By Jill Diver DERRY — T-Bones owners Tom Boucher and Mark Fenske decided that instead of making the restaurant chain’s 25th birthday a one-day event, they would make it a year-long celebration in which their customers and local New Hampshire charities would be able to benefit. “We’re trying to make it fun and we’re trying to make people informed about what makes T-Bones unique,” said Boucher. T-Bones began as a single restaurant in Salem in 1984, The chain, which also includes Cactus Jack’s, now has eight restaurants throughout southern New Hampshire. Currently T-Bones is offering “A Sweetheart of a Deal,” which runs until Saturday, Feb. 14. Customers can donate $5… Keep Reading
A place to get that perfect something
By Jill Diver DERRY—Whether you’re looking to add a little taste of Paris to your home, find the perfect WebKinz or give a Life is Good gift, you won’t have to travel far. In fact, Moonlight and Roses in Derry has 23 different gift shops all located in one convenient spot. And it’s this variety of clever items and the friendliness of its staff that’s earning Moonlight and Roses this year’s Derry News Best of the Best readers’ poll award for Most Unique Business and also topping in the Friendliest Service and Best Gift Shop. Linda Kachanian, owner of Moonlight and Roses, says the first reaction of customers is “Oh… Keep Reading
Penguin plungers on a frosty mission
By Jill Diver DERRY — While some people will be adjusting their TVs on Super Bowl Sunday to make sure they can see the sweat on the brow of their favorite football player, others will be spending Feb. 1, running into the freezing cold water at Hampton Beach for the 10th anniversary of the Penguin Plunge to benefit New Hampshire Special Olympics. This is the first year that the single-day Penguin Plunge has turned into Penguin Plunge Weekend. Festivities start on Friday night, Jan. 30, at the Ashworth Hotel for the Penguin Bash, where plungers and supporters of Special Olympics are welcome to join in the fun. Saturday, Jan. 31,… Keep Reading
Even better than the real thing?
Head back to the 1970s and 1980s this Friday, as bands like Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Journey and AC/DC all take the stage as part of the same bill. OK, so they’re not quite the real bands, but they’re the next best thing. Cover bands Toys in the Attic (Aerosmith), November Rain (Guns N’ Roses), Battery (Metallica), Hells Bells (AC/DC) and Captured (Journey) will all be part of the Fauxfest show at Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. It’s no accident that the concert coincides with Bike Week. “This is something we can do for the fans,” said Chris Lockwood, Meadowbrook’s director of marketing. “A venue our size could never have Metallica… Keep Reading
Interview with ‘Emmett’: Supporting actor brings dark film to happy places
By Jill Diver “Lovable Teddy bear” may not be a phrase generally associated with a vampire, but that is exactly how actor Kellan Lutz — aka Emmett in the “Twilight” series — describes his character, and himself. While Lutz says he has been “only a presence” in the “Twilight” and “New Moon” movies, fans of Emmett fancy him as a much happier and simpler character than that of Edward Cullen. Rob Pattinson, as Edward Cullen, is the leading male in the movies based on the four books by Stephenie Meyer. And while Lutz’s role is a supporting one, he believes that Emmet provides important juxtaposition and comic relief to the… Keep Reading
A Q&A with ventriloquist Jeff Dunham
By Jill Diver Ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham was raised in Dallas, Texas, and was given a Mortimer Snerd dummy when he was 8 years old. He began performing for audiences as a teenager, in various venues — school, church and local banquets. Now, widely known for “The Jeff Dunham Show” on Comedy Central, Dunham is making an impression all over the country, performing on shows such as “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” These days, Dunham is on the road for his “Identity Crisis Tour,” but he took some time to answer a few questions via e-mail for The Gloucester Daily Times. Q: What is… Keep Reading
BreatheFest 2008 to raise funds for lung health
By Jill Diver LONDONDERRY — Breathe New Hampshire will hold a benefit concert, BreatheFest 2008, at the Tupelo Music Hall on Oct. 23, with up-and-coming musicians Michelle Cummings, Dale Reynolds and the band Rockspring. Their sounds range from blues and rock to country and bluegrass. Breathe New Hampshire, formerly known as the American Lung Association of New Hampshire, raises awareness for the challenges associated with lung health, including asthma management, keeping both indoor and outdoor air clean, and nicotine addiction. Kelly Sicard, Director of Special Events, had the idea for BreatheFest. “People love music” she said. “We are trying to raise awareness and are trying to reach out to a… Keep Reading
Get your fright on at Screeemfest, Spookyworld
By Jill Diver Goblins, vampires, zombies, witches and plenty of other terrifying sights will haunt the dreams of anyone who dares enter southern New Hampshire this fall. Canobie Lake Park in Salem is in the thick of its annual Screeemfest attraction that features several haunted houses, including The Village, The Dead Shed and Merriment, Inc., while Spookyworld’s gates in Litchfield have opened with three new attractions, So what goes into creating these horrifying haunts? “It’s a year-round process,” said Mike Krauser, the designer for Spookyworld. “You write down ideas when they come to you and you watch what is popular in the horror movies.” Krauser is in his third year… Keep Reading
Art show transforms park into gallery
By Jill Diver Newburyport Daily News Art ranging from oils to watercolors, digital to acrylics, pen-and-ink to photographs and beyond will take over Central Park in Andover this weekend when the Andovers Artists Guild hosts the 36th Art in the Park. “It’s a great event and it’s very well attended” said Guild board member Alix Porras of the event which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11. When Art in the Park takes over, Andover’s Central Park turns into an outside art gallery, Porras said. Visitors can browse and purchase work from more than 60 artists, while also enjoying music and food. “Serious buyers come, as… Keep Reading
Boredom leads to mayhem in ‘Kidnapping Kraze’
By Jill Diver Looking for some family fun this weekend? Then head over and enjoy the humor of “The Kidnapping Kraze.” The story is based around the kidnapping of Courtney. Of course, what the other characters in the play don’t realize is that Courtney and her best friend Elizabeth were the masterminds of the kidnapping scheme. According to first-time director, Dave Cook of Methuen, this play is a wacky comedy, fit for the whole family. “When I picked this play, I wanted (to use) a mix of adults and children,” said the 48-year-old. “It’s worked out really great and the interacting between them is awesome.” With local actors from the… Keep Reading