Past Years

Best of NH 2003

Editor's Picks

"What?" exclaimed the editor,"Discover 161 of the very best things in the state in six categories in only one year!?" His fingers twitched over his keyboard and calendar and to-do list as he prepared to say, "Impossible!" But, he thought to himself, it would be a sweet and fulfilling assignment, and one for which he had many reliable aides, experts, sources and confidantes across the state. The bounty of the state swirled before him. "Yes," he agreed. "I will. But - where to begin?..."

food & drink | products & services | arts & culture |fun & adventure | miscellaneous

FOOD AND DRINK

Bottled Water: Castle Springs in Moultonborough (www.castlesprings.com) The water here's just fine. So why do people from New Hampshire keep drinking water imported from Poland?

Unique Appetizers: Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth (430-9582) Fowl Balls, a bacon-wrapped piece of chicken rolled up and served with a sweet dipping sauce, is one of Muddy River's creative, family-pleasing appetizers. Not peculiar enough? Try their fried pickles.

New Chocolatier: Swan Chocolates (423-5950) has taken the cocoa plunge in a big way with their new shop in Merrimack. Although only a few months old, their exquisite confections exhibit a mastery of the art, and the shop, with chocolate pairings with both fine wines and good coffees, demonstrates the kind of service and marketing savvy that ensures success. Ask them about their "chocolate fountain," perfect for events where a mere chocolate fondue would seem unexciting.

Gelato: Doriti Gelati of Portsmouth (580-1725) delivers to upscale spots like Angela's Pasta & Cheese Shop in Manchester, and down-home establishments like Mike's Red Barn in Salem, Tuttle's Red Barn in Dover, and Village Sweets in Concord. Currently, there are nine flavors and soon there will be six flavors of all natural sorbetto. For a sensational taste, mix mango and raspberry.

Homemade Mozzarella: Luca's Mediterranean Café in Keene (358-3335) will change the way you look at this humble cheese. Luca's mozzarella is a rare taste experience - warm, nutty, buttery and sophisticated. Try it on top of some of the delicious sauce-covered items made by this excellent restaurant, and you will rediscover the gustatory joys of Mediterranean cuisine as you discover a cheese you only thought you knew.

Classic N.H. Ice Cream: Blake's Creamery in Manchester (623-7242) was founded as a milk company more than 100 years ago, and they've been making ice cream for the last 40 years. Local milk and cream are used for their delicious products, including seasonal specialties like pumpkin and maple walnut. They are rightly famous for their amazing Moose Tracks blend of chocolate, fudge and peanut butter.

Lasagna: Pasquale's Ristorante in Candia (483-5005) makes an Italian staple into something awesome. For more exotic tastebuds, try their haddock with vodka crème sauce, or a new dish with haddock, salmon, shrimp and aquapasa (a mix of Italian herbs, olive oil, and white wine).

Uptown Coffee Shop: Fusion on Elm Street in Manchester (647-4344) is trendy, but in a chummy, approachable way. They make good hot coffee, blend up sublime caffeinated concoctions, and provide several different atmospheres within a small space. Plus, they showcase some excellent music.

Cheesecake: Black Forest Cafe in Amherst (672-0500) makes cheesecake as rich as a Wall Street broker and as light as a Hollywood dream. Choose between raspberry/white chocolate and lemon/blueberry. Double yum.

School Cafeteria: No lunch ladies here. College for Lifelong Learning campus at Pease International Tradeport features the cuisine of Julie Reed Dunfey, a caterer renowned for gourmet meals and high style in menus and presentation. Worth a trip back to school.

Smoked salmon: Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Company N. Conway (356-6381) With a view of the sun setting over the mountains, you can not only enjoy some wonderful eclectic foods, but also a local brew. Try the smoked salmon and a salad with its own very unusual molasses peppercorn vinaigrette dressing, or a wood-grilled pizza. A good find for skiers and hikers.

Unselfconscious Retro: The Library Restaurant in Portsmouth (431-5202) is the kind of place you imagine taking a date before Cool replaced Stylish, and Kitsch invaded Classy. For a totally non-ironic steak and martini dinner, you have to look far and wide apart from the book-lined Library. They serve only USDA prime sirloin, and have 47 different vodkas on display - said to be the largest selection north of Boston.

Stuffed French Toast: Andy's Place Manchester (645-1889) It's two pieces of French toast, stuffed with fresh seasonal fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries and a homemade cream cheese whip - no syrup necessary. While you wait for your food, keep hunger at bay with some great coffee and their homemade muffins or coffeecakes. Andy's has a big word-of-mouth following for breakfast.

Chimichanga: Bull & Bier Haus Grill (536-2260) At the Bull & Bier Haus in Plymouth, they blend the perfect array of spices, meats, and cheeses to create this crispy, spicy, delicious Mexican dish. Served with a side of rice and topped with a huge dollop of sour cream, you'll think you've died and gone to mariachi heaven.

Healthy Fast Food: Local yogurt magnate Gary Hirshberg built his enterprising Stonyfield Farm in New Hampshire, but when he took this "delicious health food" concept on the road, he realized there wasn't much healthy or delicious to be found "on the road." His solution was to begin his own all-natural and organic fast food restaurant chain, O'Naturals. He's recently opened a branch at the visitors' center at the Stonyfield Yogurt Works in Londonderry. It offers all-natural chicken, steak and vegetarian sandwiches, and meal-sized salads, plus French "fries" that are actually baked.

