Fourth of July Festivities in Meredith

Meredith Village is going to be hopping this weekend, as preparations for the much anticipated summer holiday get under way under blue skies and warm sunshine.  With fun events and activities lined up for Monday the 4^th of July, Independence Day on Lake Winnipesaukee promises to be a fantastic celebration for folks of all ages.

The Meredith Lions Club is planning its annual Rubber Duck Race to take place on Monday afternoon.  This spectacle is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and benefits many local charities.  At 4:30pm, over 4,000 yellow duckies will tumble down the waterfall at the Mill Falls Marketplace and float to the finish line just past the footbridge in Hesky Park.  Tickets for cash prizes will be on sale until 3:30 that day, and the grand-prize winner will take home $1000.  The duck race is quite an amazing sight—don’t miss it!

Hesky Park on the lakeshore will be the place to be in the evening.  That’s where Occasional Brass & Strings will perform for a patriotic audience beginning at 7:00pm.  Then, at 9:30, everyone will be looking up as the 4^th of July fireworks begin to light up the night over Meredith Bay and the sounds of the celebration ring across the lake.

Bring your family and friends to Meredith this weekend to enjoy a quintessential New England 4^th of July holiday on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Meredith Celebrates Summer with Arts Alive!

Although the spring season was a little slow-blooming this year, summer is just around the corner, and the Lakes Region will soon be bustling with vacationers and families enjoying all that New Hampshire has to offer.  Meredith Village is getting in on the action a little early, with an event that gives visitors and locals alike a preview of some of the exciting activities that are available nearby—Arts Alive!

On Saturday, June 4^th from 1 – 3 p.m., The Mill Falls Marketplace will host Arts Alive!  This mini festival will feature performances and presentations by local arts, nature, and entertainment specialists, including The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and Mr. Phil the magician.

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse is planning to offer drop-in drama classes for kids and quick theater games to give children and their parents a taste of what the Playhouse offers for families.  The performers will also give a brief presentation of select songs from their Fall 2010 musical, Really Rosie, as well as excerpts from the Shel Silverstein April Vacation Camp.  Kate Wisnioski, Education Director at the Playhouse, will be on hand to answer questions about classes, workshops, youth theatre productions, and summer camp.  She will also have information about their upcoming Pirates and Princesses of Winnipesaukee event, as well as the Playhouse’s professional summer season and summer theatre camp.

Beth Moore, one of the educators at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, will have some small animals that people can see up close, including bats, minks, and turtles.  She will also have props, such as pelts and bones, to help people learn about and better understand animals.  According to their website, the mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (SLNSC) is “to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.”  The Center’s presentations are a fun way to connect with nature and learn a little along the way!

For a little magic, don’t miss Mr. Phil.  This popular NH magician will be at the Marketplace dazzling folks of all ages with his tricks and stories.  Mr. Phil has been performing since he was twelve, and since then, he has combined his experiences of being a camp counselor, Clown Camp, Early Childhood Education training, and working in a daycare to fine-tune his art.  Mr. Phil creates “magical mayhem” by mixing the art of magic with storytelling, along with a bit of off-beat comedy.  Could there be a little balloon magic here, too?

The weekend is looking great!  What better way to spend it than by Lake Winnipesaukee with some fun activities for the whole family in beautiful Meredith Village?  Kick-start your summer with Arts Alive!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Kids Photo courtesy of The Winnipesaukee Playhouse
Mink Photo by  Peter G. Trimming at Flickr.com

Meredith Eatery’s Dinner Concert Series Going Strong

Jeffrey Foucault performs live at The Grotto on Wednesday, May 18

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.

Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté, which has been a favorite live music spot for over 20 years, recently expanded its cozy restaurant in The Mill Falls Marketplace and built a new room in the old linen mill to accommodate larger events.  This new space, called The Grotto, is available for private parties and hosts dancing every Friday and Saturday night with DJs and live bands, but it’s the Dinner Concert Series that sets this venue apart.

In March and April, The Grotto welcomed renowned and highly acclaimed artists David Francey and Willy Porter respectively, both of whom played for a full house.  “The concert series so far is a huge success!” says Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois, owner of Giuseppe’s.  “We have sold out both shows, and everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the shows very much.”

Next up is Jeffrey Foucault, who will be performing on Wednesday, May 18^th.  According to his website, this Western Massachusetts musician has spent the last decade “mining the darker seams of country and blues, producing a string of spare and elemental albums of rare power while garnering accolades across the United States and overseas for a tersely elegant brand of songwriting set apart by its haunting imagery and weather-beaten cool.”

The Grotto doors open at 6:30 with a dinner menu and full bar available.  Julie encourages guests to come early to get a good seat and get started on a delicious meal before the show starts at 8:00.  Tickets are $20.00, which is an amazing deal to see a gifted musician in such an intimate setting, and all proceeds go directly to the artist.  Says Julie of the touring artists, “My interest is in sharing their music with the folks from around The Lakes, Mountains, and Seacoast Regions of New Hampshire.”

For tickets or more information on the concert series, please visit Giuseppe’s website or call the restaurant at 603-279-3313.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Adornments Offers a Unique Shopping Experience

Some of the beautiful silver jewelry at Adornments

Step into this charming boutique at the Mill Falls Marketplace and you know you’re in a different kind of store.  The setting is at once fun and relaxed, with beautiful clothing and accessories for women of all ages.  From comfortable travel wear to one-of-a-kind pendants, Adornments offers world-class clothing and accessories that are a must-see for anyone visiting Meredith, NH.

