NH ♥s wine
A week of events celebrate vino love
By Hippo Staff

Spectacular!
More than 1,200 wines at the annual Easter Seals benefit
By Jeff Mucciarone jmucciarone@hippopress.com

Now in its sixth year, the Winter Wine Spectacular is the marquee attraction of the state Liquor Commission’s Wine Week, which runs from Friday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 1. Billed as the largest wine event north of Boston, the Winter Wine Spectacular will take place Thursday, Jan. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. All proceeds benefit Easter Seals New Hampshire. Last year’s tasting raised about $120,000 for Easter Seals.

PEOPLE: Just say black belt
Matt Randall teaches kids to melt like ice cream
By Jeff Mucciarone jmucciarone@hippopress.com

Matt Randall’s Black Belt Academy has been going strong in Dover for 21 years. In the fall, Randall, a New Hampshire native, opened new academies in Stratham and Barrington. Separating his academy from other martial arts schools, Randall focuses extensively on building leadership skills among students. Randall, for free, goes to local schools to work with students to build confidence and help curb bullying. Randall also has a non-profit Web site (www.confidenceforkids.org) that teaches parents how to build their children’s confidence.

THEATER: Money, power and family
Review: Merrimack Rep’s latest from a Massachusetts playwright
By Heidi Masek hmasek@hippopress.com

Richard Dresser’s third show in his trilogy about happiness in America took his characters on a strange journey in A View of the Harbor.

LONGSHOTS: Spring cleaning of the sports mind a little early
by Dave Long

Time to clear out the attic of sports things that are rambling around collecting dust.

FOOD: “Fold, mush, turn”
Class teaches sourdough know-how
By Linda A. Thompson-Odum food@hippopress.com

Few aromas get the taste buds as excited as the smell of fresh-baked bread. However, the process of making bread  at home can intimidate those who have never tried it — or those who have and whose efforts were less than successful. Laury Nichols helps people overcome their fears with her sourdough bread-making classes offered through Concord Community Education.