July 31, 2008

How to spend your summer Staycation
Enjoying your time off on the cheap
By Heidi Masek, Brian Early, Sarah LaPlante and Amy Diaz news@hippopress.com

In a season of high prices — gas, food, airplane fares — time away from work might not necessarily mean time away from southern New Hampshire.

If you are one of the budget-minded who has decided to opt for the “staycation” — this summer’s trend in non-travel — don’t despair the lack of tropical beach, international city culture or country retreat. There’s plenty right here at home that’s worth discovering or rediscovering. Got a week of free time? We’ve got seven days of fun whether you’re looking for an adventure-packed week with the kids, a relaxing tour of the region’s foodie options or a chance to enjoy a little high culture.

Seven days of art
There’s artwork to be found at all kinds of places in New Hampshire. Take your time and absorb what’s in front of you at gallery, studio or even café exhibits while you are on your staycation. The best part is that most of the time it’s free to just look. Staycation might be a good time to get some painting done, if that’s your thing, or try your hand at a creative venture.

Monday
• Put your hiking shoes on and take a leisurely stroll through the trails at The Andres Institute of Art. There are now almost 50 sculptures across the former ski hill in Brookline. They are created for the institute each fall during an international symposium. It’s free to visit but they take donations. The entrance is at 98 Route 13 just south of Big Bear Lodge. Find maps at the trail head and at www.andresinstitute.org. You can also call 673-8441.
• See what the art students are up to at The New Hampshire Institute of Art. Their French Building Gallery at 148 Concord St. and Amherst Street Gallery at 77 Amherst St. in Manchester are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays. (623-0313, nhia.edu). The “2008 Annual Certificate and Continuing Education Exhibition” is on view until Aug. 8. If you are looking to make some art yourself on your week off, the college houses a camera and art supply store at 77 Amherst St. open Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday
• Budding photographers can tour SOPHA, the Studio of Photographic Arts at 62 Elm St. in Manchester. Rent hourly or become a member to use SOPHA’s studios, lighting, backgrounds, props, cyclorama and the rest of their facility. SOPHA holds classes in lighting, digital SLR, studio photography and other topics. Visit the thesopha.com or call 584-0124 to find out more.
• Mill Brook Gallery and Sculpture Garden hosts an invitational outdoor sculpture exhibit through Oct. 19 adjacent to a pond in a more rural part of Concord, at 236 Hopkinton Road. It’s a fun place to introduce kids to art. Indoors, work from gallery artists rotates. Mill Brook is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 226-2046 or see www.themillbrookgallery.com for events and exhibits.
• Find workshops, classes and some pretty funky shows such as “Pigmentary Portraits” at artstream studios at 56 North Main St. in Rochester. Get a preview at artstreamstudios.com. Call 330-0333 for class schedules. They are open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

Wednesday
• If you haven’t tested out the now bigger version of the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, it’s open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 150 Ash St. Currently on exhibit is work from its permanant collection, which focuses on European, American and regional artwork. View Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe, Wyeth, and LeWitt pieces at the Currier. The special exhibit “Andy Warhol: Pop Politics” opens Sept. 27. Admission costs $10 for adults. Youth under age 18 are admitted free. Seniors pay $9 and students $8. Grab lunch or a coffee at the museum’s new Winter Garden Café. There’s a 12:30 p.m. guided tour on Wednesdays. The museum also schedules focus tours, live music, lectures and other events which are posted at currier.org. Art-related activities for children (with their adults) are offered between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays in a program called Family Studio. The Currier also offers tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zimmerman House.
• Get outside with your easel or camera to capture nature. Beaver Brook Association, at 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, has trails and a garden and often run workshops that mix nature with arts or crafts (www2.beaverbrook.org, 465-7787). The Massabesic Audubon Center at 26 Audubon Way in Auburn (668-2045) usually has a nature-inspired art display and offers periodic art workshops. It’s next to a wildlife sanctuary with trails. The Audubon’s McLane Center and Silk Farm Sanctuary at 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord (224-9909) features trails plus some live animals. See www.newhampshireaudubon.org.

Thursday
• Gallery show openings where you can meet the artists responsible are often held Thursday evenings. Manchester holds a tour of galleries four times per year; the next is Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. MAA Gallery, Art 3, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Franco American Centre, Langer Place and Manchester City Hall normally participate. There’s even a free trolley. A map is at majestictheatre.net and is also useful on other Thursdays, although many of the galleries normally close by about 5 p.m. Several galleries in Concord will hold simultaneous events Aug. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. Visit www.concordnhchamber.com or call 224-2508 for Art Concord details.
• Visit the Underground M.A.P. Project (Music, Art, & Poetry) across from Red Arrow Diner. They are generally open Thursdays between noon and 5 p.m, and again between 7 and 9 p.m. At 76 Lowell St. in Manchester, it’s the place to go to find edgier projects that are going on. Visit www.myspace.com/undergroundmapp.
• Arrange to borrow your local library’s museum passes. Many libraries keep passes that members can use for free or reduced admission at places like the Museum of Fine Art and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Peabody Essex Museum and the Currier.

Friday
• Take in local art with your breakfast at Jewell & the Beanstalk, open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 793 Somerville St. in Manchester.
• Pair your art viewing with wine tasting at The Wine Studio at 27 Buttrick Road in Londonderry, 432-9463, which Studio usually features a different artist each month.
• Downtown Concord includes several gallery options to check out within walking distance. Kimball-Jenkins Estate houses the Carriage House Gallery and Jill Coldren Wilson Gallery at the historic property at 266 North Main St., 225-3932. The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen exhibits at Gallery 205, 205 North Main St., 225-3932. McGowan Fine Art at 10 Hills Ave. represents a range of professional artists. Thomas Devaney has a gallery and workspace upstairs at 3 Pleasant St. (774-0018, www.tdevaney.com). See work by the New Hampshire Furniture Masters through Aug. 28, at New Hampshire Historical Society Library, 30 Park St., Concord, 228-6688, www.furnituremasters.org. Many of these establishments close by about 4 p.m. and several participate in Art Concord.