Garlic Pizza: Pasta Loft on the Milford Oval (672-2270) features a pizzeria section with cozy brick walls and an open brick oven at one end, complete with a dough-flipping pizza maker, and a big window with a great view of the famed oval at the other. Dinners come with salad and Italian wedding soup, but it's the pizza that will bring you in time and time again. Try the "plain" cheese with roasted garlic. You can't go wrong.

Fresh Berry Pie: Northland Dairy Bar, Riverside Drive in Berlin (752-9874). Whatever the freshest berries are in the summer, you'll never find a tastier pie, with mounds of berries and fresh whipped cream in a oh-so-flaky crust.

Philly Steak and Cheese: What makes a great Philly cheese steak, apart from being in Philadelphia, is the beef - sliced thin, lean and tender - plus a nice, soft roll and good cheese. Capitol Grille in Concord (228-6608) has the formula down. Our Capital City may not have the urban charm of the City of Brotherly Love, but it's a fine backdrop for an excellent sandwich.

Homemade Soups: Harlow's Pub Peterborough (924-6365) This funky restaurant is newly renovated to look like an English (or maybe Irish) pub. The food is affordable and good, especially the homemade soups - be it black bean, Hungarian mushroom, or some other tasty concoction. Served with bread or chips.

Non-traditional Pizza: If you can accept your pizza without tomato sauce and sticky mozzarella cheese, you may become addicted to Michael Timothy's grilled pizza. The proven winners - such as shrimp with artichokes - are on the regular menu, but nightly specials at this Nashua restaurant (595-9334) offer even more creative combinations.

Pesto: Keene Fresh Salad Co. (357-6677) Keene You could make a meal of their pesto and focaccia bread. Owners Chris and Marie Drake once successfully marketed their line of pestos internationally.

Shrimp Tempura: You You Japanese Bistro, Nashua (882-8337) Made with a light, crunchy batter with large, succulent shrimp, this dish melts in your mouth. Lots of other great dishes, too: Sushi and Maki rolls make a small (and low-calorie) meal when combined with a small bowl of miso soup and You You's crispy salad. The Boston roll is especially delightful, as is the bass cocktail. But once you taste the shrimp…

Eclectic Eatery: Twelve Pine in Peterborough (924-6140) Talk about a moveable feast. Start at the gourmet deli counter, and we do mean gourmet. Move on to the to-die-for desserts. Then pick up a cup of some of the best coffee (or latte or espresso) around. Sit and eat with nearby pails of fresh-cut flowers adding ambience. Done? Shop for gourmet groceries, pick up some handmade pottery and buy some of those flowers, too.

Weinerschnitzel: Mile Away Restaurant (673-3904) It's not easy to find German food in these parts, but this Swiss Continental restaurant in Milford does have some outstanding Deutsche dishes. Enjoy the weinerschnitzel, or its fried-egg-topped cousin, holsteinschnitzel. Great food, and lots of atmosphere, too, at this beautifully restored 1810 barn tucked alongside a country road.

Maple Experience: Parker's Maple Barn (878-2308) Because it started as a sugar house, it figures this restaurant/gift shop in Mason would have its share of maple-y stuff. Along with regular (and very good) food, you can have maple-glazed ribs, maple Swiss burger, maple-baked ham and, of course, pancakes with maple syrup. At the gift shop, pick up maple jelly beans, maple butter, maple coffee, maple-scented candles - you get the picture.

Eggplant Parmigiana: Ya Mamma's, Merrimack (578-9201) How do you say "delicious" in Italian? You'll want to know when you try this old favorite cooked the way only Chef Michael can. And, oh, the sauce. Enjoy. (While you're there, be sure to pick up some "heat n' eat" Ya Mamma's entrées to go - all the good tastes packaged for easy dining at home.)

Flaming Drink: The 1785 Inn, North Conway (356-9025) Order one, such as the Cocoa Lava, and the lights go off in the pub. A match is lit, a huge arc of flaming booze is lit all the way from the bottle to the glass. Hold on to your eyebrows! The dining room has its own charms, such as the wonderful mountain views and a yodeling waiter, where you can order a top-notch gourmet dinner by Chef Becky Mallar with your fiery drink.

Latino Cuisine: Manchester (669-9460) Nachos Taqueria was created by a Cuban immigrant who knows what the American Dream is all about: work hard, make great authentic Latin food and have a dynamite smoothie bar. Local Latinos work and dine at Nachos, so you know it's the real deal.

Gourmet Lunch: In the North Country is the Cold Mountain Café on Main Street in Bethlehem (869-2500). It's ambiance is similar to one of those small little hole-in-the-wall-but-knock-your-socks-off-delicious places one discovers during a visit to New York's Upper West Side. Modern art by regional artists covers the walls of the tiny eatery and some of the most creative, gourmet lunches and dinners are served every day except Sunday.

Saltimbocca: The Colosseum, Salem (898-1190) Translate "saltimbocca" literally and you get "leap in the mouth." But what saltimbocca should translate to is "melt in your mouth" - especially if it's cooked by Chef Annibale Todesca at the Colosseum. You can trust his veal is as tender as can be and that all the ingredients - the prosciutto, the cheeses, the mushrooms - are super fresh, bought at a Boston market that day. Add a glass of fine wine, and enjoy.

Meat Balls: Ronaldo's, North Hampton (964-5064) What is Italian cooking without meritorious meat balls? Well, here is where you can find just that. For starters, they're made with ground sirloin. Then, according to an old Italian recipe, milk and fresh bread are added. That's all you can pry out of the chef about how meatballs are made. You'll have to go and taste for yourself.

