Manchester By Bed ... from France!

By Vivian Villemure, Granite State Ambassador
Sprint Class of 2002

The Franco American Centre has a really interesting exhibit in their art gallery. The exhibit is called "Manchester By Bed" because the artist, Erwan LeBot, Googled Manchester on the internet from his home in France, and downloaded actual real-time photos of our Queen City. From these pictures, he painted a collection of watercolor paintings. That is the basis of his exhibit which will be on view until the end of December. It is definitely worth a visit!

Looking for more Franco-American activities? Check out the Franco-American Heritage Tour in Manchester, NH, which includes a stop at the Franco American Centre!

Seasonal Strolling on the Heritage Trail

By: Richard Russell, Granite State Ambassador
Concentra Urgent Care Class of 2009

Visiting the Manchester area and tired after sitting on a plane or in a conference room?  If so, a walk or jog along the Heritage Trail in Bedford is just the thing to relieve all that stress.  Access is within walking distance of the Country Inn & Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites in Bedford.  Walk down Hawthorne Drive to Station Road to the river and the trail north or south.  Driving? Take Route 3 South of Macy's one and one-half miles to Hawthorne Drive. 

I walk the trail daily from March to November and longer depending

on snow and am amazed at how the trail and river changes season to season.  There are benches available where you can sit and relax and take in the view of the river and contemplate the days events.  You can even take a sandwich and rest at one of the rustic picnic tables.  Serenity is the name of the game and one of the great hidden away places to enjoy in the Manchester area.

The MadTav: Local Favorite for Visitors and Residents

By: Mary Jo Stephens, Granite State Ambassador

If you're ever in the Plymouth/Campton area and need a warm, friendly place to eat, I highly recommend going to the Mad River Tavern located on Rt. 49 in Campton, just off exit 28 of I-93. We decided early this morning to meet a friend there tonight for dinner.  


For the month of November, the Tavern has decided to have 3 dinner specials, which includes a house salad, each night Sunday through Thursday for the low cost of $10.00. Tonight, we each had one of the specials. I had the pork tenderloin with a mandarin BBQ sauce with walnuts and there were 3 nice pieces of very tender pork served with their veggie of the day, butternut squash and I chose rice pilaf as my side. I ended up taking 1 piece of pork home for my husband for his lunch tomorrow. My husband had the boneless short ribs with the side dish of macaroni and cheese (a nice size portion) as the ribs were so succulent & tender.  He also had a house salad. Our friend decided on the third special, a Blackened Chicken California Wrap which was stuffed with carrots, lettuce & guacamole. She chose to have steamed broccoli as her side along with some hot sauce & blue cheese dressing and she said it was delicious.   


We also love to sit in the Bar area, 

as the bartender also waited on us and does a spectacular job of keeping it all together, serving drinks to the bar, offering lively conversation and making sure that everyone is happy. Alot of the waitresses have been there many years and everyone does a great job at keeping everyone satisfied with really good food and service. Whenever anyone asks us what our favorite place to eat is, we always tell them that you can't go wrong with Mad River Tavern.

On a side note, they also serve lunch during the week and if you're looking for an inexpensive place to go, this is the place. Our hiking group went there on Tuesday after our hike and we all had one of the $5.00 specials (a delicious turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce sandwich on your choice of bread, with gravy on the side and a generous portion of French Fries). It was an incredible deal that you can't pass up. For lunch during the week, they serve their tavern menu, located on the back of the menu along with their appetizers and 3 different $5.00 specials.

Believe me when I say, this is truly a great restaurant that aims to please as you'll see if you ever go there. They have quite an extensive menu where you can get anything from apps to salads, from burgers/sandwiches to pasta, seafood, steaks etc. Mad River Tavern is truly a find for those of you traveling to Central NH in the Plymouth/Campton area or if you're lucky enough to live close by, then you can frequent the Tavern as many times as you'd like. Enjoy!!!

We're not in October anymore ...

Submitted by Ami D'Amelio, GSA Programs Manager

So it is past Octoberfest season, but there is still a lot to do if you prefer locally brewed beer and New Hampshire-made flavor! Here are a few places to check out if you haven't already or if you are ready for another round....

Milly's Tavern, Manchester, NH

The only true brewery in Manchester, Milly's Tavern has 16 of their own brews on tap and handcraft them every week. They do offer a mug club for those that want to come back for more at a reduced cost. Or if you want to take yours home to enjoy, they also will fill 64oz. growlers to go! (You simply must try their Pumpkin Ale, which is typically brewed year round and one of my all-time favorites!) In addition, they boast their nightclub scene, some nights with live music, and food. It is a win all the way around!