“Everywhere you look there is something to delight you,” says Lori Losada, General Manager of Adornments, Inc.  “We hear a lot of women say, when they bring their friends in, ‘You’re going to love this store.’  It makes us feel very good.”

Indeed, what’s not to love?  Adornments carries items from the United States and around the world that are hard to find anywhere else.  Gloria Moore and Suzette Matthey-Wilson, a mother-daughter team with an elegant sense of style, own and operate this local boutique.  Gloria, who has lived overseas and done much world traveling, wanted to bring a bit of that experience into a retail setting, so founded Adornments about 20 years ago.  Since then, visitors to the Marketplace have found a diverse collection of products to enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »

Winner of Complimentary Overnight Stay Shares Her Experience

Jennifer and Joe at Mill Falls

When The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls posted a giveaway on Facebook for an overnight stay in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Week, Jennifer Yahoodik from Boston ended up the lucky winner.  The only condition was that she had to pay it forward and invite some friends along to enjoy a room at the Inns as well.  So Jennifer and her fiancé, Joe, brought their good friends and “super-fun-couple,” David and Katie, to Meredith for a spontaneous Friday night getaway.

Jennifer has been a fan of the Inns for about ten years, since her mother brought her here for a weekend one fall.  “She had booked a stay at Mill Falls for Columbus Day weekend for her and my father.” said Jennifer.  “When work called my father away, she took me instead of having to cancel her reservation.  Columbus Day weekend is now a ten-year-strong mother-daughter weekend, and in 2010 my sister joined the trip as well.”

“Each time we return, we mix it up and stay at either Bay Point, Mill Falls, or the newest hotel, Church Landing.” Jennifer continued. “Every time I am up in Meredith staying at the Inns, my only two wishes are to never have to leave, and wishing I could share the experience with everyone I know and love.” Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Eatery a True Musical Venue

David Francey to play at the Grotto March 16

Since 1989, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté in Meredith, NH has been serving up great live music with its award-winning Italian cuisine and festive charm.  The restaurant features well-known local and regional musicians seven nights a week, and has become one of most popular and loved destinations in the Lakes Region.   With the addition of its new room, “The Grotto,” Giuseppe’s can now host even more special events, and has lined up some national touring acts for its exciting new Dinner Concert Series.

Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois has owned and operated Giuseppe’s in the Mill Falls Marketplace for 21 years.  She takes pride in having an establishment that features live nightly musical entertainment, and is excited about the restaurant’s expansion in May, which will provide the space for concerts that they haven’t had until now.  “We recently created “The Grotto” at Giuseppe’s, a beautiful room in the original foundation of the old Linen Mill at Mill Falls,” says Julie.  “This room has character with old stone, brick, wood, wrought iron and canvas.”

The Grotto is available for private parties and wine dinners, and is regularly hosting Karaoke nights, DJ nights, and Live Band nights.  The new room provides an intimate concert setting, and will be the home to the new Dinner Concert Series beginning in March.  The series will feature national touring artists such as David Francey, Willy Porter, and Jeffrey Foucault.  Julie is also planning a local artist concert series for the future.  Food and beverages from the menu and full bar will be served during all shows.

“I am offering each artist 100% of the ticket sales and would be so pleased if we could fill the room for them,” says Julie.  “These touring artists work so hard, and are so very talented.  My interest is in sharing their music with the folks from around The Lakes, Mountains, and Seacoast Regions of New Hampshire.”

For more information on the concert series, as well as Giuseppe’s annual Music Memorial fundraiser, please visit their website or call the restaurant at 603-279-3313.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe’s Pizzaria & Ristorante

Mill Falls Offers “Shop. Dine. Relax.” Package

Escape the hustle and bustle of the malls and chain store shopping this holiday season and head to Meredith, where this village of small shops and restaurants becomes a winter wonderland reminiscent of simpler times!  The folks at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls have created a special deal just for the occasion—Shop. Dine. Relax.

Stay at the Inns midweek for this package that includes overnight accommodations, a coupon book to the Mill Falls Marketplace shops and restaurants, and a $25 credit towards services at Cascade Spa to help you unwind.  Everything is within walking distance, so once you arrive for your stay, there is no need to drive anywhere.  Stroll around and enjoy the village at your own pace!

The Marketplace has a variety of shops and boutiques with something for everyone on your list.  Find books, music, toys, and cards at Innisfree Bookshop, which has a large selection of popular titles as well as specialized books about New England.  Oglethorpe Fine Arts & Crafts carries art-quality, American handmade pieces for use in our everyday lives, including jewelry, woodenware, wrought iron, fiber, hand-blown glass, pottery, and home décor.  Beautiful gifts can also be found at Adornments, which features a variety of jewelry, fine women’s apparel, and accessories such as silk scarves and hand-woven shawls.  Don’t forget to stop by Lee’s Candy Kitchen for the ultimate stocking stuffers!

After your day of shopping, relax and rejuvenate at the Cascade Spa with a professional massage or facial treatment, then, enjoy a fantastic dinner before settling in at one of the cozy and comfortable Inns.

This is holiday shopping as it should be—fun and stress-free!  Plus, the views of tranquil Lake Winnipesaukee will help you focus on the beauty of winter and remember what the season is all about.  Happy Holidays!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team