NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE

NH Holds First Annual Statewide Restaurant Week May 18 – 25

For the past several years, communities across the country have organized their own local Restaurant Weeks, when participating restaurants offer special prix fixe menus to encourage diners to step out and try something new or visit an eatery they might not otherwise try. These events started in larger cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, and have recently become popular in smaller cities and towns where there are lots of great bistros, cafés, and cantinas to choose from. In New Hampshire, foodies have been able to enjoy Restaurant Weeks in Portsmouth, Manchester, Keene, Concord, Nashua, and Dover for some time, but this year marks the first-ever annual statewide Restaurant Week!

Restaurant Week NH will kick off on Friday, May 18^th at participating eateries throughout the Granite State. More than 100 restaurants are already on board for this eight-day event, which will feature prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner from a variety of popular dining spots. To fit different budgets from fine dining to quick and casual, there are three levels of pricing, the event website lists all the participating restaurants with an icon of one, two, or three forks for each restaurant. One fork means $10 lunch and $15 dinner, two forks means $15 lunch and $25 dinner, and three forks means $20 lunch and $35 dinner. All pricing includes three courses, usually an appetizer, main course, and dessert.

“I highly encourage the people of New Hampshire to experience all that our fine restaurants have to offer during New Hampshire Restaurant Week,” Governor John Lynch said in March when he announced Restaurant Week NH. “As governor, I am proud of our restaurant and lodging industry. New Hampshire restaurants are known for their great food and knowledgeable staff, making for a wonderful dining experience that I hope you will experience for yourself during Restaurant Week in May, and all throughout the year.”

Restaurant Week NH is a great opportunity for a culinary road trip or a mini foodie vacation. Many hotels and inns are offering special lodging packages to coincide with the Restaurant Week event. Here at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, guests can take advantage of the Travel Now special offer, which includes one night’s accommodations, a full country breakfast from your choice of three restaurants, and 15% off spa services at Cascade Spa. Meredith eateries participating in Restaurant Week NH include Lakehouse Grille, Lago, Camp, and Giuseppe’s—all within walking distance of the Inns!

Get out and experience some of the fine cuisine that’s available throughout the Granite State and show your support for the first official New Hampshire Restaurant Week! For information about the event, visit RestaurantWeekNH.com, and for updates on all the Restaurant Week happenings via social media, follow on Twitter or the Restaurant Week NH Facebook page.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

image courtesy of Restaurant Week NH

Country Carriage a Longtime Favorite at the Mill Falls Marketplace

The vintage counter and glass cases at The Country Carriage

Stepping into the historic Mill building at the Mill Falls Marketplace is like taking a trip through time. The wooden floors and beams show their age and beauty marks from as far back as the early 1800s, but the old and new mingle here seamlessly, bringing a timeless quality to the shops that now inhabit this old linen mill. One of these shops seems to have been born out of the evolution of the mill, melding perfectly with the ambiance of the building. Indeed, The Country Carriage, with its rustic American theme, is the flagship store, having been here since the mill was renovated into the Marketplace in the early 1980s.

Gail Putnam has owned and managed The Country Carriage for nearly 28 years, “since before the first [Mill Falls] Inn was even built,” she says. The Mill Falls Marketplace opened with a handful of stores in 1984, and in June the following year, the ribbon was cut at The Inn at Mill Falls. “I have personally been here this entire time,” says Gail. “I think we are the first—well the only—original store and store owner.” Some of the other stores have been at the Marketplace from the beginning, but have changed hands since that time.

The Country Carriage started out in a small space on the second floor of the Marketplace, with about 800 square feet for its unique American Country gifts and décor. The store has expanded over the years with many new product lines, and can now be found on the third floor in a much larger space of about 3500 square feet. “This is pretty much as big as we’re going to get,” says Gail.

Although the store has grown, it has stayed true to its roots and still carries the distinctive country gifts and decorative accessories that have been its specialty all along, with an emphasis on American-made products. Customers can find many favorites here, such as Crabtree & Evelyn soaps and lotions, Yankee Candle and Country Junction candles, Lang calendars and paper products, Stonewall Kitchen specialty foods, Vera Bradley bags and accessories, and much, much more.

The Country Carriage was one of the first stores to carry Vera Bradley bags. The company is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, and Gail has been offering the collection of bags and accessories since 1989. Vera Bradley is one of the most popular items in the store now. The vast selection Lakeside t-shirts and sweatshirts is also very popular, especially with first-time visitors to the Lakes Region. “They love to take home a shirt that says ‘Lake Winnipesaukee,’” explains Gail.