Portsmouth Brewery, Portsmouth, NH

The Portsmouth Brewery is the original NH brewpub and has been serving great food and handcrafted beers since 1991. The brewery is connected through common ownership with the Smuttynose Brewing Company, also located in Portsmouth. Between their Smuttynose offerings and their in-house brews, looks like they have about ten on tap at the moment. They offer tours Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, and also offer 64oz. growlers or 22oz. bomber bottles to take home with you. They are known for their famous Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout (which if you are interested, will be released March 7, 2011 and scratch tickets to start being sold January 24th). I haven't personally had this brew, but am thinking 2011 might be my year!

Martha's Exchange Restaurant & Brewing Company, Nashua, NH

Located in downtown Nashua, Martha's Exchange offers upwards of 25 different brews throughout the year, with a rotation of semi-regular, seasonals and reserve beers. From the meager beginnings as Martha's Sweet Shoppe to a luncheonette to the gorgeous restaurant it is today, Martha's has grown up to be a strong force in food and beverage. Their food is spectacular and many dishes offer a modern twist on old favorites. A recent lunch companion actually claimed to have never witnessed anyone not thoroughly enjoy their fare. I have to agree - mine was delicious!

If you are interested in sampling a few brews for contrast and comparison, try out the second annual New Hampshire Brewers Festival on Friday and Saturday November 12 and 13, 2010, in the Armory at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH. There is a "Dinner with the Brewers" event on Friday night and two beer-tasting sessions on Saturday. More than enough opportunity to try out some new and savor some familiar brews. Over 18 brands are listed on the website, and the breweries listed above are included! Looking for a deal? The Radisson Hotel also offers garage parking, restaurant, lounge and package deals with rooms, meals and brewfest tickets.

Can't make the Festival? No worries, the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism also offer a Brewery Tour map and brochure that you can download online at www.visitnh.gov and tour some of the best NH breweries at your own pace.

Prost!

Smelly feet??!

Submitted by Ami D'Amelio, GSA Programs Manager

There seems to be a lot of spooky and scary Halloween activities around - from Haunted Acres in Epping, The Ghoullog in North Conway to Spooky World and Nightmare New England in Litchfield, from Fright Kingdom in Nashua to Haunted Overload in Lee - but what if you have goblins of the more timid variety or toddlers?

Don't fret, there are lots of options that won't frighten your tiny trick-or-treater. Below are just a few options to consider:

Mall Trick-Or-Treating:

My kids always loved this when they were little - it is a familiar setting, lots of goodies, less walking, no cars, mostly younger children, and everybody stays warm and cozy! This year, your children can do their store-to-store pilgrimage at roughly the same time as most NH communities, but you will be in a climate-controlled venue (i.e. no freezing pre-November winds for your little ones!). The picture to the right was also taken at The Picture People which is conveniently located right in the mall. We decided to have the professionals capture our newly one-year-old's first "real" Halloween and my first handmade, homemade costume.

I found three locations that are offering this type of event this year. First, Simon Malls are offering mall-wide trick-or-treating from 1-3pm on October 31 at both the Mall of NH in Manchester and Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua. Fox Run Mall in Newington is also offering mall trick-or-treating from 2-4pm on Halloween. At any of these locations, just look for the orange pumpkins in the windows of participating vendors. Is your little ghoul a Simon Malls Kidgets member? They can stop by the Guest Services counter for an extra goodie bag!

Tanger Outlets in Tilton also offered a trick-or-treat event on Friday, October 29th. The Management Office provided a Halloween bag with a small treat to all costumed children between 6-8pm. For added fun, they also held a costume contest in from of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at 7pm for those 12 and under.

Girl Scouts of Alstead:

Girl Scout troops 20978 and 22297 have organized a Halloween party for kids complete with games, prizes, snacks and crafts. This party is from 5-8pm on 10/31/2010 at the Alstead Town Hall on Main Street. With the Girl Scouts of America, you know that it will be good, clean fun and you can support a great organization at the same time!

Town Events:

Many individual towns have caught on that local residents need a better alternative for the little ghouls and goblins. You can ask at your local town hall or do an internet search with your town name + toddler + trick-or-treat. I found quite a few that would be great for my 2-year old, and possibly even my 1st grader (who is solely interested in Halloween for the goodies!).

When they are ready for more ...

And then when they are older and looking for the more traditional scary, or even downright frightening, Halloween experience, you can check out nicely organized websites like HauntWorld.com that categorize, rate and recommend the best Haunted Halloween venues!

Happy Halloween!

Shopping with Judi

Submitted by: Judi W. GSA [Inaugural Class 1996]

I confess, I am a mall girl. Some people like to shop in quaint little stores that dot the landscape of New Hampshire (including our southern tier), but I really love to shop in the mall. New Hampshire has some pretty nice malls including the Rockingham Mall in Salem NH at Exit 1 just after the NH/MA border on I-93.

 When I volunteered on a committee at the Salem Chamber of Commerce 10 years ago I had a great marketing idea (that they never used)...