Saturday
• Sign up for a workshop at Sharon Arts Center to get serious about a technique or medium. You can also find weeklong sessions. They also have galleries to peruse at 30 Grove St. in Peterborough. Call 924-7676 or see programs at www.sharonarts.org.
• Stroll through an outdoor show and meet local artists. The Nashua Area Artists Association members display and sell work Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Greeley Park on Concord Street in Nashua. See naaasite.org or call 883-0603. The Manchester Artists Association is planning their “Art in the Park” Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (manchester-artists.org, 785-6437). Concord Arts Market (www.concordartsmarket.com, 229-2157) is planned for Saturdays Sept. 20 through Oct. 4 at 33 Capitol St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is holding its 75 annual fair with work from 350 juried members at Mount Sunapee Resort, Newbury which is open Aug. 2 through Aug. 10 (224-3375, www.nhcrafts.org). “Art Affair” is planned for Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Salzburg Square on Route 101 in Amherst. Londonderry Arts Council presents “Art on the Common” Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mammoth and Pillsbury roads (www.londonderryculture.org, 432-2447).
• Stop into some Nashua gallery spaces. Find several at the Picker Building, (thepickerbuilding.wordpress.com) in the millyard at 99 Factory St. Extension. River Art Studios and Art Clay Studios are some that offer hand-crafted jewelry. There’s stained glass, pottery and photography studios among other media inside Picker studios. Most take commission and many offer classes or workshops. Gallery One nearby at 5 Pine Street Extension displays work by the Nashua Area Artists’ Association. Monique Sakellarios shows her oil paintings at Maison de l’Art, 57 East Pearl St., 879-9888. The lower level of the Nashua Library rotates work at 2 Court St. These venues and others may be included in the Art Walk Nashua (www.CityArtsNashua.org/artwalk), which is scheduled for Sept. 20 from noon to 8 p.m.

Sunday
• While walking around Portsmouth, stop into some of the Seacoast’s galleries. There’s modernist-leaning Nahcotta, at 110 Congress St. (433-1705, www.nahcotta.com). Artist-owned ellO gallery & shop say they offer contemporary artwork, and stock affordable finds. They are open from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays at 110 State St. Visit www.ellogallery.com or call 433-9110. Three Graces Gallery houses an eclectic collection of art, jewelry and furniture at 105 Market St., open from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (436-1988, www.threegracesgallery.com). The New Hampshire Art Association exhibits at their Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St. (431-4230, www.nhartassociation.org). It’s open from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Seven days of history
Since your mind isn’t dedicated to your job for a few days, why not dedicate it to a little extracurricular learning? New Hampshire is home to untold numbers of museums highlighting the state’s history, the arts, science, technology and so much more. Here is a sampling of some with checking out — with and without the kids.

Monday
• The “The Evolution of Collecting” exhibit at the Millyard Museum in Manchester features items collected over 110 years by the Manchester Historic Association. The association has collected a wide variety of historical artifacts ranging from General John Stark’s cooking pots and breeches to the personal effects of the famous 29-inch-tall circus performer, “Commodore” George Washington Morrison Nutt. Today the MHA’s collections include more than 660,000 objects covering 11,000 years of history. To learn more, visit www.manchesterhistoric.org.
• The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Planetarium hosts theater showings every day and has plenty of exhibits and events to keep you and the kids entertained. See a description of the programming at www.starhop.com. For ticket and special program information, call 271-STAR.

Tuesday
• Proud Granite Staters know that the now famous Segway was designed by Manchester resident Dean Kamen. Before Kamen could market the Segway as we know it, there were prototypes along the way. “Ginger,” a Segway prototype, is now on display at the Museum of New Hampshire History, run by New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. The Historical Society is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. You can learn more about the Historical Society and its other exhibits at www.nhhistory.org. Admission to the museum costs $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, $3 for ages 6 to 18, with a family max of $17. Call 228-6688.

Wednesday
• The Laconia Historical Society promotes exhibitions relating to the history of the Lakes Region at various prominent locations like the Laconia Library. The Library is the viewing place for the new exhibit “Je t’aime Laconia,” a retrospective of the French-Canadian influence on the Lakes Region. To learn more about upcoming events and exhibits, or to enter for a chance to win mini vacations, visit www.laconiahistorical.org.
• The Seacoast African American Cultural Center is currently advertising an exhibit based on the masking traditions of West Africa. The Center’s mission is to address and celebrate the contributions of the black community on New Hampshire’s Seacoast and serves as a cultural resource center. For details about the exhibit and all that the center has to offer, call Vernis Jackson at 436-7629 or e-mail Vernisjack@aol.com or Saacc44@aol.com.

Thursday
• If you have some time to kill on a Thursday, you might want to seek out the traveling exhibit “Forever Locked.” This museum-quality taxidermy exhibit depicts a rare natural event: two bull moose that permanently locked antlers while dueling, causing their deaths. The moose were happened upon by a local hunter. To find out where “Forever Locked” is this week, contact the New Hampshire Locked Moose Antler Project, Inc. at nhlockedmoose@yahoo.com.
• Since natural wonders are always worth a trip, visit the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill. This nonprofit farm is a great place to take the kids to teach them about sustainable agriculture and just what it takes to make a farm run. Farm tours are given daily to children and adults. Help in one of their gardens, attend to some of their livestock or take a class in sustainable organic agriculture or horsemanship. The Educational Farm is located in Bedford and can be reached at 472-4724. If Bedford is a bit far from where you live but Dorchester doesn’t seem like too big a trip, visit D Acres, another sustainable farming group. You can see their full schedule and read about volunteer opportunities at www.dacres.org.

Friday
• If you’re craving a technical museum, something that explores man’s greatest inventions, visit the New Hampshire Aviation Museum in Manchester, not far from the Manchester airport. Their most recent exhibit is titled “New Hampshire Aviation, the WWII Years: The People, Planes and Purpose.” The exhibit features four New Hampshire aviators and the top secret Norden Bomb Sight. The Aviation Museum is free and open on Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• For a mini overseas vacation, look no farther than the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough. Mariposa is renowned for its interactive, colorful and educational exhibits geared toward introducing children and adults to other cultures through music, art, food and traditional activities. See www.mariposamuseum.org.