Lakes Region Restaurant: The Coe House, Center Harbor (253-8617) The elegant old house somehow survived being a dorm during the Belknap College years, and now it's restored and lovely, but the food makes this into the Lakes Region landmark that it is.

Seafood in the White Mountains: The Chalet Restaurant, North Woodstock (745-2256) For those who feel they should only indulge in fried clams, fish, etc., when near the ocean, and certainly not far inland, you can forget such theories at the Chalet.

Fusion Cuisine: Blue Mermaid World Grill, Portsmouth (427-2583) The menu, inspired by owner Scott Logan's family place in Anguilla is American Southwest, Caribbean, Pacific Rim and California styles fused with Yankee seaport ... the plantain encrusted grouper is out of this world!

Bread Pudding: Villa Banca, Nashua (598-0500) Not just any bread pudding can brag it has a following. Maybe it's the decadent white chocolate filling...or maybe it's the fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce. In any event, don't let your diet stand in the way of a wonderful taste treat.

Spring Rolls, Coyote Grille, Waterville Valley (236-4919) They marinate grilled chicken with spring veggies, and quick-fry it into crispy wonton cartridges. All that's left to do is dip one into either the Thai peanut or the soy ginger sauce (or both!) plunk it in your mouth and enjoy. A great item at one of the state's best new restaurants.

Gourmet Hot Dog: Horseshoe Jack's Eatery, Merrimack and Tilton (424-2771) At Horseshoe Jack's, they say they "make the ordinary extraordinary" and, indeed, they do. Take their hot dogs. No longer the mongrel of the food world, they carry tasty toppings that go far beyond the usual ketchup, relish, etc. How about Creole mustard, black bean salsa and cheese for a change? Or corn relish and avocado spread?

Midnight Breakfast: The Green Martini Bar and Restaurant in Concord (223-6672) offers breakfast from midnight to 2 a.m. on Friday nights. Choices run the gamut from French toast to pancakes to omelettes.

Fried Clams Two Hours from the Beach: Ocean Harvest (357-3553), a modest seafood stop in Keene, has the perfect formula: Big, ocean-fresh, whole clams are dressed in a light coat that becomes delicately crisp without absorbing the cooking oil as the clams bathe in the fryer at just the right temperature, and not a second too long.

Cheap Eats in the White Mountains: The food at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitors Center (466-2727) is plentiful, hearty and cooked from scratch and the family-style dinners (non-member adults $15.50, children $9) are served nightly. Free programs follow at 8 p.m., often with local naturalists or authors, visit www.outdoors.org. Dinners are popular, so reservations are wise.

Urbane Business Lunch: Richard's Bistro in Manchester (644-1180) is a capital "C" classy joint, sure to impress associates from out of town or to make your employee-of-the-month feel très appreciated. The bread basket alone is amazing - combined with creative combinations, gorgeous presentation, and a Continental flair ? it always feels like the "in" place to be.

Fish Appetizers: Pesce Blue in Portsmouth (430-7766) Fresh sardines and anchovies are nothing like their canned cousins, especially with a light batter and deep-fried.

Brunch in the Monadnock Region: Acqua Bistro, Peterborough (924-9905) Why settle for Best of N.H.? Acqua Bistro has the"Best Brunch in America," claims Hillary Davis, co-author of the Two Blondes Guide to Dining in Southern New Hampshire.

Chicken Caesar Roll Up: It's a salad you can you eat while strolling. The Country Village Cafe, in Contoocook (746-6041) has become famous for this delicious specialty, selling as many as 300 per week.

Place for a Late-night Snack in the Monadnock Region: Nicola's Trattoria (355-5242) in Keene's Central Square has opened a new bar area, and it is the perfect place for a small plate or "tapas" and drink.

Lobster Roll: Kimball Farm, Jaffrey (532-5765). There are lobster rolls, and then there are lobster rolls. This is one of the latter. The grilled roll is overflowing with delicious lobster salad, not like inferior ones that skimp on the lobster. It's plenty enough for dinner. For dessert, enjoy their absolutely delicious ice cream.

Breakfast on a Budget: Early birds like a good deal, and Pappy's Pizza (623-3131) starts you off right by providing their own parking lot on busy Elm Street in Manchester. Once inside, you can catch some tasty bargains, like the Daily Special which gets you two eggs, toast, baked beans, bacon AND a coffee, all for just $4.25. Upgrade to the Big Boy Breakfast for $2.70 more and you'll also get pancakes or French toast, ham or sausage and one more egg. Enough food to get you through the entire Sunday paper.

Martini Menu: Beal House Inn, (444-2661), Littleton. The martini bar has a Martini Menu, which lists 85 martinis (they are currently trying to get listed in the Guinness Book of World Records). Flavors include: Anti-Freeze, Dutch Tulip, Flying Moose, Italian Sunset, Stars and Stripes and Key Lime Pie. Do they take suggestions? How about the Black Fly? Or the Pollyanna Punch?

Products & Services

Fly Shop: Hunter's Angling Supplies (487-3388) is a traditional fly shop that has everything you need to gear up for a day on the stream or in the salt. The staff knows the difference between a Royal Wulff and a Royal Coachman, and as a bonus, if you just can't wait to try out your new stuff, the Piscataquog River runs right by the shop in the picturesque heart of New Boston.