Many locals also frequent the store for the great selection of greeting cards. For over 25 years, The Country Carriage has offered country-themed Lang cards and calendars. They’re a company from Wisconsin and we’ve been buying from them for a long time,” says Gail. “We do a lot of business in greeting cards.  People love them, and as it happens, we do have a good reputation for a selection of greeting cards that people really seem to like.”

When asked what she likes most about running her store, Gail says, “My favorite part of the business is finding new product—that’s the most interesting for me. I go to gift shows—to New York, sometimes to Atlanta or Dallas—and then there are more local shows, the Boston gift show for instance… finding new products every year is the most exciting for me… we’re adding some new baby products, both clothing and toys. That seems to be an area that is growing for us.

“I have great employees who have been with me for many years, and that’s wonderful because they know so much about the products… the more knowledgeable about the products, the better it is for me and for the customers.”

Music in the Mill Falls Marketplace

Along with the great customer service that goes along with such devoted staff, Gail is proud of her broad selection of classic as well as new items. “We have repeat customers who come every year; I’d like to think that they can come in and find something new and exciting, but they also can find the regular old standards, too,” she says. “For instance, if they want Crabtree soap, they know that they’re going to be able to find it here. I think that it’s good to have a mix: really good product that people have been seeing over the years, but also each time they come in they’ll find something new as well.”

The Country Carriage is open year round, “362 days a year,” with expanded hours in the summertime, when visitors can enjoy live music outdoors at the Marketplace on Friday evenings. “People can come and spend an enjoyable amount of time here, shopping and eating and being entertained,” says Gail. “The Marketplace is right on Meredith Bay, so people can shop by boat, and they do in fact!”

Gail says she will continue to keep her store going, with no plans to retire any time soon. “I enjoy being here,” she says.

When you visit the Marketplace, be sure to stop in at The Country Carriage and say hello. You’ll see for yourself just why this store is a favorite of locals and visitors alike, and you just might find a special something to take home with you, too!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Lakes Region Farms Celebrate the Growing Season with Opening Events

Beans & Greens Farmstand

Leaves are budding and flowers are blooming all around NH, and the time for planting summer vegetables is upon us!  Many local farms and farm stands are now opening to the public and offering early spring produce along with special events that will get everyone in the spirit for this year’s growing season and abundant harvests.

Saturday, April 28^th is Opening Day at Beans & Greens Farmstand in Gilford, NH. Visitors will enjoy the farm’s focus on the early season gardening, and Beans & Greens will be offering a full selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, and hanging baskets displayed in several large greenhouses. As the weather warms and the danger of frost passes, a full selection of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs will soon be growing in the picturesque meadows surrounding the Farmstand. Next weekend, on Saturday, May 5^th, the farm will present an introductory workshop on its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Attendees will learn about how the program works and, if interested, can sign up to participate. Many other fun events coming up at Beans & Greens are listed on the farm’s website here. Read the rest of this entry »

Backpacking Canadian Blogger on a Road Trip to NH

Those of us who know and love New Hampshire are aware of just how special this place is. Our little state has everything—from mountains, lakes, and seacoast to bustling centers of art, activities, and great dining. We love welcoming visitors and showing them around a little, so it’s no surprise that New Hampshire is hosting a travel buff from Toronto, who is here to tour the Granite State and share his adventures with the world.

Brock from Backpack with Brock is an avid traveler and self-described adventure coach based in Toronto, Ontario. Brock doesn’t own a car, and gets around the city by bicycle, foot, and public transit. When he found himself with the opportunity to use a car for few days, he decided to make the most of it and planned a last-minute road trip to explore a place within 12 hours of home. He made his announcement earlier this week on his blog. With his mother as co-pilot and the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development as his guide and host, Brock is now here, experiencing some of what this beautiful state has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Get Your Glam On in Wolfeboro This Weekend

After winter and before spring in NH, there is mud season, and it is upon us now. The sparkling snow has melted, and the flowers have yet to come into full bloom. Although there is a predominantly grey backdrop to our view and mud under our feet, there is much to celebrate. And what better time to dress up and enjoy some colorful art, music, and theatre? In Wolfeboro, folks will be doing just that, with a full weekend of fun events to brighten up an otherwise dull time of year.