Saturday
• Saturday is a good day to spend with the kids. To keep them entertained and their imaginations in working condition, try the Kaleidoscope Children’s Museum on Main Street in Concord. It offers child-centered art education, birthday parties and musical events. Visit www.kaleidoscopechildrensmuseum.net or call 229-4KCM.
• The Children’s Museum, formerly of Portsmouth, recently opened at its new location in Dover. The site is brand new, the exhibits are brand new, but the mission remains the same. Bring your children to the museum geared toward their interests and developing minds. To see a full list of exhibits, activities and special events, visit www.childrens-museum.org.
• Let the kids learn while they play at the SEE Science Center. This museum of sorts has interactive science displays about everything from electricity to dinosaurs. SEE is also the home of a 50-to-1 scale model of the Amoskeag Millyard at the turn of the 20th century, entirely built from Legos. SEE Science Museum is open seven days; it’s open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.see-sciencecenter.org.

Sunday
• The Wright Museum, 77 Center St. in Wolfeboro, is open on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. You and the kids can see real-life tanks, vintage motorcycles and antique aircraft. The museum also has an exhibit of children’s games from the World War II era and a military wing devoted to each wing of the American armed services. This is a great bonding adventure for grandparents and their grandchildren. To learn about all their exhibits and admission fees, visit www.wrightmuseum.org.

Seven days of drama
You aren’t in London or New York, so you can’t just head to the theater district any night of the week. New Hampshire venues are almost always busy on weekends, though. And if you have day trips planned, there’s probably a summer stock stage near your destination.

Monday
• Cap a day trip to Weirs Beach off with a performance at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse. Performances run most Mondays at 8 p.m. They end James Yaffe’s Cliffhanger Aug. 2. Almost Maine by John Cariani is next and they finish with Tennessee Williams’ classic, The Glass Menagerie, closing Aug. 30. The Playhouse is in Alpenrose Plaza where routes 11B and 3 meet in Laconia’s Weirs Beach. See www.winniplayhouse.com for schedules or call 366-7377 for tickets, which cost $17 and $19.

Tuesday
• Keep the kids entertained with professional children’s performances. You can bring the young ones to the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. through Aug. 12. Call 225-1111 or see ccanh.com. There’s also a series through Aug. 20 at the Palace Theatre with shows at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• End a day trip to the mountains with a stop at The Barnstormers at 100 Main St. in Tamworth. Tuesday at 8 p.m, catch the opening of that week’s title. Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knot, Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry, Dracula by Bram Stoker, adapted for the stage by Deane and Balderston, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change by Joe Pietro and Jimmy Roberts are scheduled through the season’s end Aug. 30. Ticket prices range from $23 to $28. See www.barnstormerstheatre.org or call 323-8500.
• If you are visiting the Lake Sunapee area, consider catching a show at the New London Barn Playhouse, 84 Main St. Its schedule includes performances on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. until Aug. 31. My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof and Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest finish out the season. Tickets cost between $23.50 and $35.50; call 526-6710 or see www.nlbarn.com.

Wednesday
• In the artsy Monadnock region, the historic summer stock Peterborough Players have extended their season through September. Catch Wednesday performances there at 8 p.m. for $35. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde is followed by Our Town featuring film star James Whitmore. John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable is next and the season ends with The Belle of Amherst by William Luce. The company offers extensive program notes at www.peterboroughplayers.org. Buy tickets from the Web site or call 924-7585. The stage is at 55 Hadley Road.
• Fans of local humor can catch Susan Poulin’s Ida, Woman Who Runs with the Moose at 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays Aug. 13 through Aug. 27 as part of the ACT ONE Festival of Fun. They offer three other comedies and two concerts during August at the West End Studio Theatre, 959 Islington St. in Portsmouth. Tickets cost about $20. See www.actonenh.blogspot.com or call 300-2986.

Thursday
• Enjoying a picnic at Tanglewood sounds lovely in theory, but the summer home for the Boston Symphony is almost three hours away, and it’s not cheap. Try a New Hampshire outdoor theatrical performance for a dose of culture instead. Just over an hour north of Concord, Shakespeare in the Valley opens their lawn seating at 5:30 p.m. where you can nosh on food and drinks you brought. A short pre-show play starts at 6 p.m. Their two main plays shown in repertory are condensed to about 90 minutes, so you’ll be back on the road before 9 p.m. If you travel more than 60 miles, they discount $5 off an adult ticket of $20. Veterans and military pay half price, seniors and students $13, and kids $10. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare alternates with The Tamer Tamed by John Fletcher. There’s a special premiere by John Reed called All The World’s A Grave on Aug. 21. Full Tilt Theatre Company of Bath, England, is bringing a special version of The Comedy of Errors (but those dates are Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 19 and 20). The stage is on Valley Road in Waterville Valley. There’s plenty of details at www.shakespeareinthevalley.com, or call 726-0098. The season closes Aug. 23.

Friday
• The Palace Theatre right in Manchester is offering a new community repertory this summer. Grease, High School Musical and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change alternate through Aug. 31. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays. Admission costs $20, or $10 for kids. The Palace’s season of professional musicals kicks off in September with three weekends of Nunsense A-men, at $25 to $40. Visit www.palacetheatre.org for the schedule or call 668-5588. The Palace is at 80 Hanover St.
• Manchester also houses the Majestic Theatre, which has a community production of Nunsense II: The Second Coming in August. Curtain is at 8 p.m. at 281 Cartier St. Call 669-7469. If you want to get on stage yourself, The Majestic, as well as The Acting Loft (www.actingloft.org) in Manchester, and Yellow Taxi and All Access Productions (www.allaccessnh.com) in Nashua are good places to seek workshops.
• The live version of The Rocky Horror Show is a Portsmouth tradition. Catch it midnight on Fridays at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre through Aug. 23 for $20. Seacoast Rep also runs The Pajama Game through Aug. 10 with Little Shop of Horrors through Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Fridays; tickets range from $24 to $29. Seacoast Rep is at 125 Bow St. Call 433-4472 or visit www.seacoastrep.org.