Place to Poke Around on a Rainy Day: Antiques at Mayfair on Route 101A in Amherst ( www.nhantiquetrail.com/mayfair.htm) is home to tons of treasures in two large spaces, excellent displays, furniture, linens, collectibles, old magazines, awesome selection of affordable trinkets that can spruce up a room. Regulars, who visit in droves every weekend, rarely leave empty-handed, or without planning to come back soon to get that "must-have" item they discovered.

Variety of Pies: The Pie Guy of Salem (800-9-buypie) says he makes pies "people can't get enough of." That's our experience and he sure makes the widest variety around: all manner of fruit pies, nut pies and cream pies -triple chocolate chunk nut pie and apple cream pie among others. This family-run business makes both crust and fillings fresh; none of that "commercial pie goop," they say. No preservatives, either.

Classical Glass: Austrian-born Pepi Herrmann of Gilford (528-1020) is one of a kind. His ornate classical style of glass-cutting is rare indeed. "There's nobody left that does this kind of intricate work in America today," says Herrmann. "Even in Europe, I don't know anyone who does it."

Treats from Another Century: The Brick Store (800-964-2074) This country store in Bath dates from the 1700s, so its counters slant inward to accommodate hoop skirts. But the reason for stopping is to stock up on old-time goodies, including birch beer and lime rickey, smoked meats and cheeses from Jim's Smokehouse beside the store, and more than a dozen varieties of homemade fudge.

Real Kielbasa: Not the boring supermarket stuff, but real Old Country sausage is what they make at the Bartlett Street Superette (627-1580) in Manchester. Look for several varieties, including Easter kielbasa, and hard-to-find sweet pierogi, too.

Funky Micro-brewery: You won't find a fancy-dancy brew pub at Franconia Notch Brewing Company (444-2166) in Littleton. The brewery is in a converted garage, and you'll have to call ahead for a tour, but the product is serious IPA called Franconia Notch Grail Pale Ale. They also make seasonal brews, including the chocolate-y Mountain Stout and a non-hoppy amber called River Driver Ale.

Honey to Wax Rhapsodic Over: The Vogeleys at Bee Tree Farm (363-4631) in Chesterfield must sing to their bees, or read them bedtime stories. Runny honey or sinfully good creamed honey, beeswax candles, hand cream and lip balm are all produced by busy, but clearly contented bees.

World Fashions and Gifts: Gondwana Concord (228-1101) You can practically feel the heat from the Sahara, smell the rain on the veldt, hear the drums from the heart of the jungle, or is it from the back of the store? Gondwana is a great source of exotic fashions or one-of-a-kind gifts. The place practically shines with worldly perspective and social consciousness.

Estate Jewelry: The aptly named Wonderful Things in Northwood (942-8832) has an a swell collection of old cameos, a fabulous assortment of unique items, and a particularly excellent array of antique wedding rings (for couples who embrace sentimental virtues more than feng shui).

Alcohol Energy: Zygo is not a brand name for ethanol-blended gasoline, it's the brainchild of Bedford-based Icon Brands; a drink that mixes the active ingredients of energy drinks like Red Bull (i.e. guarana and taurine) with the active ingredient in vodka (i.e. alcohol) and adds the essence of peach, mandarin orange, vanilla and juniper berries. Now available at State Liquor Stores, Zygo is tasty, edgy and, like that cute boy with the spiky hair-do, maybe a little dangerous.

Nursery: Uncanoonuc Mountain Perennials, Goffstown (497-3975) Gorgeous setting, fantastic assortment of all types of plants for home and garden. Helpful staff. Come up and spend the morning, then stop by downtown for lunch.

Espionage Bookstore: Cloak and Dagger Books, Bedford (668-1629) This isn't just the best one in New Hampshire, it's probably the best in the whole world! Hollywood researchers, spy afficionados, spy wannabees, probably even a few real spies consider this shop an essential resource.

Pick-Your-Own Flowers: Spring Ledge Farm, New London (526-6253). You can be sure you're getting the freshest fresh-cut flowers possible because you cut them yourself. Snapdragons, cosmos, bachelor buttons, sunflowers - 248 varieties to choose from at this farmstand garden. Buy them by the pound. Buckets of water and scissors supplied.

Record Store: A personal tie between Pitchfork Records Stereo, Concord (224-6700), and Bull Moose, Portsmouth (422-9525) both have stuff NO ONE else has, across all musical styles/tastes, great selection of imports, including great used CD selection, (and good used vinyl at Bull Moose). Sure, you can find it on the Internet, but you'll miss out on the joy of the hunt, and the surprises you come across in the wilds of a great record store.

Native American Food: Yankee Farmer's Market, Warner (456-2833). The Indians had it right. Buffalo is good for you. Not only do you get more protein with fewer calories, the Omega oils in the meat can lower your cholesterol levels. Plus, no hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals - the Yankee Farmer's Market buffaloes are "free range." Get your buffalo in steaks, ribs, roasts, ground, sausage or jerky. (P.S. It tastes good, too.)

Sugar-free Baked Goods, Pastisserie Bleu, Nashua (886-0007). Brownies to carrot cake, they make sweets for diabetics and others who cannot live with sugar, but cannot live without dessert. And for those who can consume all the glucose they want, this is like heaven on Main Street.