Starting today, The Village Players Theater is giving the Lakes Region of New Hampshire Glamour in Mud Season™. The weekend includes theater, an art show, a wildlife encounter with glamorous animals, a delicious benefit breakfast, and a New England contra dance. Read the rest of this entry »

“Material Girls” Gather to Sew and Reconnect at Mill Falls

A few Material Girls

Since this lakeside NH resort opened in 1985, it has hosted many groups of people who return year after year for business conferences, corporate retreats, and special social events. One family has even been gathering at the Inn at Mill Falls for its annual reunion for over 25 years! But there is one group of friends who have a distinctive place in the Inns’ varied history—they love it here so much that they come back for their reunions not just once, but twice every year.

The Material Girls Quilting Group has been coming to The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls since 2000 for their biannual getaway weekends, every March and November, when they set up their sewing room for a few days of sharing ideas, working on individual projects, and nurturing longtime friendships. In the Cummings Room at the Inn at Mill Falls, the sound of laughter can often be heard over the hum of the machines. Read the rest of this entry »

Get Your Laughs at Comedy Night at Church Landing

The feel-good event of the year is back—Kidworks Learning Center is once again teaming up with The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and Meredith Village Savings Bank to bring the Meredith community a night of comedy and merriment to benefit the children of Kidworks.

On Friday, April 6^th, two nationally renowned comedians will perform at Church Landing as part of the Comedy Night fundraising event. This is the second year Kidworks is setting the comedy stage as its annual fundraiser. In previous years, the learning center has hosted several fundraisers on a smaller scale, such as bake sales, book sales, and Yankee Candle drives, but last year’s big event inspired the organization to bring Comedy Night back to the Meredith community. The evening begins with a cash bar at 7pm, followed by an 8pm comedy show featuring Robbie Printz and Steve Guillmette. Read the rest of this entry »

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Launches Free Mobile App for iPhone & Android

This well-loved resort on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, while honoring tradition and simple pleasures, continues to stay current and cutting edge in the modern world of travel. The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls has implemented many green initiatives, prides itself on a world-class spa, and offers complimentary Internet access with its property wide WiFi network.  Now the Inns can boast another trend-setting milestone—it is one of the first lodging properties in New Hampshire to launch a free and customized iPhone & Android mobile application.

“Visitors and guests can download the free Mill Falls App to explore the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and all the property has to offer,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of the Inns at Mill Falls. “We are thrilled to offer this as a guest service because it will help our guests manage their stay, easily find their way around the property, and get quick answers right from their mobile device. When guests arrive, they will be prompted to download the app and they can immediately see images and video, learn about all the hotel amenities and how to access them, and discover upcoming events at the hotel or in an around Meredith.” Read the rest of this entry »

Early Ice-Out on Lake Winnipesaukee This Year?

View from Church Landing on March 15: Ice still covers much of Lake Winnipesaukee

This winter has been extremely mild, and the thickness of the ice on Lake Winnipesaukee was questionable for much of the season.  In fact, the annual Pond Hockey Classic moved to Lake Waukewan, a smaller nearby lake, due to concerns about the safety of the ice for the hundreds of people that would be on the lake at once. The big question on everyone’s mind now is, will the milder temperatures this winter bring a record-breaking early “ice-out” this spring?

“Ice-Out” on Lake Winnipesaukee occurs when the ice that has covered the lake all winter melts enough to allow the M/S Mount Washington cruise ship to navigate to all of its stops in Alton Bay, Center Harbor, Weirs Beach, Meredith, and Wolfeboro. As the traditional, unofficial start of the spring season, this event is greatly anticipated by locals and visitors alike. Many Islanders regain water access to their cottages, and boaters are free to explore the lake. Read the rest of this entry »

Three-time Juno Award-winner David Francey Returns to Meredith

David Francey will be at The Grotto March 14

Time flies when you’re having fun! It’s been over a year since Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté opened “The Grotto,” a beautiful and cozy room in the original foundation of the old linen mill at Mill Falls, with plenty of space for private parties, wine dinners, and intimate live concerts. In fact, The Grotto’s Dinner Concert Series has been well received by audiences, who have been filling the room since last March to enjoy distinctive performances by respected national touring artists.

Canadian singer-songwriter David Francey was the first in the Dinner Concert Series lineup, and he will be returning for his second performance at The Grotto this coming Wednesday, March 14^th. “We were so fortunate to have him debut our new dinner concert series last March, when he performed to a sold-out audience,” says Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois, owner of Giuseppe’s. “His return visit is greatly anticipated.” Read the rest of this entry »