Saturday
• The Players Ring in Portsmouth provides local companies and playwrights with a place to run with new ideas. There’s almost always something there Saturday nights. They finish their “Late Night Summer Series” Aug. 31; it includes one-acts at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets are usually $12 (they don’t take plastic). See www.playersring.org or call 436-8123 to reserve tickets. It’s at 105 Marcy St. 
• The 14 Court St. Theatre, currently owned by the City of Nashua, is black box style and usually heavily booked. It’s home to Peacock Players (www.peacockplayers.org), a youth theater education group. StageCoach Productions (www.stagecoachproductions.org) and the Nashua Theatre Guild (www.nashuatheatreguild.org) also use it. See www.courtstreettheatre.org.

Sunday
• Take in a free outdoor summer performance such as Yellow Taxi Productions’ The Beard of Avon by Amy Freed, which closes Aug. 3 with a 7:30 p.m. show at Greeley Park on Concord Street in Nashua. Later at Greeley, the Nashua Theatre Guild runs the Lee Blessing farce Fortinbras, plus Tom Stoppard’s 15-Minute Hamlet at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 and 24. Every Sunday at 7 p.m. through Aug. 24, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is presented by the Prescott Park Arts Festival in Prescott Park, Marcy Street in Portsmouth. See www.prescottpark.org or call 436-2848.

Seven days of nightlife
It can seem like a challenge to find music all days of the week in south central New Hampshire. But with a little effort, you can get your fill of live shows as well as some nightlife fun without leaving the state.

Monday
• For the next two Monday nights in Londonderry, there is live music on the bandstand from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Londonderry Common, 265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry.
• For those who want to eat to the music of Ireland, there is a weekly traditional Irish session at The Shaskeen, 909 Elm St. in Manchester, every Monday night at 7 p.m. in the front room. Come listen or play along with the other musicians. There is also one on Sundays at The Shaskeen, on Tuesday nights at The Barley House, 132 N. Main St., Concord, and on Wednesdats and Thursdays at the Wild Rover, 21 Kosciuszko St. in Manchester, with Marty Quirk.

Tuesday
• For the next two Tuesdays, there’s live music in Derry for the Summer Music Series. The shows are at MacGregor Park, 64 East Broadway, Derry, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• If you need your big-band soul/funk fix, Manchuka has a weekly residence in the back room at The Shaskeen, 909 Elm St., Manchester. It’s a 10-piece band with a full horn section ready to shake the listeners to their feet. The show is free.
• For those who like karaoke but don’t like singing with the precorded music, check out the Black Brimmer American Bar & Grill, 1087 Elm St., Manchester for live band karaoke. Sing karaoke with a live back-up band every Tuesday night.

Wednesday
• There’s always a Scottish Country Dance every Wednesday night at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 214 Main St., Nashua. For a mere $3, you can dance the night away.
• For those who want to challenge their mind while having a few pints or cocktails, The Barley House, 132 N Main St., Concord, hosts trivia night every Wednesday at 9 p.m. The Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua, has pub trivia at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
• There is an open-mike night every Wednesday and Thursday at the Green Martini, 6 Pleasant St. Ext., Concord, one of the main points for acoustic music in Concord. Steve Naylor hosts the series, which starts at 8 p.m. each night. You can also hear future superstars take the stage for open-mike nights on Mondays at Whippersnappers, Route 102 in Londonderry, and The Red Blazer, 72 Manchester St. in Concord, and on Sundays at Penuches, 6 Pleasant St. in Concord, and at The Village Trestle, 25 Main St. in Goffstown, where the Wan-tu Blues band leads a blues open-mike jam.
• Take advantage of not having to wake up early by attending a mid-week concert. Meadowbrook, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, is about an hour’s drive away and has music through the end of September. John Fogerty (Tuesday, Aug. 12), Backstreet Boys (Saturday, Aug. 16) and Earth, Wind & Fire (Sept. 11) are scheduled to play. At the Lowell Summer Music Series, off French Street in Lowell, the music plays until Sept. 12, and Bruce Hornsby & The Noise Makers (Thursday, Aug. 14), Arlo Guthrie (Saturday, Aug. 23) and Taj Mahal (Friday, Sept., 5), are among the many performers still scheduled to play. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Boulevard., Hampton Beach, has shows scheduled through October, including B.B. King (Sunday, Aug. 3), Herbie Hancock (Wednesday, Aug. 13) and Ted Nugent (Tuesday, Aug. 19).

Thursday
• Play Beirut, a game where one team tries to shoot ping-pong balls into the other team’s cups and whoever does it first wins. Popular at colleges as a drinking game, Beirut is played every Thursday at Slapshot’s Sports Bar & Billiards, 515 DW Highway in Merrimack — not a drinking game, though people can drink on the side.
• There are concerts at the common off Main Street in Goffstown on Thursday nights through the end of August. The shows start at 7 p.m.
• For those who need a magician to induce laughs, Magician Andrew Pinard has weekly shows at The Barley House, 132 Main St. Concord, 228-6363. The shows are free and start at 8 p.m. in the downstairs lounge.
• The first Thursday of the month is open-mike night at the Tupelo Music Hall, 2 Young Road, Londonderry, 437-5100. This is the place to see the up and coming singer/songwriters. It’s run by Robert Haigh, who used to manage the open-mike series at Old Vienna Kaffeehaus in Westboro, where some now-popular folk artists had their starts, like Ellis Paul, Dar Williams and Catie Curtis.