Fat Free Brownies, No Pudge Fudge Brownies, Hopkinton, (www.nopudge.com) Lindsay Frucci, a self-confessed brownieholic, wanted to be able to get her fix without all the calories. So she came up with a fat-free recipe brownie mix that's so yummy (and guilt-free) it's now sold in stores all over the state.

Vintage Cider: Farnum Hill Ciders, Lebanon (448-1511) It's not easy, getting hard ciders the respect they deserve. Farnum Hill treats them like fine wine. They grow, harvest, and bottle their ciders in Lebanon, and market them to shops, restaurants and people who have discovered their crisp, elegant appeal. Cider apples are a specialty in themselves, and Farnum is doing its part to re-establish some rare fruit.

Reason for Almonds: Rich, moist and chewy, St. Julien Macaroons (www.macaroons.com) are the real thing, without added fat or preservatives, so the Sandown company can only make them when the weather is cool. Visit September through May to hoard your share, and enjoy them as a sweet counterpoint to a cup of espresso.

Shortbread Cookies: Bellows House Bakery Good shortbread isn't bread and it's certainly not short on flavor, but Bellows House in Walpole (800-358-6302) unleashes the pure power of sweet buttery crispness with shortbread cookies (like lemon, chocolate chip, and caramel nut) that are designed to melt in your mouth. Beware. Once they hook you on cookies, you'll soon be ordering their full pans of award-winning "bountiful brownies."

Escape from the Fast Food World: Wander into New London's Ingredients (526-6111) and you might not get to your next destination. Browsing is not only encouraged, but is the best way to soak in this world-class selection of gourmet, organic, specialty, local, international, and downright delightful foods and wines, as well as fresh produce, meals-to-go, and the largest selection of supplements, natural cosmetics, body and bath products we've seen.

Fan Central: The Paperback Bazaar in Somersworth has an incredible array of the ever-growing roster of games that appeal to young people (such as Magic, Yu Gi Oh and Warhammer). There is overflow space to hang out and eat pizza. The Bazaar is staffed by folks who know and love the arcana of fan culture. Well-known comic artists come to meet with fans, swap tips with young artists, and just hang out. (742-2626).

Place for a Big Gathering of Friends: The Portsmouth Brewery, Portsmouth (431-1115) The Brewery's Big Table, located in the semi-private Ezra LaFleur Room, seats up to 20 guests. Custom built by local craftsman Jack Kane, it's the largest restaurant dining table on the Seacoast. The Big Table is available for large parties, private functions, meetings and luncheons.

Epicurean Delights: Saladino's Italian Market and Restaurant located on Gorham's main drag just down from Libby's Bistro. Saladino's offer fine Italian pottery and tableware in their gift shop as well as a great selection of cheeses and other epicurean delights made each day by the owner Michael. Their gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads would hold up to anything in Boston's North End - where Michael Saladino grew up. (466-2520)

Croissants Better than Paris: It's a known fact. Kernel Bakery (924-7930) in Peterborough makes the best croissants on Earth. Sure, the breads are delicious and the cookies melt in your mouth, but it's the croissants that keep 'em coming back.

Wedding Cakes: Sweet Flours (929-2119) Want a wedding cake that is unusual and illustrates your "marriage of two individuals" or one that is elegant but still unique to show that "traditional" doesn't mean "uncreative?" Either way, you'll find what you want at Hampton's Sweet Flours.

Gourmet Applesauce: Rudy's Fruity Applesauce (228-9646) is a surprise to anyone who hasn't had applesauce since Mom packed it in your Brady Bunch lunchbox. Rudy's comes in four robust flavors and is a healthy and delicious way to rediscover the pleasures of this natural snack.

Transcendent Shopping Experience: Here Today..., Wilton (654-5295). Here Today carries everything from specialty cards to fine antiques and the two-story building is bursting with displays of fine china, crystal and collectibles, plus a selection of natural body care products. There's a special ambience here, with stress- reducing music and a mood that says, stop, stay a while and shop.

Aerial Show: Jumpin' Jack Sports, Stratham, is a New Hampshire-based sporting event production and marketing company that owns the biggest portable ski jump in the world. Its premier event is the All Star Aerial Show, touring nationally now in its ninth winter season. The show has been featured in numerous TV specials, filmed by Imax and put on 20 shows during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Jumpin' Jack Sports was founded by former Olympian and 1987 U.S. National Aerial Champion, Jack Fleming.

Children's Clothing: Kids costing you a fortune because they grow out of their new clothes in (what seems like) a week? Consider buying "pre-owned" clothes at Mother & Child Clothing and Gifts, Amherst Plaza, Amherst (886-6727). You'll find stylish, quality duds for infants, children and pre-teens. Maternity clothes, too. Not only cost-effective, but kind to the environment.

Artisan Jewelry: The Cordwainer Gallery in Village Shoppes of Bedford features hundreds of choice works of wearable art including some from New Hampshire's finest artisans.

Hotel Concierge: Erin Rizzo at the Mt. Washington Hotel and Resort (278-1000) obviously loves her job. Along with keeping guests happy and well informed, she imparts a special connection to the hotel and its past. Maybe she possesses a touch of royal blood that binds her to hotel builder Joseph Stickney's princess bride. If you want to get chills, ask Erin about that fabled romance and have her show you around Room 314 where guests can still sleep in the princess' bed.

ARTS AND CULTURE

Community Steel Drum Band: Iere Steel (www.Ieresteel.com) is a chance for restless Yankees to dream of the Caribbean while the snow flies outside. The band invites all comers to learn how to play the delightfully percussive melodies of the steel drum. They meet weekly at Pembroke Academy, Pembroke.

