Family Celebrates 25 Years of Reunions at The Inns

The Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family, 2011

On the second weekend of every December, this lakeside village becomes home to an extended family that has been gathering in Meredith for nearly 30 years and began staying at The Inn at Mill Falls the very first year the doors opened. Since then, the extended Hinchey/Smith/Burbine family has continued to meet at the Inns for their annual Christmas get-together, marking 25 years this December. They say they wouldn’t think of doing it any other way.

When Laura Hinchey moved to Meredith from Rhode Island in the early 1980s, she became the catalyst for the family’s regular treks to the New Hampshire Lakes Region.  In the beginning, the group was small enough to stay at Laura’s home, but every year, the party got “bigger and bigger and bigger,” so when the first Mill Falls Inn opened in 1985, they booked some rooms there.

Most of the sisters, cousins, uncles, grandparents, nieces, and grandchildren travel from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Laura’s home state of Rhode Island, and the group now varies in size from about 45 to about 55 family members each year. Of course, some years there are new babies, and sometimes others can’t make it. “My grandmother came for years and years,” says Laura. “We lost her two years ago at the age of 102, but she did make it for her 100^th birthday. We have quite an age spread as well.  This year, the youngest one here was my great niece, her name is Sophie, and she’s just 2 months, and the oldest was my mother, who celebrated her 75^th birthday that weekend.”

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NH Tourism Expected to be Lively This Winter

The New England Pond Hockey Classic will return to Meredith February 3rd

State tourism officials announced this week that winter travel in New Hampshire is expected to show increased amounts of visitors and spending, providing a positive outlook for the 2011 – 2012 season.  This is good news, especially considering that the tourism industry across the Northeast took a big hit at the end of summer when Hurricane Irene passed through.

According to a report prepared for the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD) by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies (INHS), an estimated 6.6 million people are predicted to visit during this year’s winter season, up by three percent from last year.  Spending by tourists and business travelers is expected to increase as well, with the projection being seven percent above last winter, possibly reaching about $850 million.  Studies show that December, January, and February see approximately 18 percent of all traveler visits and 20 percent of total traveler spending annually.

The big draw in the wintertime is New Hampshire’s abundance of wilderness and skiing, as well as tax-free shopping.  “Outdoor recreation, including skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling, and shopping are the most popular reasons for visiting New Hampshire during the winter,” said Lori Harnois, Director for DTTD.  “While here, visitors can check out zip-lines, mountain coasters, dog-sledding, and other winter fun.” Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Eateries Unveil New Winter Menus

Dinner at Lakehouse Grille

The official beginning of winter is just around the corner, and colder temperatures outside bring longings for warmth and comfort inside.  Thoughts turn to cozy fireplaces, hot cocoa, and rich, satisfying meals.  In this quaint NH village, the partner restaurants of the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and have created new winter menus to reflect the changing seasons and offer guests some imaginative new and traditional dishes that bring warmth, comfort, and contentment inside and out.

“We always roll out two new fresh menus a year, one based on the winter season and one based on the summer season,” says Sean Brown, General Manager for Camp, Lago, and Lakehouse Grille from the Common Man Family of Restaurants.  “We never change the whole menu but we certainly change a decent portion of it.  With the wintertime menus, we’re definitely focusing on heartier dishes, dishes with a little bit more of a wintertime theme.” Read the rest of this entry »

Second Annual Meredith Village Art Walk to Benefit Food Pantry

As the days grow ever shorter and the cold nights come early over New England, we draw our attention indoors to pursue creative endeavors or gather with friends and family to honor warmth, light, and love with good food and cheer.  However, many families are struggling this holiday season, and need help with food for their loved ones.  In Meredith, some creative folks have combined forces to lend a hand to those in need, all while celebrating the season with beautiful art, music and of course, delicious food!