The 3 Best Reasons To Visit Salem NH

Exit 1 SHOPPING (The Mall at Rochingham Park)
Exit 2 ATTRACTIONS (Canobie Lake)
Exit3 FOOD (Common Man)

I still like the idea.... My favorite Exit is #1 - The Mall Exit.... From Manchester NH (where I live) The Mall at Rockingham Park (or as we fondly refer to it the "Salem" Mall) is about 25 miles or about 1/2 hours drive south on I-93. The drive is usually pretty fast except during rush hours, holidays, and Sunday evenings when people are driving south from NH back to Massachusetts and points south.

I also receive Twitter alerts on my phone with any problems and/or construction delays so I can plan accordingly (because, of course, I don't text & drive). There has been quite a bit of construction as they continue the Rebuilding of I-93 Salem to Manchester. If you are driving North to NH from Massachusetts, the traffic will be the opposite, busy on Fridays due to lots of people driving North to NH's beautiful Lakes & Mountains.

I was happy to see a few new stores in the mall since my last visit including Sephora a gigantic makeup store. I love the way they package up what you buy... like it is a little present just for you! I also use CardStar (for iPhone or smart phone users this is a cool app that keeps all your "rewards cards" scanned in so you don't have to carry the actual cards with you... just your phone.)

Speaking about iPhones, there is an Apple Store at the mall. Although closer to my house, I am sad that there isn't one at The Mall of New Hampshire. Everyday since the iPad and the iPhone 4 came out they have LINES at their door to get in. Incredible! I haven't gotten either yet... YET.

Being in the tourism industry, I always look out for our guests and think about them in my everyday life. Shopping is no different. Here are some tips for you:

• Kids... there is a hurricane machine
• Parents... there is a wall of brochures giving you ideas of other things to do
• The mall is 2 levels and if you walk each level twice you will have walked 1 mile.
• The food court has pretty good choices and has a horse carousel for the little ones
• There is garage parking so when it is raining or snowy you are under cover
• Anchor stores include Macy's, Sears, & JC Penny (here is the Floor Plan)    

Welcome to New Hampshire! If you have any questions I am one of the volunteers at our Virtual Visitor Center on Twitter @askNH

It is HEATING UP in New Hampshire!

The fall is really heating up with all the chili cook-offs that have boiled up left and right. All of the cook-off events sound worth the visit (I do love a good bowl of chili!), so here are a few cook-offs to take note of:

World Championship Chili Cook-Off

The mother of all chili cook-offs in New Hampshire for 2010, the World Championship Chili Cook-Off went through a stringent selection process and chose to have their much celebrated annual world championship in Manchester, NH. The World Championship Chili Cook-Off is organized each year by the International Chili Society (ICS), a non-profit organization that sanctions chili cook-offs with judging and cooking rules and regulations. Winners from sanctioned events are eligible to participate in the World Championship, which is scheduled from October 1-3, 2010. Tickets are only $5.00 and include five chili sampling

tickets. Or if you feel lucky, enter NH.com's World Championship Chili Cook-Off Ticket Giveaway

(you must enter by 9/26 to be eligible). Finally, if you would like to receive updates as they become available, you can visit the World Championship Chili Cook-Off on Facebook and show them how much you "like" them!

Claremont Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off

With this family-oriented, high-quality area attraction, Claremont

comes to life with

this city-wide event

produced by the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce. During the day, the festival includes a chili cook-off, live music, apple pie auction, 5k certified race, hothead contest, classic car display, art walk, kid zone, lots of vendors, and more! Transitioning into the night, the festival will be offering a pub crawl and a family movie night under the stars.

With major event sponsor Eastern Propane & Oil, this day and evening will be one for the books! The chili cook-off starts at 11am, and tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 18. The Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce is currently redesigning their website, so all Claremont Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off details can be found on the Fall Festival Facebook page.

21^st Annual WHEB Chili Cook-Off

The longest running cook-off I was able to find in NH, the WHEB Chili Cook-Off has the details all squared away! This year's cook-off is scheduled for Saturday, October 9th from 11:30pm until the chili is gone. Adult tickets are $15.00, children tickets are $6.00 and Prescott Park Arts Festival members receive free admission. For this year's event, WHEB has partnered with Strawbery Banke Museum, and the Chili Cook-Off will be offered in tandem with their Fall Festival. Both events will take place on the grounds of Strawbery Banke. In addition, my sources announced that this year's attendees will be able to pair their chili with Redhook beer!

8th Annual Chilly Chili Cook-Off

This annual event has actually outgrown the venue used in years past so are in negotiations to create a "Chilly Chili Cook-Off Stroll" which will stretch through the Village of North Conway. Although a specific date has not been announced, this cook-off is typically held during winter so you have a bit of time to schedule this one on your social calendar. Check the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce website for details in early October. For me, a stroll through crisp winter air with a steaming bowl of chili sounds like a winter wonderland!

Who says the fall isn't hot hot hot in New Hampshire? :-)