Staying Warm: Theater, Book Chores, and Happy Dumpling

It is the dead of winter. If you are here in the Upper Valley finding that the brisk walk outdoors (or more ambitious winter sport) is beyond your comfort level even with your new Christmas hat and gifted home-knitted scarf, take refuge indoors, and proudly. Here are just a few suggestions.

1) See a play. Theater season never really stops in the Upper Valley. Beginning this evening, January 22, and through February 8, Shaker Bridge Theatre at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, Vermont is presenting Fool for Love by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard. Northern Stage’s third major production of the 2025/26 season is The World is Not Silent, February 4 through 22. Also located in the always artsy White River Junction.

When have you last read or seen Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People? Coming right up by the Hanover High School Footlighters in Hanover High Auditiorium in (where else?) Hanover, NH. January 29 through February 1. If you eat at Hanover’s Brick and Brew before or after and mention the Footlighters, a portion of your check total will be donated to the program. There are rules, found here, as well as ticket information.

The brand new beautiful Spaulding Auditorium at the Hop will welcome you this weekend on Saturday, January 24 at 1:00 pm for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay via Met Opera in HD, an opera about “two Jewish cousins hoping to influence America to fight the Nazis with an anti-fascist superhero comic.” On Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 pm you can catch the film version of Hamilton.

2) Start surveying and culling those books on your shelves and in the heaps piled next to your bed. Good news! The Five-Colleges Book Sale, after disappearing last year due to difficulties with finding a sorting location, is back for 2026. From its Facebook Page:

Our donation site is the former Rite Aid in the Shaw’s Plaza on Route 12A, also known as the Powerhouse Plaza, located at 10 Benning St., in West Lebanon.

We will begin accepting donations on Sunday, March 8, and stop collections on Sunday, April 5. The hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with extended hours to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

And, Bookstock VT 2026, the annual Festival of Words, is scheduled for May 15-17. Check out the website at the hyperlink for upcoming announcements of book collection events for the annual and storied mother-of-all-booksales.

3) Order up some Chinese food. Chowhound, a national foodie website, came up with a list of the best Chinese food in each state based on customer reviews. New Hampshire’s winner? The UV’s own Happy Dumpling in West Lebanon, previously reviewed last January on Artful (here). Chowhound says: “You can sidle up to the counter and take your pick of several enticing dumpling and noodle dishes, plus a few snack-style bites. Many say the soup dumplings are an absolute must, followed by the spicy dan dan noodle soup with pork and the Taiwan-style popcorn chicken.” Best in Vermont is the very deserving, and after so many years one might say legendary, A Single Pebble in Burlington.

Note: Check your calendar and/or the previous Artful post about Osteria Chiara. From Steve Farris, a quick update regarding reservations for the January 31 Osteria Chiara dinner and concert: “Please note that we are now using a new email address for reservations and event inquiries: 4osteriachiara@gmail.com If you emailed me with reservations or questions about the event before January 15, I want to reassure you that I did receive your message, and your request is safely noted. There is no need to resend unless you’d like to make a change or have a new question.”

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Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3200 subscribers.

And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.

Art/Food: Gary Hamel, Osteria Chiara, Still North, and Sip and Knit at Artistree

Gary Hamel

If you mill around the art world in the Upper Valley, chances are more than even that someone will mention longtime local artist Gary Hamel. Even here on Artful. In what turned out to be a popular post on Artful two years ago (click here) about lawyers turned artists, Coralea Wennberg described her abrupt change of profession like this: “I took a wonderful water color class taught by Gary Hamel and decided that if I wanted to become a “real” painter I’d have to paint full time.”

By now you know that Gary recently suffered a house fire that destroyed his home. Among the possibilities for helping him is an upcoming event at the Enfield Shaker Museum (check the Museum’s Facebook page for more information):

Join us for an uplifting evening at the Enfield Shaker Museum on January 16th at 6:00 to support the incredibly talented Gary Hamel. Light refreshments and cocktails will be available. Gary Hamel is a highly acclaimed New Hampshire artist celebrated for his breathtaking paintings and assemblages crafted from found objects. . . . Gary has a stunning collection of paintings for viewing and sale. Paintings are on display and can be purchased at the museum.

If you’ve been to Osteria Chiara in the past, you know that they serve (sporadically, but still) the best Northern Italian food in the Upper Valley. On Saturday, January 31 at 6:00 PM, Osteria Chiara invites you to the Thetford Community Center (3923 Route 113, Thetford Center, VT) for an intimate fundraising dinner and concert benefiting a new creative collaboration initiated by internationally renowned West African musicians Mamadou Diabaté and Balla Kouyaté, now working together in the Upper Valley.

Once he gets out of the kitchen, Steve is likely to join in on conga drums. It’s a BYOB; tickets for a four-course dinner and concert start at $125 per person. For more information or to reserve your seat (reservations are required), contact Steve at ferraris.steve@gmail.com. Here’s a link to Mamadou Diabaté playing one of the featured musical instruments, the balafon.