Place to Be a Clown: Persson's Clown Supplies Epping (679-3311) takes orders from around the world and just down the street for those wishing to explore their inner clown. Need big shoes? Dozens of pairs hang on the wall. Rubber noses? Buy them here in bags of 50 or select that special schnozzola from the dozens of the most fashionable designs that they have on display.

Movie Theatre for New Movies: The Appletree Mall Cinema in Londonderry (434-8633) is the first (and, so far, only) movie house in the state to offer stadium seating. Going to see a hot first-run film there is a bit like moving from coach to first class. Every seat offers an unencumbered view and ample leg room. With new equipment and a fantastic digital sound system, this is the place to book your next trip to Middle Earth or a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Free (almost) Movies: NH Technical Institute Film Society (271-7197) in Concord on just about every other Friday, shows arty or foreign films that never quite made it to local screens (or left too soon to be noticed) at the NHTI Sweeney Auditorium. The admission price is whatever you care to give at the door (they suggest $5). Free coffee, and sometimes cookies are offered by the local Bagelworks.

Alternative Use for a New Technology: The Segway Dance Troupe is three human beings and $21,000 worth of Dean Kamen's high-tech mobility. It can simulate the poetry-in-motion of ballet along with the death-defying grace of trapeze, all without ever leaving the ground. Kelly Doremus Stuart of Concord's Petit Papillon (224-6463) choreographs this unique display of a new art form, truly born in the Granite State.

Event For Writers to Network: New Hampshire Writer's Project Annual Writers Day, (www.nhwritersproject.org) You've never see so many corduroy sport coats with patches on the elbows in one place before ...

Movie Critic: Local film criticism usually reads like a slam book from Hollywood High or like class notes from "Cinema History 101." Amy Diaz of Manchester's HippoPress somehow mixes both these approaches and attains something transcendental. Fun to read, informative, even useful in making your own decisions while navigating the dark, twisty passages of your local cineplex.

Intellectual Historical Events: The Chautauquas of old were a chance for the brightest lights of literature and society to mix it up with the common folk. The tradition continues, thanks to the efforts of the New Hampshire Humanities Council (www.nhhc.org) and their team of reenactors.

Girl Group: Manchester Central High grads and sisters Ashley and Arsha Alexander (www.ashleyarshafantasy.com) team up to become Fantasy, singing and performing their way to local stardom and even opening for such big acts as O-Town.

All Ages Club: Although the "family friendly" tag might sound like a killer for attracting edgy music groups, the Sad Cafe in Plaistow has a great stage and sound system, and they record each performance and present the band with a live CD. A non-profit organization, in it for the love of the music, they support local entertainment styles, ranging from rock to punk to folk to ska. (www.thesadcafe.com)

Audiophonic Entertainers: The N.H. Radio Theatre (www.nhrt.org) is a collection of local media figures and familiar radio voices who keep the creative flame burning for old time radio theatre, with a modern spin.

Renaissance Man: Artist, photographer, activist, Portsmouth resident Richard Haynes Jr., uses his vision and talent to put shape and color to the invisible vibes of music, or to the unseen plight of migrant workers. Visit www.seacoastnh.com/arts/photoshaynes/ to view his work.

Opera Company: There's not a dry eye in Keene's Colonial Theatre as Mimi or Violetta sings her last notes in high-class Raylynmor Opera Company (924-6592) productions of Puccini and Verde classics. Lighter works have included Gilbert and Sullivan and comic operas by Mozart and Donizetti, all with full orchestra and Met-quality voices.

Community Involvement: In the media world, it sometimes seems like "big" equals "remote," but WOKQ, with the widest signal range of any N.H.-based radio stations, is also the most involved, featuring community-related events virtually every day (check out their community calendar at www.wokq.com).

Birthday Party, It's still a year away, but the excitement is building (OK, we HOPE the excitement is building) for the 200th birthday of President Franklin Pierce in 2004. (224-5566) Pierce may not have been the most illustrious U.S. president, and he's not even the most popular president to emerge from the Granite State (thanks to The West Wing's Josiah Bartlet), but it's about time he got some of the respect he deserves.

Place to Hang Out: Goffstown's Uncommonly Good Common built entirely by volunteers. (Info at 497-9933). Fountains, benches, grassy spot for picnics, surrounded by a lively downtown.

Comeback Commentator: Arnie Arnesen has been there, done that, in TV, radio, politics, and print, and has developed an ardent following, but she has never really broken through to the masses. Perhaps she just set her sights too low. This summer she shoots the moon when WKXL Radio, broadcasting from the Capital City in Primary prime time, puts her on the ABC radio satellite against Rush Limbaugh. Doubters, take note: Rush Limbaugh was scarcely known outside Cape Girardeau, Missouri, before his show was syndicated in 1988.

Dance Band: If you're looking for the longest, liveliest groove in the Granite State, you just can't beat The Spectras (www.thespectras.com). This band has been playing together through thick and thin, war and peace, disco decades and punk rock periods, and they still know how to perform the primary function of a rock 'n' roll band - they get people to get up and move. Hear them at the Hampton Beach Casino and believe, once again, in magic.

Under-18 Jazz Combo: You should check out Sound Inc., (226-0174) a three-piece band of Concord teens that has real juice. Whether playing originals, free-form jazz or standards, they'll sweep you away.

