From Archery to Zumba: Turn a Hobby Into an Obsession

Ready to indulge in a new pastime? Here's where to get started.

April 27, 2021

New Hampshire Magazine Staff,

Thanks to pandemic safety precautions, 2020 was the year many of us stayed home. It was also the year a lot of people discovered new interests, skills and specialties while they were quarantining.

Giving up sporting events, concerts, plays and packed restaurants meant there was suddenly an abundance of free time, and many people took advantage by learning to cook or knit or even pick up a musical instrument.

If the stay-at-home era passed by without a new hobby capturing your imagination, it’s not too late. We’re finally starting to see an end to restrictions, and opportunities are becoming available. Why not impress your fellow former hermits with a new skill?

Suggested hobbies and recommended places to get started

Airsoft

RPC Airsoft, Fremont
197 Sandown Road, Fremont, N.H.
(603) 760-0393

Archery

Art of Archery, Manchester
dana@artofarchery.com
(603) 396-7979

Pioneer JOAD, Dunbarton
christy@pioneerjoad.org
21 Farrington Corner Road, Dunbarton, N.H.
(978) 732-6620

Art lessons

Refined Art NH, Barrington
info@refinedartnh.com
11 Christmas Lane, Barrington, N.H.
(603) 948-7203

Brush and Palette Art School, North Hampton
classes@brushandpalet.com
mary@brushandpalet.com
105 Post Road, North Hampton, N.H.
(603) 778-0685

Creative Ventures Gallery, Milford
betsycraumer@comcast.net
41 Nashua St., Milford, N.H.
(603) 672-2500

The Painted Turtle, Nashua
paintedturtle@tnotgroup.com
10 Groton Road, Nashua, N.H.
(603) 881-4815

“642 Things to Draw” at Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord
gibsons@gibsonsbookstore.com
45 South Main St., Concord, N.H.
(603) 224-0562

Ax throwing

RelAxe Throwing, Manchester
RelaxeThrowing@gmail.com
157 Gay St., Manchester, N.H.
(603) 782-3061

Ballroom Dance (and swing and mixed)

Gate City Lindy, Nashua
gatecitylindy@gmail.com
36 Arlington St., Nashua, N.H.

Portsmouth Ballroom Dance Studio, Newington
peggimorrow@comcast.net
Fox Run Mall, 50 Fox Run Road, Newington, N.H.
(603) 969-2146

Rockingham Ballroom, Newmarket
rockinghamballroom@yahoo.com
22 Ashswamp Road, Newmarket, N.H.
(603) 659-4410

Paper Moon Dance Center, Merrimack
info@papermoondance.com
33 Depot St., Merrimack, N.H.
(603) 943-1106

Arthur Murray, Manchester
manchester@arthurmurrayboston.com
99 Elm St., Manchester, N.H.
(603) 624-6857

Birding

New Hampshire Audubon, Concord
nha@nhaudubon.org
84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, N.H.
(603) 369-4329

Brew your own beer

The Homebrew Barn, North Hampton
info@thehomebrewbarn.com
18 Lafayette Road, North Hampton, N.H.
(603) 379-9138

Jasper’s Home Brew Supply, Nashua
jaspers@boomchugalug.com
522 Amherst St., Unit 17, Nashua, N.H.
(603) 881-3052

Kettle to Keg, Pembroke
info@kettletokeg.com
123 Main St., Pembroke, N.H.
(603) 485-2054

Calligraphy

Sip and Script, Portsmouth

Coloring

New Hampshire Coloring Book/NH Historical Society, Concord
30 Park St., Concord, N.H.
(603) 228-6688

Cooking classes and lessons

The Culinary Playground, Derry
kristen@culinary-playground.com
16 Manning St., Suite 105, Derry, N.H.
(603) 339-1664

Recipes by Kathy, Manchester
klt0828@yahoo.com
122 Main St., Manchester, N.H.