Friday
• Every Friday night, foosball enthusiasts from all over travel to Slammers Bar & Grill, 547 Donald St., Bedford, 668-2120. It’s a sanctioned event by the United States Soccer Federation. For a $10 entry, people play on teams randomly picked for a double-elimination tournament for the pot of money, which is also split with the second-place finishers. Sign-ups are at 8 p.m. and the tournament commences at 9 p.m.
• There is always a dance at the Paper Moon Dance Center, 515 DW Highway, Merrimack, on Friday and Saturday nights for all levels of experience. On Fridays there a social dance; on Saturdays there are Latin and country dances. Check out www.papermoondance.com or call 429-1100. Other local dance studios also offer monthly or weekly dances. In Concord, check the schedule of Let’s Dance Studio (5 N. Main St., 228-2800, letsdancenh.com) and the Olson Dance Studio (Route 28 in Chichester, 269-3343). In Manchester, check out Dance International Studio (83 Hanover St., 858-0162), Mill-A-Round Dance Center (250 Commercial St., 641-3880), Queen City Ballroom (21 Dow St., 622-1500) and the Royal Palace Dance Studio (167 Elm St., 621-9119, dancenh.com).
• Contra dancing is a cheap way to have family-friendly fun and socialize with others and sweat at the same time. New Hampshire was instrumental in keeping contra dances alive during the last century. Most every Friday or Saturday night there is a contra dance in the area. To find out when the next dance is near you, check out thedancegypsy.com.
• In the summer, Friday and Saturday nights often mean music on the deck in Manchester at restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. Jillian’s Billiards Club, 50 Philippe Cote Drive, offers cocktails and views of the Merrimack River with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The Derryfield Country Club, 625 Mammoth Road, offers cocktails and views of the golf course, and music every night of the week on the deck. Wally & Bernie’s, 20 Old Granite St., offers a deck with cocktails and a playground with a DJ spinning the tunes. Fratello’s Ristorante Italiano, 150 Commercial St., offers a large deck with music on Wednesday and Thursday nights. At the Patio at the Hilton Garden Inn, 101 S. Commercial St., imbibers can find live jazz or a baseball game during their stay.

Saturday
• There are two weekly comedy shows in the area. One is at the Chateau, 201 Hanover St., Manchester. North Shore Comedy hosts their shows every Saturday night, starting 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. For more info: www.chateaunh.com or 627-2677. The other comedy show is at the Club Comedy at the Amherst Country Club, 72 Ponemah Road, Amherst. Check out www.amherstcountryclub.com or call 672-4732.
• You can always find music in Portsmouth — particularly during the weekends in the summer when tourists flock to the area. The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., has music seven nights a week, with a jazz session every Tuesday night, which Larry Garland has hosted for the past 30 years. The Dolphin Striker, 15 Bow St., and the Red Door, 107 State St., also have music most nights of the week.

Sunday
• Want a slow morning of jazz music with brunch? Michael Timothy’s offers Jazz Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday (also jazz on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to midnight).
• Catch some music and raise money for the Bow Rotary with live music at the Bow Bandstand every Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. until Aug. 17. The bandstand is off Logging Hill Road in Bow.
• There’s a lot of blues around the area. Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester, has blues many nights; they have a blues jam on Sunday nights with Harold Randall. On Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m., there is a blues jam at 900 Degrees, 50 Dow St., Manchester. The Wan-Tu Blues Band hosts a jam three nights a week: on Sundays at Village Trestle, 25 Main St., Goffstown; on Tuesdays at the East Side Club, 786 Massabesic St., Manchester; and on Thursdays at the Flambeaux, 1181 Elm St., Manchester.

Seven days of adventure
When it comes to outdoor fun, New Hampshire is a place that other parts of the country turn to. Luckily for us, all this hiking, biking and camping is right here at home.

Monday
• Ride bicycles with Granite State Wheelmen. This group goes on rides throughout the year, with different rides for different abilities. In August, there are rides every day except for Fridays. Check out www.granitestatewheelmen.org for a current list of rides. On Mondays in August there are two rides in Concord, one in Nashua and one in Manchester.
• You can do almost anything at Bear Brook State Park & Campground. Located at 157 Deerfield Road in Allenstown, it offers fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, picnicking and camping. Admission costs $4 per adult and $2 per child, though there is a $23 charge for camping for two people.
• FishBros Kayak and Tours in Henniker opened last year and has been growing steadily. Rent a kayak or tube for your own use or take a tour down the Contoocook River. Hourly cost for a kayak is $15 and for tube rentals it’s just $5. They’re open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.fishbroskayaktours.com.

Tuesday
• Hike the state capital. The Concord City Web site, www.onconcord.com, lists and describes numerous trails all over the city, and includes about 20 maps.
• Bike Milford. Tucker Brook Town Forest offers 285 acres with trails that are hikeable or bikeable. Off Savage Road in Milford, it has eight trails, all connected to Tucker Brook, which empties into nearby Souhegan River.
• Just because you can’t afford an airplane trip doesn’t mean you can’t at least see what it’s like behind the cockpit door. LetsGoFlying.com is a Web site that makes it easy for people interested in flying to find an aviation school near them. It lists several flight schools in New Hampshire, most located in Nashua. Others are located in Concord and Manchester at their respective airports. LetsGoFlying is offering an introductory rate of $79 for a flight out of any of their associated flight schools. First-time flyers get to handle all the controls while being trained by an FAA-licenced instructor.

Wednesday
• Need a short climb with good views? Joe English Hill in the corner of Amherst, Mont Vernon and New Boston is a big hump that overlooks the New Boston Air Force Station, which was for bombing practice bombing during World War II. Overlooking the station, you can see giant balls, like Epcot Center. Access to the Joe English Reservation is located off Brook Road in Amherst. If you are looking from Manchester, Joe English is the hill that looks like a whale.
• Pawtuckaway State Park isn’t that far away. Bring your bicycle, walking shoes or bathing suit to enjoy the afternoon at the park, located off Route 156 in Nottingham. Cost to enter is $4 per adult, $2 per child.
• Were you really looking forward to maybe getting an island vacation this summer? Weren’t we all? On three Wednesdays, Aug. 7, 14 and 21, tours are given of Celia Thaxter’s historic island garden in the Isles of Shoals. The cost of this trip is $95 per person and includes an island tour, garden tour, catered luncheon and round-trip boat transportation. Not too shabby for a Wednesday on the water, huh? The tours leave from Portsmouth Harbor. When you get back on dry land, check out Portsmouth’s downtown. You can learn more about the tours by visiting www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_reservation.php.