FUN AND ADVENTURE

Place to Paddle with the Loons: Willard Pond, part of the dePierrefue-Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary between Hancock and Hillsborough, is still and serene on a summer evening, when paddlers can look deeply into its clear waters to see the giant rocks that lie beneath. Loons play hide-and-seek with kayaks, diving and emerging behind or on the other side, while Great Blue Herons pose on the shore.

Cool Place on a Hot Day: In mid-July, there's usually ice left over from winter in the Ice Chasm high above Dixville Notch. Follow the trail to Table Rock, turning to the right as the trail swings down to the ledges. The trail from the notch is steep, but a kinder, gentler one ascends from near Balsams-Wilderness Ski Area.

Picnic Tables Below a Waterfall: No tumbling little cascade, Beaver Brook Falls in Colebrook is a formidable waterfall, a surprise to those who didn't expect to see it as they drive along Route 145. The tables beside the pool below it invite a picnic.

Garden for the Senses: Take time to smell the flowers, feel the velvety leaves, even taste a leaf or two at the Urban Forestry Center (431-6774) in Portsmouth. Designed for the visually and physically impaired, these plants grow in raised beds surrounded by wide paths. But their appeal is universal.

Walking Town: Portsmouth Ahh, the smell of the sea, the brine, the scream of the gulls, the sense of timeless seaport past, the funky shops, the park, the restaurants, the restaurants, and oh yeah, the restaurants. (What? All that walking makes me hungry!)

Family Fun Farm: Beech Hill Farmstand and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton (224-7655) has many things to commend it: great ice cream, a farm implement museum, and an open barn that features all kinds of interesting music. Smell the corn mazes growing and gaze at the harvest moon. The mazes open in August, allowing kids to explore old New Hampshire or a rain forest.

Feast for the Soul: SoulFest 2003 (formerly the Inside Out Soul Festival) runs from July 31 to August 3, and is the largest gathering of Christian music performers and fans in the Northeast. Soulfest features virtually every genre of music and the lovely Loon Mountain backdrop provides a Woodstock-like atmosphere in which the peace and love doesn't need chemical inspiration. It's somehow both radical and laid back, both youth-oriented and family friendly. (www.newsoundconcerts.com)

Downtown Car Show: Drive-In the 50s, Downtown Berlin, (752-6246) The largest classic car show north of the notch! The entire downtown is closed off from 5 to 8 p.m. with live music, entertainment and food- a big local event with cars from three states.

Hang-Out (Hide-Out): The Barley House, Concord (228-6363) The Barley House features cozy seats, awesome food and drinks, weekend entertainment and an atmosphere that invites great conversation. Check out the Tuesday night Celtic jam session and get an idea of how a pint of Guinness must taste in Dublin.

Fly Fishing Destination: Pittsburg Area With the Connecticut Lakes, Lake Francis, Back Lake, the Connecticut River and plenty of ponds and small streams, this is an angler's heaven.

Kitschy Attraction: Miniature golf is always kind of a quaint activity but there's no place better to putter around than the Salute to the U.S.A. course at the Weirs Beach arcade. Each hole is dedicated to a great American icon, like Abraham Lincoln's log cabin home, Kitty Hawk, N.C., Disneyland and the Indianapolis 500. Turn a family outing into a educational experience! Grant a handicap to golfers who can provide additional facts about each historic hole.

Place to Virtually Demolish your Friends: Escape Key, (223-6966) in Concord's Eagle Square offers computer gamers the perfect environment for multiplayer conquests. High-speed LAN action, fast new computers, latest updates for games like Medal of Honor, Soldier of Fortune and Star Wars Jedi Knight. It's a virtual heaven.

Place to Exercise your God Complex: Dakka Dakka (668-2022). Manchester's Millyard is like a little city unto itself, but in one of the buildings you'll find a dozen complete worlds locked in perpetual conflict as tiny armies smash and zap one another and their human masters gulp down soda and gnaw chicken fingers and french fries delivered by Caesario's. Tabletop games like Warhammer are pretty much a young guy thing, but a number of oldsters and females are discovering the fun, thanks to this full-service gaming center.

Informal Place for a Date: Chunky's Cinema Pub, Pelham (www.chunkys.com). Forget about greasy buttered popcorn and corn chips drowning in neon orange cheese. Chunky's offers light dinner fare, such as the Kevin Bacon Burger and the Braveheart Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Wine and beer are also available. But the big draw of Chunky's is the seats. They're cushy bucket seats removed from Lincoln Town cars!

Collection of Collections: Crossroads of America, Bethlehem (869-3919) A model railroad covers the entire third floor of this miniature world of toy models, animated villages and detailed terrain. Along with collections of model boats, cars and airplanes, there's even a collection of real vintage outboard motors.

Place to Pretend to be Manny or Nomar: Mel's Tee-Off & Family Entertainment Center, Litchfield (www.teeoffatmels.com). This conglomeration of a golf driving range, ice cream shop and batting cages boasts the area's finest replica of Fenway's Green Monster. Even little tikes can experience that beautiful "thud" sound off the wall by belting a shallow fly ball.

Family Christmas Ride: The sleigh ride at Charmingfare Farm in Candia (483-5623) is the perfect way to mark the holiday season. Your family climbs aboard an 18th-century horse-drawn sleigh, and off you go. Snuggle down with a warm sleigh robe and enjoy the wintry wonderland. Larger groups can also be accommodated.