And now, a sixth birthday for Still North Books and Bar in Hanover, NH: Remember when the Dartmouth Bookstore was destination shopping on Hanover’s Main Street and the gut-wrenching ache when it disappeared? Allie Levy to the rescue. She founded Still North Books and Bar (same location, entry around the corner) and nursed it through years of the pandemic. The café there serves, among other things, specialty coffee drinks—the best cortado I have personally found in the UV. Stop by, purchase a book and raise a mug to celebrate this gem of a bookstore.

Artistree is promising a positively cozy evening with a showing of the film Pride and Prejudice and knitting at The Grange Theater on January 16 at 6:00 pm. Bring the needles, yarn, a current project, other crafts welcome. Could it be any more British? Yes it could. “Complimentary selection of fine teas and sweet treats - BRING YOUR FAVORITE TEA MUG!” Click here for further information and tickets.

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Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3200 subscribers.

And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.

2026. All That’s New in the UV, from Upcoming Parking Limits to Mango Ice Cream

Photo via Pixabay. Beautiful, nostalgic old meters, no?

Happy New Year! It’s 2026 and some things have changed. I am saving the ridiculous (2-hour parking limits) and the sublime (you, dear readers) for the end of the post, though you can scroll there now if you must.

Two White River Junction retail stores are in the news. Long River Gallery is temporarily closed until January 17 for renovations. As of late 2025, Amy Hook-Therrien and Amanda Ann Palmer are the new owners. And Oodles, the beloved and cool clothing, jewelry, and art-filled store in the former Tip Top building, presided over by owner Sally Wright Bacon and dogs Petey and Arlo, is for sale. Causing more than one Facebook comment from devoted customers: “Say it ain’t so, Sal.” :(

Pictured at Red Kite Candy: Jack, Elaine (founder), Ella, and Madison. Photo by permission.

A new year brings another sports bar promising to give it a go in Hanover. Buddy T’s Grill will open in the former Dunks location. Meanwhile, in 2026, Red Kite Candy is augmenting its candy bar collection to an even half-dozen with the new Raspberry. Also, mango ice cream is coming in the spring and a “freezer full of ice cream pints and ice cream cakes in Hanover. If you’d like a specific flavor, your best bet is still ordering ahead.” And Main Street Kitchens appears to be closing its doors soon and indefinitely.

Riverview Farm in Plainfield, NH has been the best spot for berry and apple picking as well as elegant dinners served on long tables stretching into the fields. (And it’s conveniently nestled next to Mac’s Maple should a craving for a creamee strike you mid-pick.) The current owners Paul and Nancy, who planted their first apple tree 45 years ago (as per their Facebook post) are passing the torch to a nephew and his wife, Clayton and Carma. What will that mean for customers? The post continues:

“Business as usual! The Riverview Farm you’ve come to love will remain just as it has for decades—a diversified fruit farm open to the public for fall pick-your-own. The flower fields will bloom, apples will fill the branches, blueberries will ripen on their bushes, and raspberries will be hiding among the canes. The corn maze and pumpkin patch aren’t going anywhere, and Dinner in the Orchard, wreath classes, and Christmas trees are all here to stay.”

Do we have to call it” derelict” when it has had such a proud history? The old grain mill (circa 1909) in South Royalton is scheduled to be torn down. Alex Hanson’s story (paywall but you can see the photo at the link) in Tuesday’s Valley News on this tranche of local history is worth a read, including this remembrance from a nearby resident:

“Theresa Manning has lived next door to the mill since 1971. A cinder block building in front of the tall, steel-sided mill housed the mill’s boiler. It had a light on a pole that turned red if there was trouble with the boiler.

“We, as neighbors, minded that light,” Manning said in a phone interview. The mill owner would give them a turkey or ham every year for their vigilance.”

Photo via Pixabay

Got an e-bike? Lebanon aims to become the first Upper Valley location to provide a free charging station. It has succeeded in obtaining a grant from AARP (apparently the majority of e-bikers are seniors) and is soliciting donations for the remaining costs.

And now, the aforementioned parking meters that are coming to White River Junction though nobody seems clear on exactly when. Not within my pay grade or expertise to know whether metered parking per se is, on balance, needed or desired. I am, however, an experienced lunch-and-errand sort of woman and can say this with confidence: A 2-hour limit for parking is not long enough for a two-or-more-women lunch and then a browse at say, Oodles or Long River Gallery, or any of the other retail establishments in the village. Nor will it likely allow for seeing a mid-week matinee at Northern Stage or Shaker Bridge. (The lot behind Northern Stage is supposed to remain unmetered, but I imagine that will fill up quickly.)

Saving the sublime for last, never least. You, Artful readers, raised a total of $2104 during Haven Giving Days, resulting in a doubling of that amount donated to the Upper Valley Haven through a generous matching grant from the Byrne Foundation. I thank you for your participation, and for the lovely notes some of you included with your checks. You have my eternal gratitude.

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Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3200 subscribers.

The Hopkins Center for the Arts helps support Artful and joins Artful in celebrating those who love, make and share the art in our community. View the Hop’s 25/26 season.

And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.

Hopkins Center’s New Recital Hall Series Begins on January 10

With a brand new Steinway concert grand piano.