The Creative Feast, Hollis
liz@thecreativefeast.com
(603) 321-5011

Falconry

New Hampshire School of Falconry, Deering
falconers@comcast.net
183 Deering Center Road, Deering, N.H.
(603) 464-6213

Flower arranging

Apotheca Flower & Tea, Goffstown
hello@apothecaflowers.com
24 Main St., Goffstown, N.H.
(603) 497-4940

Model building

HobbyTown, Londonderry
4 Orchard View Drive, Unit 5, Londonderry, N.H.
hobbytownnh@myfairpoint.net
(603) 432-4881

Scale Hobbyist, Nashua
customersupport@scalehobbyist.com

Historia Emporium – The History Store, Newington
help@greathistorygifts.com
(800) 269-0413

Music lessons

The Real School of Music, Derry
info@therealschoolofmusic.com
10 A St., Derry, N.H.
(603) 260-6801

Manchester Music Mill, Manchester
info@manchestermusicmill.com
329 Elm St., Manchester, N.H.
(603) 623-8022

School of Mojo, Salem
spacecatmojo@gmail.com
379 South Broadway, Salem, N.H.
(603) 328-5624

Manchester Community Music School, Manchester
info@mcmusicschool.org
2291 Elm St., Manchester, N.H.
(603) 644-4548

Earcraft Music, Dover
info@earcraftmusic.com
432 Central Ave., Dover, N.H.
(603) 749-3138

MC Guitar Works, Lebanon
mcguitarworks@gmail.com
31 Hanover St., Suite 2A, Lebanon, N.H.
(603) 707-9718

North Conway Music, North Conway
service@northconwaymusic.com
1976 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, N.H.
(603) 356-3562

Rousseau’s Music Store, Jaffrey
mike@rousseausmusic.com
124 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.
(603) 532-4311

Pottery

To Your Art’s Content, Exeter
toyourartscontent@gmail.com
(603) 418-0200

FireFly Pottery, Portsmouth
fireflypotterynh@gmail.com
72 Mirona Road, Portsmouth, N.H.
(603) 431-7682

Studio 550 Art Center, Manchester
info@550arts.com
550 Elm St., Manchester, N.H.
(603) 232-5597

The Pottery Paddock, Rochester
ruthspotterypaddock@outlook.com
135 Ten Rod Road, Rochester, N.H.
(603) 332-9209

Mudworks Pottery, Temple
pamelanowell@mudworksnh.com
22 Cutter Road, Temple, N.H.
(603) 620-9133

Rooted in Clay, Rindge
shana@rootedinclay.com
208 Middle Winchendon Road, Rindge, N.H.
(603) 899-3120

Puzzles

White Mountain Puzzles, Jackson
info@whitemountainpuzzles.com
18 Black Mountain Road, Jackson, N.H.
(603) 383-4346

Diversions Puzzles and Games, Portsmouth
portsmouth@diversiongames.com
123 Congress St., Portsmouth, N.H.
(603) 766-6220

Puzzle House, Jaffrey
customerservice@puzzlehouse.com
49 Nutting Road, Jaffrey, N.H.
(603) 924-1000

RC car racing, quads, copters, planes and boats

Hillside Raceway, Brentwood
hillside.rc.raceway@gmail.com
87 NH-27, Brentwood, N.H.
(603) 540-0642

Granite State Hobbies, Claremont
granitestatehobbies@gmail.com
20 Pleasant St., Claremont, N.H.
(603) 504-6505

ABC RC Hobbies, Windham
service@abcrchobbies.com
11 Rockingham Road, Windham, N.H.
(603) 458-6481

Role playing games

Pop Culture Cards and Collectibles, Raymond
spideeeeey@yahoo.com
66 Route 27, Raymond, N.H.
(603) 244-1850

Diversions Puzzles and Games, Portsmouth
portsmouth@diversiongames.com
123 Congress St., Portsmouth, N.H.
(603) 766-6220

Categories: Things to Do