Family Hike: Bridal Veil Falls off Copper Mine Road in Franconia. Moderate hike along a stream, with an actual waterfall at the end that you can stand under (if you can bear the cold). It's a nice shaded walk under a canopy of pines probably about 2.5 or so miles each way. If you want more info, it's a hike that was recommended by the folks at Franconia Inn (also a great getaway).

New Year's Eve Celebration: The First Night movement was a family-friendly flame that warmed New Year's Eve for a while and then pretty much burned out in chilly New Hampshire, everywhere except for Wolfeboro where First Night is 8 years old and going strong. Wolfeboro is the smallest town in the U.S to host a sanctioned First Night event, but it has stayed in the black and every year attracts plenty of people, artists and performers.

Outdoor Ice Skating: Robert Cyr's Victorian Estate in Jackson, framed by the Nestlenook Farm on the River and twinkling lights, features a skating pond complete with warming fires, Victorian bridges and hot cocoa. Music to skate to and open fires to warm your toes. Rental skates available. Free for guests of the Luxury Mountain Getaways.

Hot Tub in a Tower: The Tower Spa of the Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa in Whitefield (837-0003) is just what you'd imagine, a spa in the clouds, plus it's one of the best places in the state to watch the sun set. The Mountain View Grand is a great new choice for those seeking to get away from it all and a great story of New Hampshire elegance. Write yourself into a chapter.

Theater for a Cause: M&D Productions, (356-4449), which creates off-Broadway-quality plays way off in the woods of Conway, pins each production to benefit a local charity. Their interesting choices, high production values and remarkable talent pool make it well worth a trip north. The stars do shine brighter away from the city.

Theater on the Edge: Yellow Taxi Productions (www.yellowtaxiproductions.com) are designed to push playwrights for new insights, push actors to deeper moments, and push audiences to expect more from local theatre. Founder Suzanne Delle took "Best Director" honors in this year's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

Art Classes: The Sharon Arts Center in Sharon is a whole universe of art. Year-round there's an art school with affordable classes and workshops taught by gifted artists. Ranging from Drawing Japanese Anime to Glass Beadmaking to meetings of the Colored Pencil Society of America, there's something sure to suit your "right" side of the brain.

Place to See the Stars: Lon Henderson, owner of the Sunset Hill House in Sugar Hill, owns a 20-inch Obsession telescope. On scheduled evenings, weather permitting, he shares views of the heavens with guests and visitors. Call for availability and costs. (800) SUN HILL

MISCELLANEOUS

Memorial to the Old Man of the Mountain: Nutfield Brewing Company's "Old Man Ale" was made as a tribute, not as a memorial, but what better way to remember the Great Stone Face than to knock back a few cold ones and reminisce about the days before the fall. Nutfield, based in Derry, makes delicious seasonal and year-round products. To get a handle on them, try their "Mixed Nuts" variety pack with four different brews.

Promoter of the White Mountains: Dick Hamilton is Mr. White Mountains. If you need to know anything about the Great White Hills, ask Dick, president of the White Mountains Attractions Association (www.visitwhitemountains.com), who's been telling the world about their pleasures and virtues for the past 33 years.

Restored Political Landmark: Robie's Country Store in Hooksett reopened in time to welcome the latest crop of presidential wannabees. First in line was Florida Senator Bob Graham, who played checkers for a half hour (and lost). Robie's, scenically located by the river in Hooksett Village, was one of the mandatory stops for every serious candidate until it closed in 1997. A local preservation group is restoring the building and plans a new museum there.

Traveler-friendly Downtown: You can now come to downtown Dover by Amtrak train, bus or boat, as well as by car, bike or foot. Dover also has the most customer-friendly parking policy. There is free two-hour, on-the-street parking and a merchant-sponsored validation program that forgives tickets for shoppers staying longer. And the mill waterfall creates a sweet rush through town with refreshing spots to walk and a romantic waterfront.

Summer Camp Claim to Fame: Israeli military hero Yoni Netanyahu, the lead commando of the 1976 Entebbe Airport rescue of Israeli hostages held in Uganda, was once a camp counselor in Amherst. Netanyahu's experiences at Camp Young Judaea on Lake Baboosic in the early 1960s were documented in letters to his brother Bibi, who later became the prime minister of Israel.

Proof that NH is only 10 years Behind the West Coast Trends: The Oxygen Station Portsmouth, (436-5454). Ready for this? An oxygen bar, where you can can go and relax in a comfy chair while you inhale 95-percent-pure oxygen through "nose hoses." You have your pick of 15 scents - grapefruit and pine to name just two. It's said to do everything from relieve stress to keep you young.

Tourism Cooperative Marketing Effort: "Yankee Stage Stops" Whether it's an afternoon visit to a quaint country store, the quiet thrill of a covered wagon ride through beautiful farm land or the simple pleasure of relaxing under the shade of a maple tree, the Yankee Stage Stops have something for everyone. Participants include many "bests" in their own rights, such as Calef's Country Store-Barrington; The Christmas Dove gift shop-Barrington; DeMeritt Hill Farm-Lee orchards and hiking trails; Flag Hill Winery-Lee; Little Bay Buffalo Company-Durham; The Sugar Shack-Barrington; and Three Chimney's Inn-Durham. These companies have banded together to better entice individuals, couples, families or busloads to come explore the state.

Romantic Seat in a Restaurant: Anthony Alberto's Ristorante in Portsmouth (436-4000), ask for table # 8. It's a great little booth under a brick archway, secluded and oh-so-special.

To Benefit the