Editor’s Note: 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.