NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE

Fun Lakes Region Activities for the Holiday Break

The feasting is finished and the snow is finally piling up—time to get outside and soak up the remainder of the holiday break! Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, we’ve got quite a few options for winter activities to enjoy with family and friends (while getting a little exercise, too!) …

Gunstock Mountain Resort has some great events lined up for the week. In addition to their fabulous skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, families might want to check out the schedule of special activities for vacation week. There will be crafting and music in the main lodge on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday from 1:30 – 2:30pm, an instructor from the W.I.L.D. Center will be on hand, featuring a presentation with live animals and a chance for questions and answers. Thanks to yesterday’s storm, Nordic skiing begins this weekend with 5 kilometers of rolled trails and soft snow, and all of the resort’s snowshoe trails are ready, too! Gunstock is planning a spectacular New Year’s Eve, with special tours, sleigh rides, s’mores by the fire, a torch light parade at 11:45pm, and fireworks at midnight! Read the rest of this entry »

Come to the Lakes Region for New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s Eve on Lake Winnipesaukee is promising to be spectacular this year!  There will be so much to do and see, you might want to arrive early and plan to pace yourself so that you’ll be awake to greet 2013 as it rolls in at midnight!

First, head over to Wolfeboro to enjoy some of their First Night activities. First Night Wolfeboro is a community-wide, alcohol-free celebration of the performing arts. There will be a variety of entertainment options at many locations around town, including some really fun activities for children and families starting at 2:00pm. Kids will enjoy face painting, mask making, and hat making, as well as storytellers and interactive live music, and folks of all ages will want to check out the Discovery Dome and Telescopes from the McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium, and of course, the parade at 5:00 and fireworks at 5:30. The list of events and activities is too long to mention here, so be sure to visit the First Night Wolfeboro website for details. Read the rest of this entry »

Some Poems to Share for Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year

As we near Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, people of many faiths celebrate the return of light, along with the mystical and spiritual essence of the season. It is a time of great introspection, and observation of traditions old and new. It is a time to gather with loved ones, and also to reflect in quiet solitude. In the spirit of the season, which has as many facets as a snowflake in the moonlight, we bring you a few poems to share with family and friends, or to enjoy alone, as we honor Hanukkah, Christmas, Solstice, and the New Year… Read the rest of this entry »

3rd Annual Meredith Village Art Walk to Benefit NH Humane Society

As winter sets in all around New England, we begin to turn our thoughts toward pursuing creative indoor endeavors, gathering with loved ones, and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. December is a time of great giving, within our families as well as our communities. In this spirit of grace, the art galleries of Meredith are once again opening their doors and their hearts for a special night of beautiful art, music, delicious food, and generous fundraising for their annual “Food for the Soul” Art Walk.

Next Thursday evening, December 13^th, six galleries in Meredith will participate in the third annual Meredith Village Art Walk, themed “Food for the Soul,” to benefit the New Hampshire Humane Society, the largest area animal welfare agency. Last year’s Art Walk brought in many donations to the Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, and the event’s organizers are hoping their visitors are just as generous this year to help our animal friends. The event promises to be bigger and better than last year with the addition of several fine artisans and craftsmen, horse-drawn wagon rides, and live music. Read the rest of this entry »

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Retail Gallery December Events

Looking for unique, handmade gifts this holiday season? Interested in catching a glimpse of how a skilled artisan works her craft? The League of NH Craftsmen has a great lineup of workshops and demonstrations, where you can meet the artists and be a part of some of the creative processes as the fine pieces come to life. Check out what’s happening at the Meredith Retail Gallery this December…

Felted Animal Demonstration with Carolyn Wright
Saturday, December 1st, 2012, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Stop in and see how Carolyn brings wool to life in creative ways – from chickens, sheep, and lions, to stars, moons, and eggs! Carolyn creates her wonderful characters by the process of needle felting. Are you interested in exploring this art form? Come with your curiosity and questions, as Carolyn shows her work in its various stages. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Time for Altrusa Club’s Annual Festival of Trees!

