Brewery
Lancaster / copperbigbrewery.com
BREWERY
LAKES REGION
Kettlehead Brewing Company
Tilton / kettleheadbrewing.com
BREWERY
MANCHESTER AREA
603 Brewery and Beer Hall
Londonderry / 603brewery.com
BREWERY MONADNOCK REGION
Post & Beam Brewing
Peterborough / postandbeambrewing.com
BREWERY NASHUA AREA
Spyglass Brewing Company
Nashua / spyglassbrewing.com
BREWERY
SALEM AREA
Kelsen Brewing Company
Londonderry / kelsenbrewing.com
BREWERY
SEACOAST REGION
Stoneface Brewing Co.
Newington / stonefacebrewing.com
BREWERY
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Schilling Beer Co.
Littleton / schillingbeer.com
FOOD & DRINK
BREWPUB
Woodstock Inn Brewery
North Woodstock / woodstockinnbrewery.com
BURGER
CONCORD AREA
T-BONES Great American Eatery Bedford / t-bones.com
BURGER
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
The Common Man Restaurant Claremont / thecman.com
BURGER GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Buck Rub Pub & Lodge Pittsburg / buckrubpub.com
BURGER LAKES REGION
Patrick's Pub & Eatery Gilford / patrickspub.com
BURGER MANCHESTER AREA
Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond / thetuckaway.com
BURGER MONADNOCK REGION
Papa Joe's Humble Kitchen
Milford / papajoesnh.com
BURGER NASHUA AREA
Buckley's Great Steaks
Merrimack / buckleysgreatsteaks.com
BURGER
SALEM AREA
Copper Door Salem / copperdoor.com
BURGER
SEACOAST REGION
Lexie's Joint Portsmouth / lexies.com
BURGER
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Black Mtn. Burger Co. Lincoln / blackmtnburger.com
BURRITO
California Burritos Manchester / californiaburritosnh.com
BUTCHER SHOP
Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond / thetuckaway.com
CAKES
Wildflour Café Lisbon / wildflourbread.com
CHICKEN TENDERS
Puritan Backroom
Manchester / puritanbackroom.com
CHINESE RESTAURANT
Lilac Blossom
Nashua / lilacblossomrestaurant.com
CHOCOLATIER
Van Otis Chocolates Manchester / vanotis.com
CLAM CHOWDER
Lobster Boat Restaurant
Merrimack / lobsterboatrestaurant.com
Vietnamese Sandwiches
Next time you’re rolling through Keene along Main Street, make a quick stop at Banh Mi Ok for a lunchtime pick-me-up. This eatery embraces the essence of Vietnamese cuisine, serving up favorites such as spring rolls, smoothies and banh mi. Each sandwich is made on a freshly baked French baguette with all of the fixins’ that promise an unforgettable culinary experience. banhmioknh.com
Stormy Brews
Black Cloud Brewing in Keene has rolled into town with sharper flavor, louder energy and zero apologies. Each of their brews rotate seasonally and have weather-inspired names, including “Surge” and “Bluebird Day.” They also have a menu of pretzels made from the grains from the brewery, pizzas and salads. blackcloudbrewing.com
Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza
Motor Pie Co isn’t just a food truck — it’s a regionally roaming dining experienced served from the bed of a vintage Ford pickup. From chef-crafted pizzas to fire-roasted entrees, they bring the culinary chops and hospitality right to your party. Think Hanover Street Chophouse, The Crown Tavern and The Kitchen on River Road flavors (all from the same family), just on wheels with vintage soul and all. motorpieco.com
Dubai Chocolate
Nelson’s Candy has been a staple in Wilton for over 100 years, making peanut brittle, fudge, turtles and other fan favorites, like their famous Dubai chocolate, all by hand, the old-fashioned way. Each Dubai bar is filled with their own velvety chocolate shell encasing a vibrant green pistachio cream with crunchy bits of kadayif throughout. Add a splash of tahini and butter, and you have yourself a treat that brings a taste of the Middle East to New England. nelsonscandymusic.com
Curated Candies
Huckleberry’s Candies in Hampton has been catering to the Seacoast’s sweet tooth for more than 20 years. From French cream mints to fudge to saltwater taffy (try their huckleberry flavor!) and even custom chocolate molds, they love curating and helping you unwrap memories that last well beyond the sugar crash. huckleberryscandies.com
Lebanese Small Plates
Karimah’s Kitchen is all about fresh and local food, community and a delicious healthy Mediterranean diet. Located in Kensington but also found in stores and markets throughout New Hampshire, Karimah offers Mediterranean dips like fried eggplant fattoush and small plates along with cooking classes and maza nights. karimahskitchen.com
COFFEE ROASTER
Flight Coffee Company
Bedford / flightcoffeeco.com
COFFEE SHOP CONCORD AREA
Revelstoke Coffee Concord / revelstokecoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Blue Loon Bakery New London / blueloonbakery.com
COFFEE SHOP
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
White Mountain Café & Bookstore Gorham / whitemountaincafe.com
COFFEE SHOP
LAKES REGION
Mad River Coffee House Campton / madrivercoffeehouse.com
Moo's Place Homemade Ice Cream Salem / moosplace.com
Mountain Bar and Bites
Looking to finish your day on the slopes or zipline with good food and funky Grateful Dead vibes? Head to The Grateful Skier Restaurant & Bar in Lincoln. This family-owned restaurant and bar is part mountain lodge and part jam session, with handcrafted cocktails and comfort food like rope sausage hoagies and chicken pot pie. Soak in the view while sipping a beer and rocking out to live music — sounds like the perfect après scene to us. gratefulskier.com
Pasta to Go
Fresh pasta made locally and cooked in our own kitchens? Sign us up. A household name around New England since 1989, Terra Cotta Pasta Co . are makers of fresh pasta, raviolis and sauces. Think prepared meals to go like lasagna, tortellini or roasted plum tomato marinara with egg rotini, perfect for a night full of flavor with little effort required. terracottapastacompany.com
Sassy Sauces
The best hot sauces add some heat to your plate, but they should taste good, too. Naked Hot Sauces based in Newmarket offers complex hot sauces that start with the natural flavors in fresh chili peppers without any extracts. Each sauce is flavorful without singeing your taste buds with varying heat profiles. They even have a garden variety salsa to help balance out your plate if you want to work your way up to being a total heat freak. nakedhotsauces.net
Tea, Sugar & Spice Blends
603 Perfect Blend in Manchester is a woman- and family-owned one-stopshop for any tea lover. Their menu covers all kinds of teas, from black, chai, green, oolong, fruit infusion and even a special “603” tea. Looking to add some punch to your next dessert item or appetizer? They have your cooking needs covered with their sugar and spice blends, too, like Great Bay blueberry sugar or kick his seabass spice.
