Spontaneity: Weekend of January 5 – 7

Check out what's going on this weekend (and this weekend only) across the Granite State

Are you itching to get out and try something new, but aren’t sure where to look and what to do? Have no fear, “Spontaneity” is here! Every week, we provide a region-by-region breakdown of events and activities from across the Granite State that you won’t want to miss. From arts and crafts, to hole-in-the-wall music venues, our short list will have something for everyone, no matter what you’re looking to do. If you see something you like, make sure you act fast- we’re only looking at what’s going on this weekend.

Seacoast:

Club 3S: New Year, Old School
Jan. 5, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
3S Artspace
319 Vaughn St., Portsmouth
Kick off the New Year with a blast from the past. DJ Skooch and guest DJ, DJ MAM, will transport you back in time with the best hip-hop tracks from the golden era. From classic beats to iconic rap anthems, the dance floor will be alive with the energy of hip-hop’s roots. Bring your crew and start the year with the timeless beats that shaped the genre.

Resin Beach Scenes
Jan. 5 at 6-8 p.m.
Seacoast ArtSpot
2992 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth
Have you ever wanted to create a resin beach scene but didn’t know where to start? This is an introductory course to resin where you will learn how to measure out and mix the perfect resin consistency, create ripple effects to look like waves with a heat gun, as well as learning how to incorporate resin with sand. Gina will provide step by step directions and a demonstration prior to setting you free to explore your creativity. You will receive one 8×8 flat canvas as your practice piece and then you will move onto a 9×12 flat canvas to create your final piece. We will have seashells and other beach themed items to place along your sandy shore. Attendees are welcome to bring any of your own beachy collections to add to your piece. Class will take place on Friday, Jan. 5 and pieces will be ready to pick up after Jan. 6 at noon. Please bring an extra layer with you as windows are opened to support ventilation in the studio.

Merrimack Valley:

NHMC Sunday Sessions: Run Like Thieves
Jan. 7, 6 p.m.
The Cantin Room at BNHS
6S Main St., Concord
Meet Run Like Thieves – the musical powerhouse blending soulful blues with hard-hitting rock and Americana.  Led by the rhythmic force of Greg Santini, aka ‘The Running Drummer,’ and fueled by the melodic prowess of Abe Hughes on bass, alongside the soulful vocals and guitar of Dan Fallon. RLT is all about connecting with people; through their honest music, energetic live performances, storytelling, genuine friendship and by having a lot of fun with the audience! Tell her goodbye, the band’s debut release, and other songs, can be heard on 92.5FM, 104.7FM, 96.7FM, 91.5FM, 100.1FM, 95.3FM, 90.7FM and more!

Beginning Guitar Workshop
Jan. 6, 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Manchester NH Guitar Lessons
84 Bay St., Manchester
Kick off the New Year by learning how to play the guitar! Hosted by Manchester NH Guitar Lessons, this beginning guitar workshop will teach you how to strum, pick, and play music you love hearing on guitar! This in-person event will be held at 84 Bay Street, Manchester. Whether you’ve never picked up a guitar before or you’re a beginner looking to improve your skills, this workshop is perfect for you. You will be guided you through the basics and help you develop a solid foundation in playing the guitar. Don’t miss this opportunity to unleash your inner rockstar! Limited spots available, so sign up now!

Monadnock:

Radium Girls
Jan. 7, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
MoCo Arts
40 Roxbury St., Keene
Delve into a riveting tale of courage and determination with MoCo Arts’ High School Play’s production of “Radium Girls.” Join us on Sunday, January 7 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. as we bring this powerful story to life on stage. Witness the struggles and triumphs of young women who fought against injustice in the workplace, exposing the dangers of radium poisoning. With compelling performances and a gripping narrative, “Radium Girls” sheds light on the pursuit of truth and the strength of the human spirit. Don’t miss this thought-provoking and impactful production that will leave you reflecting on the past and considering the present. Call (603) 357-2100 or stop by MoCo Arts for tickets.