Thursday.
• Have a horse and want to ride? The Blackwater Trail Riders meet on the last Thursday of every month for a potluck and snacks to discuss what trails to ride. The rides take place in the Blackwater Reservoir and the Keasarge Valley area of Merrimack County. A monthly newsletter lists when the rides are and who leads them. There are also trail clearing days. Call 934-4081 before 9 p.m., or e-mail hmhrider@mac.com.
• Want to climb but find yourself staycationing during a rain-soaked week? NH SportsPlex in Bedford offers climbing lessons by appointment. You can reach them at 626-1311 to schedule a lesson or to find out when their walls are available to goof around on by yourself. Boulder Morty’s of Nashua (25 Otterson St., 886-6789, www.bouldermortys.org) is a great place to learn and play on climbing walls. They’re open Wednesday through Friday, from 4 to 10 p.m., with varying times for other days of the week and extended hours during the weekend. Give them a call at 886-6789. Vertical Dreams Climbing Gym in Manchester (250 Commercial St., 625-6919, www.verticaldreams.com) is a unique climbing gym that boasts an entire elevator shaft covered in holds. It’s a neat way to watch experienced climbers while the rest of us struggle with our harnesses. Learn more at verticaldreams.com. In Dover, there’s Indoor Ascent, 47 Broadway St., 742-7848, www.indoorascent.com. There’s a climbing wall at the Allard Center YMCA in Goffstown, 116 Goffstown Back Road, 623-3558, www.gmfymca.org.

Friday
• The Manchester Cedar Swamp offers a fun, unique hiking experience inside the city. On 600 acres of the ecological preserve off Hackett Hill Road in Manchester, there’s a wide range of species, some rare ones at that, like Atlantic white cedar and black gum. There are plenty of trails and eye candy to enjoy an afternoon, but it is a swamp, so bring your bug spray.
• Portsmouth Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad offers the adventurous a chance to see the state on two wheels. The old tracks start by the Hand over the Merrimack Bridge by the Fisher Cats ballpark in downtown Manchester and snake out toward Lake Massabesic, going behind a shopping plaza and traveling underneath Interstate 93. But unless you want the adventure of tracking the old tracks, start at Lake Massabesic off Route 28 in Manchester. You can ride far as Newmarket on the old trail system. It’s not the most exciting ride for serious mountain bikers, but you get to see nature that only trains used to see. The dirt grade is fairly easy to ride.
• Mine Falls Park is a perfect getaway in Nashua. Kayaking, mountain biking and hiking are all possible in this 325-acre park located in the heart of Nashua. There are boat launches and trail heads off Riverside Street in Nashua as well as trail heads off Coliseum Drive on the other side of Nashua River.
• Lake Winnipesaukee is more than just New Hampshire’s largest lake; it’s also home to many recreation opportunities. Bringing the kids is a no-brainer — just let them loose in one of the many boardwalk arcades while you enjoy the scenery. Every Friday Weirs Beach sets off fireworks at 10 p.m. Enjoy them at the boardwalk or in the sand of Weirs Beach. You can see the full schedule of fireworks at www.weirsbeach.org/events.php, as well as other special events planned for the rest of the summer.

Saturday
• Getting wake boarding or water skiing action can happen right inside the Merrimack River. Much of the Merrimack water levels are lower in downtown Manchester, causing a foul stench and a high E. Coli count, as there is work being done to dams right above the falls. But in northern Hooksett up through Bow, the water is high and the E. Coli count is low. There is a boat access point off Merrimack Street in Hooksett. The south boat ramp is closed for the summer (where the water is low), but open just up the street.
• Got a craving for the mountains? Want to take the kids along? Tecumseh Overnights is an environmental education program that guides small groups up Mount Tecumseh in Waterville Valley each weekend, from Saturday at 1 p.m. to Sunday at 1 p.m., through August. Investigate mountain ecology and and do some star-gazing. Accommodations are provided at the Schwendi Hutte on the lower summit. The cost is $55 per person, $105 per couple, $200 per family of four ($40/$75/$140 members). Call the H.A. Rey Center at 236-3308 or visit www.reycenter.org to make reservations.
• Saturday seems to be a good day for an adrenaline rush. AG Paintball in Weare offers eight different outdoor playing fields, plus the ability to buy equipment onsite. They’re open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 20 or more should make reservations for a game by calling 529-3524. You can see photos of the fields and learn more about AG Paintball at www.agpaintball.com.
• Crave some speed? Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare offers miniature motorsports. To reserve your spot on their track call 529-2479, or you can visit sugarhillspeedway.com or hot-laps.com.

Sunday
• Mount Monadnock is considered the second-most-climbed mountain in the world, and on any weekend, if you travel up the White Cross or White Dot trail, you can see why. But there are other ways up the mountain that are less heavily used and make for a more enjoyable experience. One is the Dublin Trail off Old Troy Road in Dublin, which is also a section of the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway, a 49-mile trail connecting the two mountains.
• For those who want a view with nice climbs on a smaller mountain with fewer people than Mount Monadnock, North Pack might be the perfect solution. North Pack is like Pack Monadnock without the auto road to the top. The trail head is located off Mountain Road in Greenfield.
• Have the week off and want to get away? The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail Club can offer you a three- to four-night getaway in shelters along a 49-mile trail connecting Mount Monadnock to Mount Sunapee. It’s a good trail for beginners, without a lot of steep climbs, and there is camping along the way, but fires are not allowed. Check out www.msgtc.org.
• The New Hampshire Audubon Society has centers and sanctuaries across the state offering camping opportunities, outdoor skills training and guided tours to observe animals in nature. To find the center nearest you, visit www.nhaudubon.org.
• If this summer vacation gives you a hunger for the ocean but you still want to keep the kids entertained beyond sandcastles, visit the Seacoast Science Center in Rye. Besides offering visitors programs like “Navigation and Shipwrecks” and their Family Science Camp, once a month the Center offers a Music By the Sea concert. On Aug. 14, the Jumbo Circus Peanuts will be on hand so you and the kids can boogie to the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. To see a full schedule of events and pictures of their exhibits, visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
• The Squam Lake Natural Science Center is one of the best-kept secrets of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Located on the shores of Squam Lake, the Center’s nature trails (fully navigable by the youngest of visitors) bring you face to face with the Shire’s biggest animals in their natural habitats. The Center also offers adult programs like Tai-Chi in the gardens on location, nature hikes and field trips to various state parks. This is a great destination for the whole family just a short drive away from the waters of Squam Lake. Head there after your visit for a quick swim at the end of a long day.