603perfectblend.com
'Sweet' Speakeasy Experience
The Candy Bar in Laconia is one of those hidden gems that sounds made up until you go. The 1920s-style candy store is open during the day with bright jars filled with old-school sweets and vintage sodas, but after dark, the speakeasy is open and comes to life with live music and candlelit cocktails. No two evenings sound the same! thecandybarnh.com
ICE CREAM
SEACOAST REGION
Lago's Ice Cream
Rye / lagosicecream.com
ICE CREAM
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Super Secret Ice Cream
Bethlehem / supersecreticecream.com
INDIAN RESTAURANT
Shalimar India
Portsmouth / shaliamarindiaportsmouth.com
IRISH PUB
Holy Grail Restaurant and Pub
Epping / theholygrailpub.com
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Villaggio Ristorante Manchester / villaggioristorante.com
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Taste The Thai & Sushi House
Littleton / tastethethaiandsushi.com
LOBSTER ROLL
Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond / thetuckaway.com
LOCALLY SOURCED MENU
Pickity Place
Mason / pickityplace.com
MAC AND CHEESE
Mr. Mac's Macaroni and Cheese
Manchester / mr-macs.com
MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
Fotia Greek Taverna
Manchester / fotiagreektaverna.com
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Carreta
Manchester / lacarreta.us
NEW RESTAURANT
(OPENED JANUARY 2024 OR LATER) Evviva Trattoria
Bedford / evviavatrattoria.com
OUTDOOR DINING
Castle in the Clouds Moultonborough / castleintheclouds.org
PIZZERIA CONCORD AREA
Constantly Pizza Concord / constantlypizza.net
PIZZERIA
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION Ziggy's Pizza Sunapee / ziggyspizza.com
PIZZERIA GOURMET
900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria Manchester / 900degrees.com
PIZZERIA
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION Buck Rub Pub & Lodge Pittsburg / buckrubpub.com
PIZZERIA
LAKES REGION
Tilton House of Pizza Tilton / tiltonhouseofpizza.com
PIZZERIA MANCHESTER AREA
900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria Manchester / 900degrees.com
FOOD & DRINK
PIZZERIA
MONADNOCK REGION
Grappelli's Pizza
Peterborough / grappellispizza.com
PIZZERIA
NASHUA AREA
Nashua House of Pizza
Nashua / nashuahouseofpizza.com
PIZZERIA
SALEM AREA
Granfanallys Pizza Pub
Salem / granfanallys.com
PIZZERIA
SEACOAST REGION
La Festa Brick & Brew
Dover / lafestabrickandbrew.com
PIZZERIA
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Schilling Beer Co. Littleton / schillingbeer.com
RESTAURANT WITH BEST BEER LIST
Thirsty Moose Tap House
Manchester / thirstymoosetaphouse.com
RESTAURANT WITH BEST WINE LIST
Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant
Bedford / bedfordvillageinn.com
RESTAURANT WITH THE BEST COCKTAILS (TIE)
Americus Restaurant at Labelle Winery
Amherst / labellewinery.com
RESTAURANT WITH THE BEST COCKTAILS (TIE)
Copper Door Bedford / copperdoor.com
SANDWICH SHOP
Biederman's Deli
Plymouth / biedermansdeli.com
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Surf Nashua / surfseafood.com
SPECIALTY FOOD STORE
Angela's Pasta & Cheese Shop
Manchester / angelaspastaandcheese.com
SPORTS BAR
Thirsty Moose Tap House
Manchester / thirstymoosetaphouse.com
STEAKHOUSE
Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery Raymond / thetuckaway.com
TACOS Barrio
Portsmouth / barrio-tacos.com
THAI RESTAURANT
Taste The Thai & Sushi House
Littleton / tastethethaiandsushi.com
VEGETARIAN OPTIONS
Green Elephant
Vegetarian Bistro & Bar
Portsmouth / greenelephantnh.com
WINE SHOP
Wine on Main
Concord / wineonmainnh.com
WINGS
Wing-Itz
Dover, Hampton and Newmarket / wing-itz.com
Pies with Pizzazz
What started as a homestead business named after the crooked kitchen and the crooked pies it produced is now a household name with a retail location in Manchester. Slightly Crooked Pies is expanding their passion for pies to serve up classic favorites like blueberry lavender, cherry coconut crumble, maple pecan, “sweater weather” and even mini pies perfect for trying multiple flavors or enjoying the right size for yourself. Save us a slice of s’mores pie! slightlycrookedpies.com
Homemade Marshmallows
Rooted in the sweetness of childhood memories and time spent with family and friends, Twisted Mallow Company in Merrimack makes their own marshmallows that are the perfect addition to any summer campfire. Each of their mallows, like toasted coconut, maple or P.B. puffer nutter, are gluten-free, non-GMO and free from corn syrup and artificial colorings. Are you a classic or more “twisted” flavor type? You’re going to have to try them to find out! twistedmallowcompany.com
New York-Style Pizza
Rumor on the street has it that Nana’s Kitchen and Pizzeria in Auburn is “a little slice of pizza heaven.” We would tend to agree. They’ve got their New York-style thin crust (available gluten-free!) covered in flavors like prosciutto and fig, chicken bacon ranch, hot honey or short rib mac n’ cheese. Not feeling pizza? Try one of their smash burgers instead. nanaskitchenandpizzeria.com
Quality Starts
SHOPS & SERVICES
Local Grocery and Café
The increasing popularity of urban living has attracted businesses ready to create a welcoming hub for all those apartment and condo-dwellers. Portsmouth’s dwntwn grocer + cafe , which stocks fresh produce, organic staples and locally sourced products, also doubles as a coffee shop. dwntwngrocer.com
Mountain Bike Builds
Ride the Whites , which was originally housed in White Mountain Ski Co.’s retail shop in Jackson, now has its own dedicated retail store in North Conway, where it sells bikes, parts and accessories. Its service shop offers custom bike builds. whitemountainski.co
Interactive Party Favors
Looking for something special to add to the experience at your next gathering? With The Favors Bar , you can choose from a variety of party favor bars where your guests can choose a unique gift to bring home. Choices from the Manchester company include succulents, event-themed coffee K-Cups and wildflower seeds. thefavorsbar.com
Homegrown Fits
Shop for made-in-American women’s clothing from a small town better known for farms than factories. Founded in Lee in 2009, Emerson Fry specializes in small-batch fashion that focuses on sustainable materials, including organic cotton. Their long-lasting clothing promises to be vintage someday. emersonfry.com
Unusual Finds
With inventory that changes almost daily, Déjà vu Furniture & More in Londonderry says it’s the place other used furniture dealers come to hunt for treasure. Be prepared to wander for a while. Like that funky vintage chest? Better buy it today before someone else snags it. dejavufurniture.com
Funky Pottery
Through Off Menu Pots , Leigh Cronin and Clara Hodges of Portsmouth make unique handmade pottery they sell at regional events like pop-up and block parties and through their shop on Etsy. Their collaborations with local businesses include a collection of mugs and tumblers they created for cold-brew coffee maker NOBL Beverages. facebook. com/offmenupots
Female-Focused Coworking Space
The women who founded Parlor Coworking want to elevate the shared office experience by making it warmer and more inviting. The 2,500-square-foot space in Portsmouth’s West End offers pleasing light and a library/reading room for quiet time. Kick your shoes off at the door — they are a no-shoes space — and get to work. parlorcoworking.com
Omni Mount Washington Resort Carroll / omnihotels.com
EVENT VENUE
(SMALL - LESS THAN 500 ATTENDEES)
Castle In the Clouds
Moultonborough / castleintheclouds.org
FINANCIAL PLANNER
Bank of New Hampshire Bedford / banknh.com
FLORIST
Cobblestone Design Company
Concord / cobblestonedesign.com
FORMAL DRESS SHOP
Madeleine's Daughter Bridal
Portsmouth / madeleinesdaughter.com
GARDEN CENTER