Ring in the New Year- Candlelight Open House
Jan. 5, 5 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Monadnock Center for History and Culture
Directly behind 19 Grove St., Peterborough
Join us on the First Friday of the new year for a candlelight open house evening in the Phoenix Mill House. Learn how the Prescott family welcomed the new year and experience their candlelit home as it would have been on a cold January evening in the 1830s. Hot mulled cider will be served. Our costumed interpreters will share the traditions and folklore surrounding the new year and discuss the ways the Prescott family stayed warm and lighted their home in the dark winter months. The candlelight open house is from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, donations appreciated. The Phoenix Mill House is an overseer’s home once occupied by the Samuel and Nancy Prescott family. The house is located directly behind the Monadnock Center’s main building at 19 Grove Street in downtown Peterborough.

Accessibility note:

The Phoenix Mill House is an historic house that requires two steps to enter and exit and may not be appropriate for all visitors. This candlelight open house is a low-light event.

Lakes:

Hablamos
Jan. 5, from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Lakes Region Community College
374 Belmond Rd., Laconia
¡Hablamos! Step into a world of culture and camaraderie as we invite you to immerse yourself in Spanish language conversation! Get ready for a fun experience that will open the doors to an extraordinary community of Latinos/Hispanics and Spanish speaking enthusiasts. Whether you’re a native speaker seeking to connect or a language aficionado eager to sharpen your Spanish linguistic skills, this group is for you! We gather on the first Friday of every month at 6 p.m. at Lakes Region Community College’s cafeteria. Feel free to bring a snack to share! Mark your calendars and save the date for our next gathering on Friday, Jan. 5. For more information, please contact profesorablais@gmail.com

Sledding Gnome Paint and Sip
Jan. 5, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Art Escape
636 Union Ave., Laconia
Are you looking for something creative and fun to do? Grab your friends and join us at Art Escape for our Paint and Sip event!  You will be given step by step instructions by Jeanie our experienced local artist, and all the supplies needed to complete a masterpiece of your own.  Canvas will be a pre-drawn 16″x20″ canvas design making it easier for beginners.  You are given the artistic freedom to change colors in the painting to match your home décor.  After a few hours of laughter and fun you will leave with a work of art you created yourself. Escape your daily life.  The music will be loud, the laughter will fill the room. Feel free to sing along, sip your wine and relax!

Dartmouth/Sunapee:

Free Multiplayer on Consoles
Jan. 6, 6 p.m.- 11 p.m.
The Fourth Place
3 Lebanon St., Hanover
Our free console gaming event features free multiplayer or sports league games: If everyone can play, then everyone can play!

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Film
Jan. 6, 7 p.m..
Loew Auditorium
22 Lebanon St., Hanover
Taylor Swift’s 2023 concert tour was a cultural phenomenon. Demand for tickets broke Ticketmaster, rescheduled weddings and fans’ earth-shaking dancing at the Seattle shows caused a 2.0 magnitude earthquake. Shot at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on the final stop on the tour’s first leg, the concert film captures the power and the glory of an extraordinary, multifaceted performer. Clocking in at just under three hours, Swift’s concert is divided into nine segments, each dedicated to a specific album or “era” of her personal and creative development. The result is an exhilarating journey through a 17-year, award-winning musical career. Immerse yourself in this once-in-a-lifetime concert film experience with a breathtaking, cinematic view of the history-making tour.

White Mountains and Great North Woods:

Jigsaw Puzzle Team Tournament  
Jan. 6, 1 p.m.
Pope Memorial Library
2719 Main St., North Conway
Put together a team of no more than four people and you will have 90 minutes to complete a 500-piece puzzle. The team finished or with the least number of remaining pieces after 90 minutes will be the winner and claim speed puzzler bragging rights!  $10 per team, to register stop by the circulation desk or call 603-356-2961.

Meet the Winemakers: Seven Birches Winery Tour
Jan. 6. 12 p.m.- 1:15 p.m.
Seven Birches Winery
22 South Mountain Drive, Lincoln
Whether you’re a wine lover or just going along with others who are passionate about the drink, you won’t want to miss this White Mountains Seven Birches Winery Tour that takes you intimately through the wine-making process with the wine makers themselves. Enjoy tastings of both young and old wines, as well as a full-on tour of the winery’s wine production room. Learn about the wine-making process in New Hampshire’s White Mountains Go behind the scenes in the Seven Birches Winery wine production room Enjoy a tasting of a young wine-in-progress, as well as full tasting flight Get to chat with the winemakers and ask questions!

Have an event we should know about or that should be considered for the next edition of “Spontaneity”? Shoot me an email at EGonzalesVerdi@nhmagazine.com