Seven days of food
For foodies having to put off dreams of travel, New Hampshire is a great place to be, particularly in the summer and early fall. Farmers’ markets, food festivals, organic and artisan produce — New Hampshire isn’t just a vacation runner up, it’s a foodie hidden gem.

Monday
• First order of business — plan out your week of farmers’ market shopping. Monday is one of the few days that doesn’t have a wealth of markets (though there is one in Durham from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m., one in Pelham from 4 to 7 p.m. and a daily farmers’ market at Salzburg Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For an entire list see www.nhfarmersmarkets.com or see last week’s cover story in the Hippo at www.hippopress.com, which lists the markets locally.
• Get in the locavore spirit with lunch at The Shaker Table, the restaurant at Canterbury Shaker Village. The restaurant gets much of its food from a garden on the grounds and specializes in Shaker-style seasonal eats. The Shaker Table serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday; dinner on Fridays and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m., and brunch on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended; call 783-4238. See the menu at www.theshakertable.com.
• Make your staycation dollar stretch and revel in the fact that you aren’t going to work tomorrow by spending your evening enjoying some pub eats. In Manchester, enjoy a pint and a burger or fish and chips at The Wild Rover (21 Kosciuszko St., 669-7722), The Shaskeen (909 Elm St., 625-0246), Strange Brew Tavern (88 Market St., 666-4292), Murphy’s Taproom (494 Elm St., 644-3535) or Milly’s Tavern (500 Commercial St., 625-4444). In Concord, head to The Barley House (132 N. Main St., 228-6363), Green Martini (6 Pleasant St. Ext., 223-6672), The Draft (67 S. Main St., 227-1175) or Penuche’s Ale House (6 Pleasant St., 228-9833). In Nashua, check out The Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., 821-7535), Penuche’s Ale House (4 Canal St., 595-9831), Fody’s Tavern (9 Clinton St., 577-9015) or Gate City Pub (56 Canal St., 598-8256).

Tuesday
• Learn a new culinary skill. The Seasonings classes at McIntosh College in Dover are held Tuesdays through Saturdays in July and August. Most classes cost $80 per person per class, though some family-oriented classes cost $15 per person. See www.mcintoshcollege.edu/Seasonings.asp for a complete schedule. In October, The Shaker Table in Canterbury will start up a new season of its cooking classes, offering a special Shaker local-eating approach to food. See www.theshakertable.com for times and class topics. Other places to check for lessons in becoming a better cook include A Market in Manchester (www.amarketnaturalfoods.com), Liz Barbour’s Creative Feast (www.thecreativefeast.com), Oonagh Williams’s classes and demonstrations (www.royaltemptations.com), Southern New Hampshire University (acadlist.snhu.edu:918/culinary), Frederick’s Pastries (www.pastry.net) and Chez Boucher Cooking School (www.chezboucher.com).
• Nashua holds one of its two farmers market on Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at 48 W. Hollis St. Check out the fresh produce, baked goods and more and then check out downtown Nashua. In addition to offering a few fun stores for foodie shopping (including McDonald’s Kitchenware Store at 7 Factory St., Jasper’s Wine Shoppe, 4 Temple St., and Cooking Matters, 97 Main St.), Nashua’s downtown boasts restaurants offering a variety of cuisine (for a list see www.greatamericandowntown.org/Dining.htm). On Tuesdays, Michael Timothy’s (212 Main St., 595-9334, www.michaeltimothys.com) and Black Orchid (8 Temple St., 577-8910) both offer wine-related specials.

Wednesday
• Visit the world without the airplane by shopping at the area’s many ethnic markets. In Manchester, Saigon Market at 93 S. Maple St. is the supercenter of ethnic food shopping with a large selection of Asian and Latin American products as well as many fruits and vegetables; the shop also boasts an impressive fish market. Also in Manchester, check out The Spice Market at 245 Maple St. for Indian and Pakistani food; Bakola’s Hellenic Agora at 110 Spruce St. for Greek food; Bartlett Street Superette, 316 Bartlett St., for Eastern European delicacies, and Angela’s Pasta and Cheese Shop, 815 Chestnut St., for Italian specialty items as well as a wide selection of cheeses from the U.S. and Europe and specialty and gourmet food items. Along Union Street in Manchester you can also find a variety of convenience shops offering Latin American and Spanish-influenced foods. In Nashua, get your Asian food and cooking items at Dokdo Market, 23 A Main St. in Nashua; get your Russian eats at Siberia Food Market, 259 Main St.; get your Indian and Pakistani food at Palika Bazaar, 427 Amherst St., and find Greek items at Liamos Market, 295 Lake St.
• New Hampshire loves its diners. If fast food (or just the nearest coffee-selling gas station) have replaced diners in your routine, work a few of these greasy spoon icons into your week of foodie fun. For the authentic experience, visit old favorites like the Red Arrow Diner, 61 Lowell St. in Manchester, or the Peterborough Diner, 10 Depot Road in Peterborough. Then decide which of the newer entries in the diner field catch your fancy: Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave. in Manchester), Joey’s Diner (1 Craftsman Lane in Amherst), MaryAnn’s Diner (29 E. Broadway in Derry), Nashua Diner (200 Temple St. in Nashua) Rita Mae’s (280 Main St. in Manchester), Suzie’s Diner (76 Lowell Road in Hudson) and Tilt’n Diner (61 Laconia Road in Tilton).