Wentworth Greenhouses
Rollinsford / wentworthgreenhouses.com
GIFT SHOP OR RETAIL BOUTIQUE
Zeb's General Store
North Conway / zebs.com
SHOPS & SERVICES
Photo Booth Experience
The photo booth your grandparents cuddled in when they were teenagers seems like a thousand years old compared to the high-tech fun Magic Mirror of New England brings to weddings, parties and corporate events. The Manchester company’s signature booth pairs a full-length mirror with LED accents. A video booth offers 360 degrees of immersive video. magicmirrorofne.com
Outdoor Apparel
With locations in Lincoln and Gorham, Burgeon Outdoor manufactures high-end sports apparel designed for hikers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The company commits 5 percent of every sale to community and environmental efforts as part of its mission to support the mountain region. burgeonoutdoor.com
Artisan Marketplace
More than 50 local artisans sell their wares through The Apiary in Claremont. Find locally sourced honey, homemade baked goods, jams and jellies, handcrafted earrings and more. You can even get your Wicked Pissah Supa Tea here. facebook.com/TheApiary603
Creative Craftshop
This store in Concord, which opened in December, aims to fill in the gap left by the closure of JoAnn Fabrics, the fabric and craft store chain that shuttered all its stores nationwide last May. Concord Clothworks offers fabrics, supplies and a space for makers. concordclothworks.com
Inclusive Tattoo Shop
Stray Dogs Tattoo Studio bills itself as allinclusive and welcoming. The Keene studio is home to various artists that specialize in different styles. By appointment only. instagram.com/straydogs.tattoo
Small-Batch Coffee
Hometown Coffee Roasters , tucked away at the end of the block on Old Granite Street near a few restaurants, is a hidden gem in the Queen City. Enjoy a fresh sandwich or some avocado toast along with some handcrafted blend and single-origin coffees. hometownroasters.com
HAIR SALON
JSJ Aesthetics
Salem / jsjaesthetics.com
HAIR SALON (SPECIAL OCCASION)
JSJ Aesthetics
Salem / jsjaesthetics.com
HOME DÉCOR SHOP
Up North NH Pittsburg / upnorthnh.com
HOSPITAL
Elliot Hospital Manchester / elliothospital.org
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Gibson's Bookstore Concord / gibsonsbookstore.com
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED
FITNESS CENTER
Collective Studios
Londonderry / collectivestudiosnh.com
INVITATIONS
Ashley Elizabeth Designs Epsom / aelldesigns.com
JEWELER
Bellman Jewelers, Inc. Manchester / bellmanjewelers.com
JEWELER FOR ENGAGEMENT RINGS Bellman Jewelers, Inc. Manchester / bellmanjewelers.com
KID’S CLOTHING SHOP
M&C Clothing and Gifts
Amherst / Facebook
MEDICAL SPA
JSJ Aesthetics
Salem / jsjaesthetics.com
MEN’S CLOTHING SHOP
George's Apparel Manchester / georgesapparel.com
NAIL SALON
Velvet Nail Lounge
Exeter / velvetnailloungenh.com
PERSONAL BANKING (NH OR NE BANK)
Bank of New Hampshire Bedford / banknh.com
PET BOARDING
Take Five Dogcare
Lee / takefivedogcare.com
PET GROOMER
Take Five Dogcare
Lee / takefivedogcare.com
PET SUPPLIES STORE
Four Your Paws Only
Conway / fouryourpawsonly.com
PET TRAINING
American K-9 Country Amherst / americank9country.com
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Realty ONE Group Next Level Bedford / rognextlevel.com
RESORT/HOTEL SPA
Wentworth By The Sea New Castle / opalcollection.com/wentworthbytehsea
Humble Warrior Power Yoga Manchester / humblewarrioryoga.com
ARTS & CULTURE
Dynamic Community Hub
The capital city’s hottest new community hub is the multifaceted Arts Alley — a venue, a restaurant, a place to unwind or be creative — all close to downtown shops and eateries. There are even unconventional craft classes and workshops like glass etching, doormat painting and hat burning. What is hat burning? Now’s your chance to find out. After finishing your masterpiece, gather with friends on Arts Alley’s rooftop for a nightcap or take in a live concert set during First Friday, when downtown Concord is alive with food trucks, family events and special shopping opportunities. Peep its packed calendar of events for something that’s right up your alley. artsalleyconcordnh.com
Wildlife Events
Nature and birding enthusiasts seeking top-notch wildlife events need look no further than NH Audubon in Concord. All things wildlife, from watercolor exhibits that highlight our backyard critters, to outdoor handson activities, are offered. If a specific event doesn’t strike your fancy, choose from dozens of educational or community programs, summer camps or nature talks. NH Audubon is all about helping people connect with nature, so browse the website to find your interests or simply volunteer to share your love of the wild with others. From bird surveys to plant sales, NH Audubon’s list of events will keep you busy all year long. nhaudubon.org
Handcrafted Demonstrations
The nonprofit, community-based Craftworkers’ Guild in Bedford, celebrating its 100th year, has a lot to show for itself: After all, it’s the oldest crafters organization in New Hampshire. The guild is proudly home to all things craft and fine arts. Their goal is simple — to inspire a love of craft-making in others. Whether a member or a guest, everyone is welcome. If you’re unsure where your next creative path will take you, attend one of their fairs or browse their seasonal arts and craft shops at the Oliver Kendall House in Bedford that’s open four times a year. sites.google.com/view/the-craftworkers-guild
All-Season Entertainment
The typical dinner-and-a-movie night out gets a stylish upgrade at The Derryfield Restaurant in Manchester. Its banquet facility and ballroom can serve as an elevated locale for your wedding, social event, reunion, baby shower or business networking meeting. Whatever you have in mind for your next big gathering, The Derryfield can oblige. Their menu offers a wide variety of tastes, from Italian and American dishes to comfort food, appetizers, salads and sandwiches. Their live music events are not to be missed, and every week, the restaurant hosts trivia nights. thederryfield.com
PHOTO BY RANDY DUCHAINE / ALAMY STOCK
Traditional Skills Revival
Fiber arts have come a long way, and Loudon’s Sanborn Mills Farm is leading this crafting rebirth with a surprisingly diverse and comprehensive list of activities and workshops. Learn about the history of wool rug braiding, then make round trivets, a chair pad or a small rug. Weave on a loom, hook a rug or make an indigo vat. Make a willow backpack or try your hand at mixed media embroidery, metalsmithing, basketry and woodworking classes. Let your fingers do the weaving while you enjoy some “me” time, or just mend that jacket you love. sanbornmills.org
Pottery Café
Cat cafés and puzzle cafés are all the rage — now make way for Fired on the Mountain in Lincoln, a pottery café. Guests can paint their own pottery, play with clay, tie-dye a T-shirt, or switch gears entirely and practice tai-chi. They also have rooms to rent to hold a yoga class, a painting or a knitting group, at affordable rates ($20 up to two hours). When you need a break from all this creativity, stop in their café for coffee, tea or a smoothie to refuel before hitting the finish line on your new project. firedonthemountain.com
Clay Curious Classes
Are you “clay curious”? Lots of us are. Thankfully, there’s a place in Gorham where you can pick up some pottery skills or take a class. The Groggy Rabbit in Gorham has clays, glazes and tools available in their supplies shop. Take your pick of crafting opportunities, whether it’s a single workshop, classes that span several weeks or private lessons. Wheel- and hand-building classes are available for anyone who wants to learn, whether you’re a member or not. Those at the Groggy Rabbit say working with clay can set your mind at ease and give you a little slice of peace and quiet amid a hectic, wired world. thegroggyrabbit.studio