Next Thursday evening, December 8^th, six galleries in Meredith will participate in the second annual Meredith Village Art Walk, themed “Food for the Soul,” to benefit the Meredith Emergency Food Pantry.  From 4:30 – 7:00 that evening, visitors can stroll through candlelit storefronts in quaint Meredith Village and view beautiful local and international works of art while chatting with local artists.  At the lakes gallery at chi-lin, Gallery 51, The Fine Carpet and Asian Antique Gallery, The Hodecker-George Gallery, VynnArt (Art Supply Store), and Oglethorpe Fine Arts & Crafts, guests will enjoy music, refreshments, and unique discounts, as well as a special raffle that will provide donations for the Food Pantry. Read the rest of this entry »

A Special Thanksgiving Retreat in Meredith Village

Come to the Lakes Region this year for a nice old-fashioned Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.  An extended getaway to a quaint NH village is the perfect way to honor the season of the harvest and give quiet thanks for the important things in life, and the Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are offering a unique package to help you savor a relaxing and full Thanksgiving experience.

The Thanksgiving Village Retreat includes two nights accommodations, a grand Thanksgiving day buffet with all the traditional trimmings prepared by Lakehouse Grille at Church Landing from 11:30 am – 5:00 pm, late afternoon turkey sandwiches in the lobbies of Church Landing and Mill Falls, breakfast each morning at one of the Inns’ restaurants, and a discount coupon booklet to the Mill Falls Marketplace.  There are also big-screen TVs in the cozy Church Landing lobby for watching the big football game!

With the delicious food, quiet atmosphere, and no clean up, you can enjoy a laid-back Thanksgiving with your loved ones, then start your holiday shopping in the Marketplace, where you will find a much more relaxed experience than at the big box stores and malls.

For more information and reservations, click here or call the Inns at 800-622-6455.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit: bobosh_t at Flickr.com

Common Man Family of Restaurants Celebrates 40 Years with Community Gifts

NH Governor John Lynch joins Common Man CEO Jason Lyon, Vice President Diane Downing, and owner Alex Ray in presenting a $40,000 birthday gift to the NH Food Bank's Director of Development Colleen Cowette.

After 40 years of growing from one small restaurant in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire to a well-known and flourishing hospitality business with over 20 locations throughout the state, The Common Man Family is celebrating its birthday by giving back, in a big way, to all the communities it is a part of.

The Common Man Family of Restaurants has always been a leader when it comes to charitable giving, but for its 40^th birthday celebration yesterday, the “C-Man” group outdid itself with a $40,000 donation to the New Hampshire Food Bank in Manchester.  The gift comes at a good time, as the Food Bank is scrambling to get enough food together for the record number of requests it is receiving for Thanksgiving dinners.

Governor Lynch was on hand at the Food Bank celebration to recognize The Common Man family and its leadership in the area of charitable giving.  Representatives from the Common Man also announced plans for a month of festivities, including special promotions and a contest to “DO GOOD” in New Hampshire.

The DO GOOD program is a charitable raffle that will take place during the month of November at all Common Man family locations.  The company has paired each of its 21 establishments with a different New Hampshire non-profit organization, and at every location, customers can buy raffle tickets for $1 a piece for a chance to win a Common Man gift card of $197.10 (to signify the year the first Common Man restaurant opened, 1971).  At each location, a gift card will be awarded, and all proceeds raised will be donated to the partner charity.  In Meredith, Lago is paired with WLNH Children’s Auction, Lakehouse Grille is helping out the New Hampshire Food Bank, and CAMP is supporting the New Hampshire Region of American Red Cross.

According to the C-Man website, “While the Common Man family has grown in physical locations over the years, so too has it’s commitment to local communities by inspiring all of its STARS to live the mantra of “Doing Well by Doing Good.” Each location is charged with holding community fundraisers, and employees are given paid time off to volunteer with non-profit organizations that are important to them. Over the four decades of being a hospitality leader in New Hampshire, the Common Man family has donated hundreds of hours of sweat equity and thousands of dollars in sponsorships, food, and in-kind donations to local, national and international organizations working to make a difference.”

