Author: New Hampshire Magazine Staff

Long before it was called "extreme," people were doing it in New Hampshire Ask Jeffrey Leich if he's scared when he skis the headwall of Mt. Washington's Tuckerman Ravine and he says, "Only every year I go, especially on the…

Tiny beads become bejeweled berries with sparkling tendrils in the hands of an artist. *** The path to beading was serpentine for Beader Gillian Smith of Andover. She was born and raised in England and traveled the world with her…

A guide to retail therapy from Main Street storefronts to backroad boutiques.So What's NewMake a Date AblazeWhy not go on a date and undress together? Ablaze, apparel for men and women, 115 Water St., is the hot new place for…

Thirty years ago Celeste Longacre was trying to figure out what her life work was to be. One day the thought came to her that perhaps her first name was no accident, that she was fated to deal in celestial…

If winter has you climbing the walls, try this ...It really is true. "If you can walk, you can snowshoe," says Jackson's Lorraine Tilney, a volunteer snowshoe tour leader at the pristine Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.First-timers might find snowshoes a…

Need a good reason to spot the newt? This month's lucky (and fearless) newt spotter will receive a nifty Snow Sleeve snow removal device from Hunter IdeaNet of Epping (http://hunterideanet.com). The Hunter Snow Sleeve can be used by one person…

All the aroma and flavors of home baked bread need not be a chore. Consider this easy recipe for soft breadsticks. Bread is the only food eaten by people of every race, culture and religion. Americans consume almost 60 pounds…

I love to watch people win awards — particularly when the people are slender, attractive human beings dressed like alien royalty hugging one another on the way to the dais to receive a pound of fake gold. Don’t ask me…

Enjoy a relaxed meal where the past lives on at classic New Hampshire inns. Sometimes our sprawling cities and citified towns seem like just another byway through modern America. But look closer. Across the state, historic properties on roads less…

Pure evil — that’s what they call the acts of Sheila LaBarre. And, indeed, what went on at LaBarre’s farm in Epping a few years back — a brutal murder of two men and possibly more — can surely be…

Not a fun thing, but it's a proven life-saver If you knew of a cancer-screening test that, for most patients, is fairly painless, low-risk and highly effective, would you take it? How about if you were told that the same…

Using a washboard, steel guitar and their voices, Avi & Celia have mastered a sound of their own in mixing the music of the "old" with the pop and rock sounds of today. This Boston-based duet combines the cultural music…

How can there still be no leads or arrests in the theft of over a dozen priceless masterpieces nineteen years later? This mysterious case began the night of Saint Patrick’s Day in 1990, when two men dressed as policemen were…

“How ‘bout a shave?” Fleet Street and the infamous demon-barber come to Concord for revenge and justice in “Sweeney Todd” at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30. Come experience the musical that…

With her spellbinding voice, Mariza is one of today's leading interpreters of fado, also called the “blues of Portugal.” Born in Mozambique and raised in Lisbon, Mariza began singing these melancholy story-songs before she could read. Among the locals, she…

Valentine’s Day Dance Manchester. Dance the night away to the tunes of the Compaq Big Band at its annual Valentine’s Day Dance. The band plays from 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Swing lessons will take place from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Tickets are…

Orchids in the deep of January- a salve for the winter-weary soul. They're beautiful any time, of course, and many of us would love to have them in our homes. Too often, though, the flowers quickly wither and drop, never…

Thank you for sending me an image of your bow back Windsor chair, which dates to the early 19th century. Windsor chairs were named after a chair custom-made in the 18th century for the Duke of Windsor. This chair design,…

New Hampshire's Interstate arteries pulse with development, money-bearing tourists from away and commuters. But despite some spectacular views, many folks never realize the beauty that lurks along the smaller veins that take us away from the big black and the history…

You could consider the Zarlis custom home builders. It all started with a typical birdhouse for a wren 10 years ago. Within months the Moultonborough couple were completing elaborate mansions for birds. Actually, Linda admits that most of the constructions…

For 25 years Stacey Kimberley Rogers owned a tuxedo shop, but all the while she knew someday she'd work with dogs, turning her 18 years of volunteering for the N.H.S.P.C.A. in Stratham into a profession. Two years ago she and…

The air is crisp and the frozen landscape shimmers in the light. A flick of the wrist is all it takes to be an easy rider in winter, exploring the state's thousands of miles of snowmobile trails. Snowmobilers are a…