One-Stop Shop
As the state’s first and largest, the nonprofit mega MakeIt Labs in Nashua is a NH trendsetter, offering resources for laser-cutting, welding and more. Rub elbows with other artists, hobbyists and students like you who are taking classes, workshops and training sessions. Learn woodshop, wheel-throwing skills, metal lathing, rock-polishing, ceramics — or make a baguette for snacking later on. Get inspired, see your own work come alive, try a new craft, or teach your own class — you can do it all here. It’s a onestop shop for creativity and learning. makeitlabs.com
Readers’ PICKS
ART GALLERY
3S Artspace
Portsmouth / 3sartspace.org
METEOROLOGIST
Kevin Skarupa
Manchester / wmur.com
MUSEUM
Currier Museum of Art
Manchester / currier.org
MUSIC VENUE
(LARGE, 1000+ CAPACITY)
BankNH Pavilion
Gilford / banknhpavilion.com
MUSIC VENUE
(SMALL, LESS THAN 1,000 CAPACITY)
Tupelo Music Hall
Derry / tupelomusichall.com
NH RADIO MORNING SHOW
Greg And The Morning Buzz, Rock 101
Manchester / rock101fm.iheart.com
NH RADIO STATION
NHPR
Concord / nhpr.org
PERFORMING ARTS VENUE/PLAYHOUSE
The Palace Theatre
Manchester / palacetheater.org
TV NEWS ANCHOR
Erin Fehlau
Manchester / wmur.com
TV NEWS REPORTER
Katherine Underwood
Manchester / wmur.com
TV SPORTS ANCHOR
Mike Cronin
Manchester / wmur.com
FUN & ADVENTURE
Group Hideaway
Steps from the slopes and Lake Sunapee, Hideaway Inn — Mt. Sunapee in Newbury is a flexible home base for exploring the region. Designed to bring people together, this boutique hotel has contactless check-in, unique rooms and shared spaces like fire pits, lounges and a game room that are ideal for meeting new friends along your adventures. hideawayinns.com
Splatter Studio
Part art café, part splatter studio, part event space, part podcast studio and creative lab, Make it Pop Studios in Manchester has all of your creative needs and desires covered. Studio owner and muralist Heather Mara started the space for artists, creatives and entrepreneurs to gather, create, collaborate and help make the surrounding community blocks P.O.P. (paint on purpose). makeitpopstudios.com
Local Environment Exploration
The Caterpillar Lab (new homebase coming this summer!) is the spot for education, art, science and … a lot of cool caterpillars. The lab fosters appreciation and care for New Hampshire’s local natural history through live caterpillar programs, research initiatives and even photography and film projects. They also have self-guided lab activities, living displays, caterpillar-themed artwork and more to inch into this summer. thecaterpillarlab.org
Mobile Gaming
The games have left the building — literally. Based in Nashua, Gamers Sanctuary is a mobile gaming trailer that is loaded with Retro, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and over 40,000 games where gamers have the chance to meet and play with other gamers and build friendships along the way. gamerssanctuaryllc.com
FUN & ADVENTURE
Inspired Experiences
Wild Ivory is all about curated adventures, purposeful connection and inspired community. Think spaces for something deeper than small talk and surface-level living, like hanging out with women around a fire, at a pasta-making class, at an immersive retreat or in a moment of stillness. Through her experiences, founder Lex Morton has raised more than $80,000 for local charities and has partnered with more than 80 businesses to empower women to experience living fully, filling their cups, supporting one another and boldly exploring the world — together. wildivory.com
Art and Activity Studio
The Creative Duckling in Pembroke is an art and activity studio for all ages to get creative, make a mess and have fun all while learning and working on cognitive and social skills. Kiddos can paint with kitchen tools, toys and bathroom items, or try out the spray station and sand art. Check out their open studio time, music and movement classes and other more structured activities. thecreativeduckling.com
Entertainment Venue
From axe-throwing to rage rooms and paint splatter, Keene Axe House in Keene has everything you need to express “all the feels” in every which way. Grab some friends and family for an afternoon out or book a birthday or bachelorette party experience. keeneaxehouse.com
Readers’ PICKS
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESORT OR HOTEL
Adventure Suites
Conway / adventuresuites.com
GOLF COURSE
(PRIVATE, MEMBERSHIP ONLY)
Manchester Country Club
Bedford / manchestercountryclub.com
GOLF COURSE
(PUBLIC, NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED)
Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club
North Hampton / sagamoregolfclub.com
INN OR BED AND BREAKFAST
Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant
Bedford / bedfordvillageinn.com
NH SPORTS TEAM
NH Fisher Cats
Manchester / milb.com
SKI RESORT
Loon Mountain Resort
Lincoln / loonmtn.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Annual Craftsmen's Fair
Concord / nhcrafts.org
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
GREAT NORTH WOODS REGION
Bear Rock Adventures
Pittsburg / bearrockadventures.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
LAKES REGION
BankNH Pavilion
Gilford / banknhpavilion.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
MERRIMACK VALLEY
Canobie Lake Park
Salem / canobie.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
MONADNOCK REGION
The Friendly Farm
Dublin / thefriendlyfarm.com
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
SEACOAST REGION
Hampton Beach
Hampton / hamptonbeach.org
SUMMER OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
WHITE MOUNTAINS REGION
Clark's Bears
Lincoln / clarksbears.com
FUN & ADVENTURE
Community Gathering Space
Social energy meets modern recreation at Black Rock Social Club in Portsmouth. The club brings together food, drinks, live entertainment like comedians and musicians, and a full lineup of interactive activities like pool tables, virtual sports and pingpong, all in one spot. They even have an axe-throwing lane and Force Dynamics race-car simulators. Adults deserve their own childlike guilt-free fun, too! brsc.vip
Foam Parties
Imagine if Mr. Bubbles escaped from the bathtub and took over a backyard birthday party? Granite State
Foam Frenzy in Keene offers rental party packages that feature foam cannons and inflatables like bouncy houses. Fly down a water slide and splash around in a giant pile of soapy fluff. granitestatefoamfrenzy.com NH
Paintball Fields
If you enjoy paintball in any capacity, whether you’re new or seasoned, you’re going to want to check out the largest paintball park in New England. And even if you’ve already been, there’s a high chance that you haven’t even come close to touching everything that they have to offer. OSG Paintball in Center Barnstead has 13 fully themed courses across 43 acres, a full-sized pirate ship, Star Wars AT-AT, advanced rental gear and a restaurant and bar on site. osgpaintball.com
Ski In/Ski Out
While this shoutout is for being slopeside at Loon Mountain Resort — imagine taking that final, gentle run on Brookway on a bluebird day and immediately heading to the spa — The Mountain Club on Loon offers four-season accommodations, whether you are spending the day in Lincoln skiing, mountain biking, hiking or leaf peeping. Dine at the Black Diamond Pub for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and check out the newly opened café. mtnclub.com
Hall of Fame
Know that you can dine, shop and explore with confidence — all of these advertisers are certified as the best, either as voted by our readers or selected by the editors of New Hampshire Magazine. You can’t go wrong with these current and past Best of NH winners.