Help the Common Man family celebrate 40 years of success while at the same time helping a variety of NH not-for-profit organizations that give back to the community.  November is the perfect time to renew our commitment to our neighbors as we enjoy a great meal with family and friends!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

photo courtesy of The Common Man Family of Restaurants

additional source:  http://www.wmur.com/news/29674486/detail.html

Nationally Renowned Musicians Grace Meredith Venue

Peter Mulvey will be at The Grotto Wednesday, October 26

If you haven’t had the chance to check out the Dinner Concert Series at The Grotto and attend one of the distinctive concerts there, you’ve been missing out on an opportunity to see some amazing musical talent in a unique and intimate setting.  But fear not—the concert series is just getting warmed up, and this local eatery has some more great national acts scheduled to play.

This past March, The Grotto opened its doors in Meredith, NH, and is already becoming a well-respected venue thanks to its lineup of distinctive national touring artists, as well as local musical talent.  The Grotto is a new concert space and dining room at Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté, located at The Mill Falls Marketplace, an old linen mill that was tastefully converted into shops and restaurants in 1984.  Giuseppe’s has been a favorite live music spot for over 20 years, and the addition of The Grotto is an extension of Giuseppe’s commitment to bring quality live music to visitors and residents of the Lakes Region.

This coming Wednesday, October 26^th, The Grotto will welcome folk artist Peter Mulvey with special guest Carsie Blanton.  Says The Boston Globe about Peter, “Gleefully mercurial…equal parts breezy jazz and whispery folk.  His voice feels like fine old leather, and his guitar sounds like it’s on steroids…a superb technician with a fondness for ignoring the rules…a genre-defying traditionalist — a knuckleballer with finger-picks.”

“The concert series so far is a huge success!” says Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois, owner of Giuseppe’s.  The Grotto’s first two dinner concerts, performed by highly acclaimed artists David Francey and Willy Porter respectively, were sold out.  David Francey’s first concert here went so well, he is planning to perform at The Grotto again next March!

For each concert, pre-show dinner reservations begin at 6:30pm, and the show starts at 8:00pm.  Tickets are $20.00 and may be purchased in advance or at the door.  For more information, call Giuseppe’s at 603-279-3313.

Carrie Reed
Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Breaks Ground for Church Landing Expansion

Artist's rendering of Boathouse Lodge

Last Thursday, this lakeside resort broke ground for its latest project—an expansion that will bring 13 new deluxe lake-view rooms and suites, as well as 186 feet of additional lake frontage, to its most popular destination: Church Landing.

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls has officially begun construction on Phase II of its Church Landing expansion, which will add two new buildings, The Birch Lodge and The Boathouse Lodge, to the south end of the property.  The new buildings are being constructed on either side of the existing Lake Shore Cottage, which was recently renovated to include two unique suites overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee.  All three buildings will be attached to Church Landing via a covered cedar walkway, and all rooms will offer spectacular lake views, balconies, and screened porches.  In addition, each room will have luxury amenities, including a fieldstone fireplace, wet bar, whirlpool bath, double glass and tile shower, and a bathroom LCD TV.

“We are thrilled to begin construction on this part of our expansion project,” says Rusty McLear, President and CEO of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls.  “Church Landing at Mill Falls continues to be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike, and these additions will certainly enhance our guests’ experience.”

Breaking ground on Phase II construction at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls are (left to right): Barry Leonard, Laconia Savings Bank; Tom Samyn, Samyn D’Elia; Rusty McLear, Mill Falls; Ward D’Elia, Samyn D’Elia; Bill Smith, CCI; Ross Currier, CCI; and Tim Marchand, Mill Falls.

The expansion will also feature a new lobby and game area, a second indoor/outdoor infinity pool with two Jacuzzis, an outdoor fire-pit and grille station for summer BBQs, a large sundeck with food and beverage service, and several new boat docks.

“We have a vast number of guests who regularly stay with us, and it’s exciting that each time they visit, we are adding more facilities and more options to consider, while keeping our focus on our core mission – unforgettable customer service,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls.  Adds Michelle Brown, Director of Marketing at The Inns, “Church Landing is our most reserved property and on many occasions it is sold out.”