Need a good reason to spot the newt? This month's lucky (and fearless) newt spotter will receive this hand-painted one gallon crock, made by Great Bay Pottery of North Hampton ($65 value - pictured here). The company specializes in a…

Pure evil — that’s what they call the acts of Sheila LaBarre. And, indeed, what went on at LaBarre’s farm in Epping a few years back — a brutal murder of two men and possibly more — can surely be…

Most aspiring actors based in the boondocks of New Hampshire know they've got a snowball's chance in heck of making it to the big time in TV or movies. Still, Nicholas Purcell has seen his own career, starting with a…

When renovating or building a new home, keep your kitchen simple and elegant, but pamper yourself in the bath with extravagant showers and designer fixtures. *** The kitchen and master bath are two important places of the home - the…

Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca January 16-17, Hanover. Madrid-based troupe Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca bring the passionate and beautiful flamenco tradition of Spain to New Hampshire. Tickets are $30, $14 for 18 and under and $5 for Dartmouth students.…

Treat your Valentine to an evening of romance with contemporary music superstar Jim Brickman at the Rochester Opera House on Wednesday, February 4th at 8 p.m. Pianist/songwriter Brickman warms the heart with his stunningly beautiful, soulful music including his most…

The internationally renowned Grammy Award-winning all-female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock is coming to New Hampshire. The evening will feature the sounds of blues, spirituals, African chants and hip hop. The members have an expansive repertoire of…

January 29, Manchester. At this annual benefit you can sample over 1200 quality wines along with fine food and specialty goods from favorite local restaurants and specialty vendors, bid on items in the silent auction, win the "Ultimate Tower of…

Brian Mitchell starts dragging the strings of Christmas lights out of storage — the attic, the basement, multiple closets and an 8’ x 10’ shed — sometime in October. Then come the waving Santas, the plastic light-up figures, the blow…

As a writer, words are my tools but also, sometimes, my weakness. For instance, I tend to describe people whom I like or admire as “characters.” I think the term suggests they play fascinating roles in life, but sometimes I’ve…

What better way to soothe our sorry souls than with a hot bowl of soup? A nourishing bowl of steaming vegetables in a full-bodied broth warms the hands and the heart, too. Soup making itself is therapeutic - chopping vegetables…

When a book has 66 pages of footnotes to document the research contained therein, you know you can look forward (or not) to a wide-ranging examination of a topic. Indeed, that’s what you get with Jim Rubens’ new book, “OverSuccess:…

His theatrical parents own Ballard's Novelty and Party store in Concord, so he grew up surrounded by costumes and larger-than-life characters. Naturally he found his way onto the stage, mostly for local musical theatre companies. But his most recent performance…

Cringing whenever my Supercuts stylist asks if I want mousse or hair gel, I will never be confused with a metrosexual. So needless to say, I was shocked by how eager I was to charge into Kim's Spa & Nails…

In these cold winter months there’s still plenty to do outside — skiing, skating, snowshoeing — the list goes on and on. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to stay inside where it’s cozy, dry and warm, safe from freezing winds and…

December 25, New Castle. Festive Christmas Dinner in the beautiful Wentworth and grand dining rooms is served from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., or enjoy the festive Christmas brunch in the Wentworth Dining Room, served from 11 a.m. to 5…

January 9, Concord. It started as the 1984 hit movie starring Kevin Bacon, moved to Broadway in 1999 and now it’s coming to the stage in New Hampshire. The show’s classic 80s hits include “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Almost…

December 31, Wolfeboro. First Night is a community-wide alcohol-free celebration of the performing arts that began in Boston in 1976 and now takes place in over 200 cities in the U.S., Canada and other nations. This year’s theme, “Starry, Starry…

This 12th annual self-guided tour goes from inn to inn in the White Mountain region. Along the way you can taste holiday cookies and candies, see gingerbread displays, find recipes, collector’s ornaments and enter to win a free overnight getaway.…

Wally Lamb will appear as part of the Writers on a New England Stage Series. After a nine year hiatus, this bestselling author has published his third work of fiction, “The Hour I First Believed.” As part of The Writers…

Thank you for sending me images of your pair of portraits. The journey of researching your paintings has certainly been an interesting one! I had initially hoped to obtain from you additional images or clarification of the writing on the…

Jeff Balashak of Manchester had an early passion for woodworking. At a certain point in his high school training he began showing his shop instructors how to shape wood. His class projects of reproduction furniture nicely populated his parents' living…