Congratulations
once again to all of our past and present winners.
Secondhand Clothing Shop
Kid’s Clothing Shop
Rooted in the values of family, community, and excellence, Schilling Beer Co. has earned international acclaim for its Czech- and Germaninspired lagers and its exceptional hospitality. Recognized by Untappd as one of America’s premier breweries, we invite guests to sip and eat while enjoying stunning riverside seating overlooking the Ammonoosuc. Our culinary offerings include award-winning woodfired pizzas, artisan sandwiches, and one of New England’s best smashburgers. Discover for yourself why USA Today ranked Schilling among the top-ten brewpubs in the nation. Beyond our beers, we provide a selection of craft cocktails, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic options. Families and service animals welcome! Littleton, NH | schillingbeer.com
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The White Mountain National Forest is one of the world’s great natural playgrounds, and we’re right in the middle of it all. A host of great adventures are yours for the choosing, like mountain biking, fishing, hiking, bird watching, White Mountain Attractions (including Loon Mountain’s Gondola Sky Rides), and more. Take on your next adventure in Lincoln, NH and save big with reduced room rates, meal and spa credits, activity discounts, and more. Discover specials and packages >>
You will still find our hilltop hideaway at the end of the winding dirt road. Lighten your spirit as you step out of your world and into ours. Welcome to Pickity Place. Have a Pickity Day!
More Than a Game
An imaginative Keene venue is mixing arcade nostalgia with local artistry and community building
BY KARA MCGRATH
Third places are having a moment. In our modern era — overly digitized, increasingly disconnected, jarringly polarized — many people are gingerly placing the last of their optimism eggs into the basket of offline locations that focus on creating real-life connections. While coffee shops and libraries work well for some, others are seeking spaces that provide a little more play. Enter Artcade, an arcade-meets-art-gallery-meetsmakerspace, which opened in downtown Keene this spring.
“Young people especially need a place that is not online,” co-owner Kristina Crabb says. “They need an actual physical location
to go to form community.” Kristina and her husband, Stephen, hope that Artcade — which is packed full of games and offers arts and craft workshops — can be that place for kids and kids at heart. “Gen X grew up going to arcades, so there’s nostalgia on that end,” Kristina says. “Then we see kids that are experiencing it for the first time in their hometown.” The last time Keene had a standalone arcade was in the 1990s.
The Crabbs both have a professional background in accounting (Stephen still does some part-time CPA work), but gaming has been a part of the couple’s relationship since the beginning. The night that Stephen intro-
duced Kristina to his parents, they stopped at an arcade beforehand to loosen up with a little Dance, Dance, Revolution (DDR).
At the beginning of COVID, Kristina told Stephen that she wanted a Skee-Ball machine for their house. “I think she meant maybe a small, home version,” Stephen says. “But I found somebody selling a full-size arcade machine.” After that was all set up, he asked the seller, “What else you got?”
Once the basement was overflowing, the Crabbs set up some of the extra games in the back corners of two nearby businesses — a laundromat and an antique shop — but the Crabbs knew they wanted to do even more. When the space at 116 Main St. became available, they jumped at the chance.
An arcade alone would have been ambitious enough, but they knew from the start they wanted it to be more about building community than locking in for a few hours of solo gameplay. In addition to her pandemic-driven Skee-Ball hobby, Kristina says she took some drawing classes and started taking art commissions. “Art is fun to make, but it’s really difficult to market and sell,” Kristina says. “I wanted to make this space where people would come in because of the games and then happen to see local artists’ work.”
Those who come in for the games are met with an extensive selection; there’s a wide range of both retro and newer options on offer. Stephen thinks the oldest game cabinet they have is a Wacky Gators from the late ’80s. Plus there are plenty of other classics, like Time Crisis, Pac-Man, and Galaga.
“It’s a rush of nostalgia to share these games with my 9-year-old daughter, Evelyn,” says Emily Sodders, a local muralist and fine artist who’s hosted workshops at Artcade. “And there are plenty of new games to try, too.”
At the time of this interview, the newest on site was a new Pokémon pinball game. “Pinball machines are kind of having a comeback,” Stephen says. At Artcade, you’ll find classic themes — like Jurassic Park and Mario — as well as newer, nerdy favorites, like a Dungeons & Dragons machine voiced by Matt Mercer, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian with a Grogu figurine that uses his force power to capture the ball.
While pinball is typically a solo endeavor, many games are meant to be enjoyed in a group. “We tried to do a lot of games where people could play together,” Stephen says.
Artcade owners Stephen and Kristina Crabb revisit Dance Dance Revolution, a game they’ve played together since early in their relationship.
For example, in NERF Arcade, players battle each other from side-by-side seats. They have two Skee-Ball lanes so two people can play at the same time and a Pac-Man table that sits up to four players.
Of course, the Crabbs wanted to have DDR. They weren’t sure it would be a hit, but people have been really excited about it — so excited that when they had to move it to make room for the new Pokémon pinball machine, one person left a panicked “please tell me DDR isn’t gone” comment on the Artcade Instagram.