Thursday
• Eat standing up at some of the best outdoor cheap-eats vendors in the area. Not only will you indulge your craving for street food; you’ll also save some cash. In Manchester, check out the taco truck often found at the corner of Lake and Union streets, where you’ll find tasty tacos and burritos. The Big J’s Dogs in the courtyard of Hampshire Plaza at 1000 Elm St. offers not only dogs but also burgers, fries and sausages. More hot dog vendors can be found down Elm Street or in the city’s Millyard. In Nashua, get your late- night eats from The Sausage King of Nashua, frequently found in front of a variety of night spots. In Concord, Puppy Love, which can be found on North Main Street, can fuel your shopping excursions in the downtown.
• Manchester holds its farmers’ market on Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m., making today a great time to rediscover eats in the Manchester’s downtown. After the market (where you can load up on not only the usual selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and even wine), grab a cocktail from Cotton (75 Arms St.), the upstairs lounge or downstairs bar at Commercial Street Fishery (33 S. Commercial St.), Piccola Italia (815 Elm St.), the deck at Fratello’s (155 Dow St.), Wally & Berne’s (20 Old Ganite St.), the Black Brimmer (1087 Elm St.), Z Food & Drink (860 Elm St.), Hanover Street Chop House (149 Hanover St.) or Margaritas (1037 Elm St.). Instead of grabbing a big dinner, why not then go for a little nosh? Find more wallet-friendly but still chic city eats at J.W. Hills (795 Elm St.) or 900 Degrees (50 Dow St.). Or go for the splurge with the seasonal- inspired menu at Richard’s Bistro (36 Lowell St.), the steak at Hanover Street Chop House or the Korean cuisine at The Korean Place (110 Hanover St.).

Friday
• Not that New Hampshire meat-lovers need a reason to grill but while the weather is most conducive to outdoor cooking take advantage of it. Since you have extra time to shop, skip the supermarket and head to one of the area shops offering specialty cuts of meat and that old-fashioned butcher service. Check out Bare Bonz Butcher Shop (707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 889-9600, www.barebonzbutchershop.com), Bedford Prime Meats (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 471-6328), Bull Run (1100 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 669-0891, bullrunbeef.com), Concord Beef and Seafood (79 S. Main St., Concord, 226-3474, www.concordbeefandseafood.com) The Meat House (254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 472-5444; 291 South Broadway, Salem, 685-0302; 16 Sheep Davis Road in Pembroke, 227-5261), Mr. Steer Marketplace (27 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 434-1444), Prime Butcher (58 Range Road, Windham, 893-2750) and Sausage Heaven (21 West Auburn St., Manchester, 886-879-1961, sausageheaven.com). Most of these shops offer not just your choice of choice cuts but also marinated steak tips, chicken and other items that are grill-ready.
• Relax with a nice glass of wine this week and find wines to impress your friends with once you return to society. Find a new one at one of the weekly tastings held at area wine shops and markets. Most tastings are held on Thursdays (Butter’s Fine Food and Wine, 70 N. Main St. in Concord, 225-5995; Moulton’s Market, 10 Main St. in Amherst, 673-3611; Wine Steward, 201 Route 11 in Hampstead, www.thewinestewardnh.com: The Wine Studio, 53 Hooksett Road in Manchester, 622-9463) or Fridays (Corks and Curds, 13 Commercial Alley in Portsmouth, www.agrapeaffair.com; The Wine Studio, 27 Buttrick Road in Londonderry, 432-9463). The Wine Society (650 Amherst St. in Nashua, 883-4114, and 18 Pond View Place in Tyngsborough, Mass., 978-649-8993, www.winesociety.us) holds specialized tastings throughout the month as well as classes that offer wine newbies instruction how to taste, pair and pick wines. If you want to make wine an even bigger part of your staycation, check out the story on local winemakers that ran in the June 26 Hippo and that can be found at www.hippopress.com. Or just spend a little more time tasting and head to Unwined (865 Second St. in Manchester, 625-9463, unwined.net), where you can try flights of wines and even participate in The Wine Society’s monthly blind tasting (call the restaurant for times).

Saturday
• Take a foodie trip to downtown Concord — which has emerged as a place to shop for the culinarily inclined. The Farmers’ Market begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and features meat, dairy, eggs and baked goods (including some heavenly donuts). Then, stroll Main Street. Butter’s, (70 N. Main St., 225-5995) offers a selection of gourmet food items and a magnificent cheese counter where you can taste precious slivers of foreign and domestic cheeses made of cow, sheep and goat milk. At the Concord Food Co-Op (30 S. Main St., 225-4521) look for a variety of health food items, organic food products and fresh baked goods (including some tasty peanut butter cookies). Pastry-lovers and bread-lovers can check out Madeleines (124 N. Main St., 224-5353) for croissants, baguettes, French pastries and quiche; Bread and Chocolate for a variety of baked goods (29 S. Main St., 228-3330) or Bagel Works (42 N. Main St., 226-1827). If you can’t wait until you get home to eat, stop at one of the many cafés along Main Street, many of which offer unique sandwiches, coffee drinks and treats.

Sunday
• Time to enjoy that most extravagant of Sunday indulgences, brunch. Eat on the cheap for dinners during the week and you can splurge on some of the area’s high-end brunch options, including the Bedford Village Inn (off Route 101 in Bedford, www.bedfordvillageinn.com), Michael Timothy’s jazz brunch (212 Main St. in Nashua, www.michaeltimothys.com), Richard’s Bistro (36 Lowell St. in Manchester, www.richardsbistro.com) and the Granite Restaurant and Bar at The Centennial (96 Pleasant St. in Concord, www.graniterestaurant.com).