The expansion will be able to accommodate more fans of the Inns as early as next July, when construction on the project is expected to be completed.  Phase I of the project was finished this past May, converting the carport at Church Landing into additional event space and dining areas.  The new facility, called “The Carriage House,” now boasts 1,700 square feet of meeting space, an expanded lobby area with fourteen-foot ceilings, and sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Church Landing expansion promises to enrich the experience of visitors to Meredith as well as locals who enjoy events and spa services at Church Landing.  It’s all part of the Inns’ mission to continually improve its facilities.  As Ms. Batstone explains, “We often hear the comment, ‘so, what are you adding this year?!”

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

The Lakes Gallery at Chi-Lin to Offer Fall Workshops

"Chrysanthemum" by Bruce Iverson

As autumn settles in and the cooler weather approaches, thoughts turn to creative indoor activities that will keep us productive and bring us much joy through the winter months and beyond.  For many people, an art class or creative workshop is just the inspiration needed to launch a new endeavor or hone existing skills, and in Meredith, NH, one little gallery offers some of the finest workshops in New England.  This fall is no exception, as the Lakes Gallery at Chi-Lin has a series of workshops lined up that will have even budding artists creating beautiful work in no time.

After a glowing response this past summer to Bruce Iverson’s Mountains, Trees & Mist workshop, the gallery was encouraged to offer another series of his classes.  This fall, Bruce will be sharing his expertise in The Four Seasons: An Introduction to the Chinese Scholar’s World of the Four Gentlemen. According to the gallery, after the Ming Dynasty was taken over by the barbarian Manchus, the scholar intellectuals retreated to simple mountain sanctuaries to continue to practice the ways of traditional gentlemen. The Four Gentlemen and the mountains in which they lived became the symbols of their world.

The bamboo—a virtuous life, with humility
The orchid—beauty in the face of obscurity
The plum blossom—constancy in the face of opposition
The chrysanthemum—triumph of hope over adversity

In Bruce’s workshops, participants will explore these symbols individually and learn to paint them using Chinese brush painting techniques. The workshops will take place on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 – 4:30/5:00 pm. Bamboo – October 9^th, Orchid – October 16^th, Plum – October 30^th, and Chrysanthemum – November 13^th.  All materials are traditional and will be provided.

Also this fall, Suzanne Lee will continue teaching Beginning Italic Calligraphy on Friday and Saturday mornings from 9 – 11am.  The Friday classes will be held from September 30^th through November 11^th, and the Saturday classes will run from October 1^st through November 12^th.  All materials and supplies for the class will be provided, and can be taken home at the end of the workshop.  By the end of this class, participants will be writing elegant cards and letters in beautiful calligraphy—just in time for the holidays!

No previous art experience is needed for either of these wonderful workshops, but space is limited and pre-registration is recommended.  For more information, please call the gallery at 603-279-8663 or email Suzanne at suzanne@chi-linasianarts.com.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Seven Deadly Sins Wine Dinner Returns to Meredith

Looking for a dining experience that’s so decadent it may just be sinful?  Look no further than Meredith, NH, where Lakehouse Grille will hold its annual seven-course wine dinner featuring delectable dishes paired with luscious wines from Michael David Winery, the makers of Seven Deadly Zins and many other fine wines.

The Seven Deadly Sins Wine Dinner will take place on Wednesday, September 21^st at 6pm in the new Carriage Room at Lakehouse Grille.  With its sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee, this beautiful part of Church Landing at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls provides the perfect setting for a fabulous meal.  The evening will be hosted by Michael and Kristy Phillips, owners of Michael David Winery.

The event is a seven-course dinner, with each course named after one of the biblical Deadly Sins, also known as the Cardinal Sins or Capital Vices.  The dishes on the menu are so indulgent, they’re sinful!  A complementing wine from Michael David Winery also balances each course.  For example, the second course, “Pride,” is pan-seared monkfish medallions with Walker Farm corn sauce and Church Landing herb emulsion, served with a glass of Incognito White.  The dessert course is called “Lust” and features devil’s food brownie cake with raspberry butter cream and strawberry Chambord reduction.  Scary good!

The dinner is a great deal at $65 per person.  For reservations, call Lakehouse Grille at 603-279-5221 or visit theCman.com, and get ready for a sinfully good time!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit: gfpeck at flickr.com