You’ll also find games that are less common to see in the wild. For example, they have Guitar Hero, which Stephen says has sort of disappeared from the arcade circuit. In the back of the arcade sits a prototype cabinet for the Flamin’ Finger game, which was made by Dell Labs and sold to NAMCO.
“I put a final board of the game inside so you can play the real game,” Stephen says, but the cabinet is a prototype that was never actually produced. “It’s the only one (of this version) that I’ve ever seen.”
Stephen swaps games out about once a month; a bunch of the cabinets can host several different games. Stephen points out one that held Primal Rage — a ’90s-era game where players fight as prehistoric beasts — when they first opened. “People don’t remember or care about Primal Rage, so I put NBA Jam in,” he says.
To keep with the retro vibes, guests pay for the games with quarters, which they can get at the front desk. The pricing also feels like a blast from the past: “A lot of the games are the same price as they were when they came out,” Stephen says. Most are 50 cents to play, with some as low as 25 cents per person and a few, like the extremely popular claw machines, that go up to a dollar.
Most of the games reward wins with tickets, which players can trade in for prizes. Stephen says Pokémon cards are the most popular option, with the Rubik’s Cube coming in second.
In addition to sourcing the games, Stephen is the in-house repairman, a skill he’s taught himself. “When I would buy the machines, they would have been in an arcade for many years. They generally had things not quite right with them,” he explains. “I get them back to where you can play them the way they should be played.”
While Stephen takes the lead on the
gaming side of things, Kristina oversees the art half. This includes coordinating with local artists both to display their work throughout the space and to have them host workshops, some of which are geared toward kids from as young as 2 and some specifically for adults.
Sodders, for example, ran a mural painting class that resulted in a mural on the back wall; she also ran a micro-painting class.
“She’s covering both sides of the spectrum,” Kristina says, noting that they’re actively looking for more artists of all kinds who are interested in hosting workshops through the summer and fall.
Visitors can also come in and use the workshop space at their leisure, which many young people do. “I love seeing (kids) come in after school,” Kristina says. “This space will be covered in backpacks.” The back wall is covered in drawings that were made by kids in between rounds of pinball.
Work by professional artists is on display for three months at a time. Most of the pieces are for sale, and there’s also a small boutique at the front of the store where visitors can buy work from local artisans, as well as other artand gaming-centric treasures.
Overall, the community seems excited about this new addition to downtown. “It’s so exciting to have an arts-focused space like this right on Main Street,” Meg McIntyre, who leads local writing and arts workshops, says. “The Monadnock region has always been a creatively rich area, and Artcade’s visibility downtown really highlights that for both locals and visitors.” Sodders agrees: “It’s as unique and niche as one could want for the Monadnock Region.”
The Crabbs’ plan for Artcade’s future can be summed up in two words: more fun. They’ve applied to be a Pokémon League location, which would make them an official meeting point for people who want to play and trade cards. They’re partnering with Maxt Makerspace in Peterborough to make a “really big stadium” to host Beyblade tournaments, plus they’d like to bring in a projector screen to do Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. tournaments.
And, of course, they want to find more ways to lift up local artists and encourage in-person community. “The art community in Keene is really vibrant,” Kristina says. “It’s really nice to be a part of that.” NH
In addition to games, Artcade has a small store stocked with work by local artists, crafting materials, games and more.
Events Around the State
THURSDAYS, JULY 2-30
Atlantic Grill Music by the Sea Concerts
This summer concert series brings some of New England’s hottest bands to the Seacoast on Thursday nights. Enjoy great tunes and the seaside setting while supporting the Seacoast Science Center and their ocean education mission. Bring a blanket or chair, pack a picnic or purchase a freshly grilled dinner and chilled beverages on site. Concert goers can also enjoy the Center and its exhibits, free with concert admission. Ticket prices vary. 5 to 8:30 p.m., 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye. (603) 436-8043; seacoastsciencecenter.org
JULY 7-9
Hampton Beach Country Music Fest
Get ready for a boot-scootin’ good time at the annual Hampton Beach Country Music Fest. For three days, this event promises unforgettable moments filled with live music, line dancing and country vibes. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a first-timer, you can kick up your heels and join the daily free line dance sessions with Nashville Line Dance. The festival features a stellar lineup of local talent, showcasing some of the most talented country bands who’ll have you tapping your boots to every beat. And the highlight of the week? A free performance by nationally-touring country artist Niko Moon. hamptonbeach.org
JULY 9-12
Hillsboro Summer Festival
From live music and a parade to a fairway full of carnival rides, this legendary festival is packed with activities, including a beer tent, 5K road race, skillet toss, tractor pull, fireworks and more. For a free spectacle, stick around till dusk on Saturday night. Free. Times vary. Grimes Field, 29 Preston St., Hillsboro. (603) 464-0377; hillsborosummerfest.com
The Prouty
JULY 10-11
If you enjoy outdoor recreation of just about any kind, then you’ll find something to suit your tastes at this annual mega-fundraiser for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Cyclists can opt for 20- to 100-mile rides on the road or the 200-mile, two-day Prouty Ultimate; walkers can traverse anything from a 3K stroll through Hanover to an 11K walk in the woods; rowers can hit the Connecticut River for 5 to 15 miles, and cyclers can mountain bike and race on the updated hybrid gravel bike trail! Don’t like any of those? They also need volunteers. Prices, times and locations around Hanover vary. (603) 646-5500; theprouty.org
JULY 12
Loon Mountain Race
This Granite State race is the race to end all races. It is 6.03 miles, 10.62 kilometers, has an elevation gain of 3,125 feet, an average slope of 14 percent, and a $20,000 purse prize presented by Darn Tough Socks. It has a reputation as one of the country’s toughest mountain races, in large part due to the kilometer ascent of North Peak, known as Upper Walking Boss. “The Boss,” as it’s colloquially termed, is around a kilometer of grassy slope with angles that exceed a 40-percent grade. Named the “Most Competitive Hillclimb” by Runner’s World Magazine, this race is no joke. If you are feeling daring this summer, be sure to check this one out, but make sure you register in advance — there’s no race day registration. $50 to $70. 7:30 a.m., Loon Mountain Resort, 60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln. loonmtn.com
JULY 12
Sarah McLachlan
The Better Broken tour with special guest Allison Russell stops in New Hampshire. Hear your favorite hits like “Angel,” “I Will Remember You” and more. Ticket prices vary. 7:30 p.m., BankNH Pavillion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford; banknhpavillion.com
JULY 14-15
Dave Matthews Band
Jam out with two days of Dave. 7:30 p.m., Ticket prices vary, Bank of NH Pavillion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford; banknhpavillion.com
JULY 25-26
Second Annual Five Senses Tour at Tiffany Gardens
Use your five senses while exploring private gardens hidden in a Londonderry neighborhood. Included with your $20 donation is a self-guided tour as well as cold refreshments and small bites. The organizers will vendors, raffle baskets, an artist painting in the gardens, and musical entertainment hidden within the property. All proceeds will benefit free programing for older adults. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 15 King John Drive, Londonderry; comcaregivers.org/garden-tour