To open the Lakes Region’s holiday season, the Altrusa Club of Meredith will be hosting their 17^th Annual Festival of Trees this weekend. This spectacular festival will be held at the Waukewan Golf Club in Center Harbor, NH, and will highlight beautifully decorated Christmas trees, fine products made by local artisans, traditional cookies and cider, and a special children’s event, all while benefitting local charities and community projects!

The Festival kicks off on Thursday evening, November 29^th, with the Silent & Live Auction and Gala from 5:30 – 8:00pm. The night will be filled with music, hors d’oeuvres, delicious desserts, and a cash wine and beer bar. Guests will enjoy the picturesque New England barn setting, featuring a huge rustic fireplace, while bidding on many great items contributed by area businesses. New this year, a live auction will feature three specialty items: a 40” Samsung HDTV Flat Screen TV, two MS/Mount Washington dinner cruise tickets paired with an overnight stay at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, and two Ski NH one-day unrestricted ski passes to both Gunstock and Ragged Mountain, along with gift certificates to Patrick’s Pub and Fratello’s Ristoranté Italiano or The Homestead Restaurant. As in years past, the Lakes Region’s favorite well-known radio personality, Pat Kelly, will take on the role of Master of Ceremonies for the event. Tonight’s gala is now officially sold out, so the night is expected to be a terrific success! Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrate Small Business Saturday by Shopping Locally

The day after Thanksgiving in the United States has long been referred to as “Black Friday,” a day when retail stores across the country hold big sales and welcome throngs of holiday shoppers looking for that special deal. However, in recent years, the day has become more of a mass exodus to the big box stores and national chains as folks line up early to be among the first to get their hands on limited offers for big ticket items. Some of these big retailers have begun to open earlier and earlier each year for the event, with several now opening on Thanksgiving evening to get a jump on the Black Friday craze, disrupting employees’ holiday time with family and causing smaller retailers and “Mom & Pop” stores to suffer as their customers flock to the well-hyped super sales. In response, several small merchants, together with American Express®, organized Small Business Saturday, a day when everyone is encouraged to shop locally while taking advantage of some special offers as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Boston Chronicle Visits the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls

Shayna Seymore interviews Rusty McLear.

While The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and the surrounding village of Meredith, NH are popular Lakes Region destinations, well known to many people within as well as outside the area, these local treasures are about to gain an even wider audience and greater exposure, as they have been featured on a Boston travel show that is scheduled to air tonight!

Shayna Seymore and Bob Oliver from Boston Chronicle visited Meredith last month on October 15^th and 16^th, staying overnight at the Lodges at Church Landing, the latest addition to the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. The two were in town to film a segment for a series that the show produces called “A Tank Away,” which features great places to visit within a tank of gas from Boston. The special series is filmed every season, and the Chronicle crew timed their visit to coincide with the peak of fall foliage in the Lakes Region. Read the rest of this entry »

NH’s Common Man Restaurants Help with Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

In keeping with a long tradition of community service, The Common Man Family of Restaurants has once again reached out to assist those in need—by offering direct help as well as raising funds through the generosity of its patrons—this time in the efforts to aid people and communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy last week.

Thousands are still without power in New York and New Jersey, and the recovery has been complicated by this week’s Nor’easter. However, as the relief effort continues, the folks at the Common Man have donated food to the Jersey Shore and are working hard to raise funds for the American Red Cross NH Chapter. The popular family of restaurants is running a program for customers who dine at any of their locations to be able to easily contribute to the relief funds. Read the rest of this entry »

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Named One of Top 45 Hotels in the Northeast

Chalk up another award for this lakeside getaway—the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey has recently recognized the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls as one of the Top 45 Hotels in the Northeast!

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey began in 1988, and since then has been listing the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruises, and airlines based on real travelers’ experiences. The online questionnaire contains lists of candidates in the various categories, and individual candidates are judged by relevant criteria for each group. In the hotel category, the ratings are based on Food/Dining, Location, Overall Design, Rooms, and Service. Those that receive a required minimum number of responses are deemed eligible for a Readers’ Choice Award. Each candidate is rated by the specific criteria on a five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. Those scores, which represent the percentage of respondents rating a candidate excellent or very good, are averaged to determine the final score. Read the rest of this entry »