JULY
11
American Independence Festival
If you didn’t get all the patriotism out of your system on the Fourth, then try this later homage to America. Activities at this 36-year-old fest include battle reenactments, lawn games, live music and enough kids activities to keep the little ones entertained all day. Free. All day. American Independence Center, 1 Governors Lane, Exeter. (603) 772-2622; independencemuseum.org
JULY 25 & AUGUST 1-2
Great
New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival
This family fun event features a corn hole tournament, a kids’ zone (with free bounce houses), a whoopie pie eating contest, face painting, artisans, music, food trucks, caricature drawings and more. $5. Times and locations vary; gnefoodtruckfest.com
JULY 26
27th Annual Chocolate Fest
Watch the sunset across Corcoran Pond and enjoy an evening of chocolate temptations in Town Square along with a free outdoor concert and lawn games. Almost every type of chocolate dessert you can think of will be offered with special vendors including the Mobile New England Dairy Bar. Pack a picnic or just bring a bottle of your favorite libation and enjoy an indulgent evening in the square. Relax on Town Square’s Adirondack chairs, lounge back on a blanket, or enjoy your chocolate treats with your toes in the sand. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Town Square, 33 Village Road, Waterville Valley. waterville.com
JULY 30- AUGUST 2
Cheshire Fair
This traditional agricultural fair will feature entertainment, crafts, vendors, rides, animals and plenty of live music. This year’s theme is “Happy 250th Birthday, America.” The whole family will love the recently redone midway, new rides and games. Prices and times vary, 247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey. (603) 357-4740; cheshirefair.org
AUGUST 1
New England Hot Sauce Fest
Last year was so spicy, they’re doing it again! Spicy Shark presents a New England destination and celebration for hot sauce lovers. It features hot sauce samples from over 20 craft companies, music, food trucks, food challenges (including a hot pepper eating contest and a hot wing contest), craft vendors, libations, bouncy houses and more — don’t miss out on the spicy-sweaty fun. Proceeds support the Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center. Ticket prices vary. Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth. newenglandhotsaucefest.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event.
AUGUST 7
An Evening with Seth Meyers Comedian, “SNL” alum, “Late Night” host and Bedford Native, Seth Meyers, returns to the SNHU Arena for a special stand-up show to benefit CASA of NH and the Granite State Children’s Alliance! Proceeds benefit both organizations, so you can enjoy a night of laughter and fun with the knowledge that you’re helping children throughout the state. This show is likely to sell out quickly, so be sure to get your tickets soon. Ticket prices vary. 8 pm., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester; snhuareana.com
Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Elisa Gonzales Verdi (events@nhmagazine.com) or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar.
Summer Fun for Everyone
Special Advertising Section: SUMMER FUN
Cranmore Mountain Lodge is a charming historic inn dating back to the 1890s, located just ten minutes from downtown North Conway. Our 19-room inn spans five peaceful acres beside Kearsarge Brook and a tranquil trout pond. In the cooler months, unwind with a good book by the original fieldstone fireplace in our Library or enjoy board games in our inviting common room. During summer, relax by the outdoor pool, roast marshmallows by the fire pit, or lounge on our covered porch surrounded by mountain air.
We look forward to welcoming you to Cranmore Mountain Lodge, where history, comfort, and the beauty of the White Mountains come together.
Getting High After 55
Therapeutic cannabis use climbs in NH as researcher urges caution
BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / PHOTO BY PIXEL-STUDIOS
Cannabis use among older adults is rising rapidly nationwide, and New Hampshire’s most recent therapeutic cannabis data suggests the New Hampshire residents over age 56 may be following the same trend.
A 2025 analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine found cannabis use among adults age 65 and older increased nearly 46% between 2021 and 2023. In New Hampshire, adults ages 56 to 65 represented the largest group of qualifying patients in the state’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program in both 2024 and 2025, according to state data. Adults ages 66 to 75 represented the second-largest group. Combined, data from the New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis program shows that just over 7,500 qualifying patients in 2025 were age 56 to 75, up nearly 12% from about 6,700 the previous year.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, all age groups saw increased participation in the state’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program between 2024 and 2025. The total number of qualifying adult patients in 2025 was 16,838, up 14.6% from 14,698 in 2024.
Cannabis is not legal for recreational use in New Hampshire. Residents must get certified by a health care provider under one of the program’s qualifying conditions, which could include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, severe pain, severe muscle spasms and wasting syndrome. Patients may also qualify through combinations of qualifying diagnoses and symptoms, found on the state website.
“Health care providers certify patients for participation in the DHHS Therapeutic
Cannabis Program for a number of qualifying medical conditions,” DHHS said in a statement. “A patient must be diagnosed with a stand-alone medical condition or a combination of a qualifying diagnosis and a qualifying symptom.”
At the same time, health care provider participation in the program has expanded, offering residents increased access. State data shows the number of certifying physicians nearly doubled from 463 in 2016 to 861 in 2025. The number of advanced practice registered nurses, or nurse practitioners, exploded from 97 to 537 during the same period.
The Quest for Symptom Relief
As older adults turn to cannabis products that include the psychoactive ingredient THC for relief, they should pay close attention to dosing, potential medication interactions and
any longer-term cognitive effects, according to Dr. Alan Budney, a professor of psychiatry and biomedical data science at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine.
“In my book, this is a sad movement of cannabis, medical cannabis, in that we’ve kind of told everybody that cannabis can be good for these things, and we’ve made it easily available,” he says. “And so, people are trying it. You can’t blame them for trying it because they’re suffering from different illnesses or different symptoms that our medical system can treat, but not that well.”
A clinical psychologist and long-time cannabis researcher, Budney has spent decades studying cannabis use disorder, withdrawal and patterns of use. While much of his work has focused on addiction and treatment, he says using cannabis for medical symptoms has become a major discussion.
“Symptom relief is important because people are suffering. They want their symptoms relieved,” he says. “And if you can provide symptom relief without consequences, bad side effects, then what the heck, right? So that’s the question with cannabis. Does it really provide symptom relief for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, and is it safe? And in my mind, the answer certainly for this older group is there’s a lot of risk and a lot of unknowns.”
For example, more than 1,000 New Hampshire residents were approved for medical cannabis use in 2025 for “moderate to severe insomnia,” yet health claims linking cannabis to better sleep don’t mesh with the science, Budney says. Cannabis products may help you fall asleep easier, but they will not help you stay asleep, and it actually interrupts the quality of your sleep. That contradiction often appeared in patient surveys responses he’s collected throughout his research.
“(They say) it helps me with sleep,” he says. “But then you ask, what does it hurt you with? They say sleep,” he says.
Not all Cannabis Compounds are Created Equal
One of his biggest concerns is that many people fail to distinguish between THC — the compound in cannabis that causes intoxication — and CBD, a non-intoxicating cannabis compound commonly marketed for wellness and sleep. (In New Hampshire, hemp-derived CBD products must contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight to be legal under both federal and
state hemp laws. You do not need to be part of the New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program to purchase CBD products, which are sold in wellness and retail stores — in addition to dispensaries. However, CBD is not FDA-approved for sleep or other conditions.
“Most people just say cannabis or marijuana, and that could be CBD, THC. It’s usually a combination of all of those,” Budney said. “So isolating THC vs CBD is an important first step when you try to talk about this.”
“They have claims written below them of what they could help you (with) ... there’s no FDA, because it’s not approved for anything.”
— DR. ALAN BUDNEY
Both THC and CBD can pose risks. When ingesting THC, older adults should be careful to avoid falls. They can also experience changes in perception, which could include making mistakes taking other medicines. While scientists have not conclusively shown THC causes dementia, significant questions remain about how long-term THC use may affect aging brains. And CBD, although technically legal, can also interact with prescription medications seniors may be taking.
“We know very clearly that CBD can mess with your metabolism through a certain enzyme that it affects,” he says. “So, you’re taking CBD for something, and you’re taking medications for something else — you’ve got to be careful.”
Buyer Be Aware
Even though a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner certifies patients, therapeutic cannabis exists outside the framework patients associate with traditional prescription medications. It can even be challenging to find a doctor who will certify you in the first place. According to application language on the state website, “There is not a public list of medical providers who participate in the Program. The Program cannot refer you to a provider. You must work with your current providers or develop a relationship
with a new provider to become certified.”
That leaves it up to patients to find a health care provider to certify them, apply to the state for a medical card, and then find and work with a state-approved cannabis dispensary to obtain the best strain, dosage, and method of ingestion.
“Health care providers do not prescribe therapeutic cannabis; rather, providers certify patients to participate in the program to address a qualifying medical condition or qualifying diagnosis and symptom,” DHHS confirmed in a statement.
Budney says this structure forces many patients to navigate products and dosing on their own. The commercial nature of cannabis purchases can make it difficult for consumers to evaluate safety or effectiveness, too.
“Although there’s some little language that happens in the state regulations, mostly it says, ‘yes, approved for this, approved for that.’ It just never says what you should take, how much you should take, how long you should take it for. You basically, you go to the candy store,” he says. “And the candy store has all these different products. You can smoke them, you can eat them, you can drink them. They have THC and CBD. They have combinations. They have names that are attached to them, advertising names. They have claims written below them of what they could help you (with) … there’s no FDA, because it’s not approved for anything.”
Despite his concerns, Budney doesn’t oppose cannabis legalization.
“I’m not an anti-cannabis guy,” he says. “I’m all for legalization. I’m just not for the therapeutic legalization.”
However, he does support cannabis for people with severe symptoms or those nearing the end of life.
“I had an uncle who was dying of cancer and had pain,” Budney says. “I was like, you know, it’s worth a try. You can see if it provides some relief. Some people say it does, other people hate it.”
But for older adults generally, Budney urges caution.
“You can’t afford to fall. Things break very easily and you can’t afford to get confused while you’re driving or trying to get to wherever you’re trying to go,” he says. “The risks in my mind outweigh the potential benefits, because the benefits are all mostly potential, and the risks are pretty well known.” NH
The Lure of the Lake Home
BY BRION O’CONNOR/ ILLUSTRATION BY PETER & ISLA NOONAN
Sleep sometimes eludes my daughter Maddi, so my wife bought her one of those clever sound machines. I first heard it late at night. I went to kiss Maddi, already asleep, good night. But as I tip-toed into her room, the gentle sounds of water lapping against a rocky shoreline stopped me in my tracks.
I was instantly transported to another time, another place. I found myself at a special lake house that has become a summer home-awayfrom-home for my girls and me, tucked away amid the stately pines and rugged hardwoods on Newfound Lake in central New Hampshire. Juxtaposed with the sight of my sleeping daughter, the moment brought tears to my eyes. That’s what lakes can do.
We all need to escape today’s overly commercial, overly regimented, overly demanding world, full of electronic gadgets. These are unpredictable, uncertain times. When I need a diversion, I pack up the family wagon and head toward one of a handful of special lakes that dot my adopted home state.
“Being near a lake, or any open body of water, has a calming sense in general,” said my bride, Lauri, a Midwest gal from eastern Kansas. “Water provides such a wide variety of experiences that almost anyone can find something they find appealing and special.”
My parents shared an affection for the ocean, much like Lauri, who says the broad expanse is reminiscent of her native plains. Me? I like the ocean, but I’m a lake guy at heart. I love the pristine feel of freshwater, smooth and cool across my skin, no need for a post-dip shower.
The allure, though, runs deeper. Lakes are places where time, if only briefly, or in special moments a little longer, stands still. Children may not recognize that all-too-elusive quality. But grown-ups can,
because we know just how precious, how fleeting, those moments are. These are places where memories are created, nurtured and eventually etched in granite.
Then there’s the lake house. An old, crusty structure built on a sturdy stone foundation, unvarnished except for knickknacks adorning the walls and the mantel above a large stone fireplace, with wide plank floors, threadbare furniture, and a sprawling porch with spider webs crowding the eaves. The best lake houses are living museums, preserving artifacts from dog-eared guest books to faded sepia-toned photographs.
I love sitting in the low light, imagining the generations that filled these rooms, the raucous celebrations and peaceful gatherings. Those thoughts conjure a sense of serenity and, yes, nostalgia. Shared history is a strong component of the lake experience, an emotional undercurrent as real as the shifting currents beneath the water’s surface.
There’s also the unmistakable draw of heightened senses — our exuberant Labrador retriever, True, joyfully leaping from the dock, and the girls giggling at our hound’s antics. I’m captivated by the smell of the pines, the loamy earth, and bacon sizzling in a cast-iron skillet atop a gas-fired stove.
Ultimately, I crave the tranquility that a quiet alcove provides in the early morning and often long after sundown. The soft ripples at daybreak, with a gray mist rising like a spectral blanket, or the intimate reflection of a campfire and the wide-ranging glow of the moonlight.
During dinner recently, our girls wondered when we were returning to our lake retreat. I asked, “Why is that important?”
“There were no sounds of civilization anywhere. No cars, nothing,” Maddi replied after considerable thought. “I would lay in my bed at night, feeling like I was listening to silence.
“But if I closed my eyes, and breathed as softly as I could, everything would come alive,” she continued. “The frogs croaking, the loons calling to each other, and the very light ripples of the lake coming up onto the shore. These sounds would put me to sleep. Then I’d wake up to the beautiful chirping of the bids, and I’d say to myself, ‘I think I’m home.’ ”
Home, indeed. No clever sound machines required. NH
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