Back in early October, I joined a press tour of the just-reopened Hopkins Center. When I entered this room (photo, above), I thought how lovely it would be to listen to music while gazing through those arched windows at the green and Baker Library. At the time, workers were still scrambling with finishing touches; the construction of the terrace below was a hive of activity.

The Morris Recital Hall is now ready and receiving company. And for now, the view has changed to something that showcases the snow (and the charm) of a New England winter. From our friends at the Hop, here is some information about this remarkable new venue and the schedule for the season:

The Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth launches its Recital Series, a series of seven performances celebrating the new space’s remarkable versatility, sonic brilliance, exceptional acoustics and spectacular view of the Green in January. The performances bring together a wide range of artists from classical virtuosos to contemporary experimenters.

A gem of the new Hop, the Jack ‘53 & Mac ‘11 Morris Recital Hall has state-of-the-art acoustics, flexible seating configurations, a stunning sculpted wood and glass design, a brand-new Steinway Model D concert grand piano, and it is perfectly-sized for solo or small ensemble musical presentations, spoken presentations and social events.

“The Recital Hall is a space that allows you to turn out the whole world, ideal for close listening and focus,” said Johanna Evans, Director of Programming Initiatives at the Hop. “The events in this series invite you to be fully present for the beauty of a brand new piano, the interplay of instruments in a jazz trio, and an up-close look at collaboration among a chamber ensemble.”

This season’s artists reflect the expansive vision of the new venue:

· Horszowski Trio, Jan 10 at 5 & 7:30 pm: The celebrated ensemble opens the series with a program that pushes the boundaries of chamber music, both classics and contemporary. At the Hop, they perform music by Leonard Bernstein and Bedřich Smetana. Post-show talk, 8:30 pm: The trio’s pianist Rieko Aizawa discusses the process of selecting the Hop’s new Steinway with Hop pianist-in-residence Sally Pinkas.

· Jason Moran presents Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings, Jan 21 at 7& 9 pm, Moran takes a solo piano climb up “Mount Ellington” in this extraordinary celebration of the composer’s enduring legacy 125 years after his birth. A MacArthur Fellow, Moran is known for blending tradition and innovation, weaving together history, memory and modern sound. Jason Moran is a 2025/26 Hop Resident Artist.

· Sally Pinkas and Friends, Feb 10-11 at 7:30 pm, Hop pianist-in-residence and three chamber music friends, Marcus Placci, violin, Lila Brown, viola, and Rhonda Rider, cello, explore rich, emotionally expansive works by Brahms from his youthful passion to mature mastery.

· yMusic, Feb 17 at 5 & 7:30 pm, a dynamic ensemble named for “Generation Y” and known for its innovative and collaborative spirit and for working on both sides of the classical and popular music divide, without sacrificing virtuosity, charisma or style.

· Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Apr 19 at 4 & 7:30 pm, a distinguished ensemble featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Sorey and longtime collaborators Aaron Diehl, piano, and Harish Raghavan, bass. They draw on everything from 20th-century classical to post-bop, minimalism to free jazz.

· Sally Pinkas, Apr 22 at 7:30 pm, The Hop pianist-in-residence explores the later fruits of three magnificent composers. Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 110, Schumann’s Gesänge der Frühe and Brahms Intermezzi Op. 118 are distillations of wisdom, experience, joy and perhaps sorrow: a celebration of rich lives lived in music.

Francesco Libetta, May 5 at 7 pm, an Italian pianist and composer, hailed for his poetic virtuosity, presents a mesmerizing exploration of music across time. Libetta juxtaposes a selection of Leopold Godowsky’s famously intricate reimaginings of Chopin’s Études with the original pieces. He performs on both a French 19th-century piano and the modern Steinway. In partnership with the Leslie Center for the Humanities.

The series underscores the kind of arts experiences that new Hop aims to house, from offering audiences the chance to experience extraordinary music in a space tailored for acoustic excellence to a commitment to supporting a wide range of artists.

The Hop is offering a special discount: buy tickets to four or more Recital Series events and get 30% off. Tickets are available now at https://hop.dartmouth.edu/events/horszowski-trio

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Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3200 subscribers.

And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.

Song Sung Blue at the Nugget: “So Good, So Good . . .”

Sweet Caroline and more . . .

Go if you love the music of Neil Diamond (I do), go if you can’t get enough of Hugh Jackman (that’s me). And go if your thoughts about Kate Hudson’s talent have been less than charitable (also me) and you are willing to be proven wrong. At 46, she is convincingly middle-aged and blessedly beyond the youthful rom-com genre, AND she can sing. She has just been nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this film.

Song Sung Blue is not a biopic of Neil Diamond; it’s the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, who formed a tribute band called “Lightning and Thunder” based on Diamond’s music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the mid-1990s. They’re a blue-collar couple with big dreams and a jagged blended family, artists who work other jobs while they look to make it big. You’ll see them performing in a Thai restaurant down the road, as well as opening in concert for the then megastar Pearl Jam.

The journey to success is a slog; the lived-in household furniture never gets any fancier and the family motor vehicles and lawnmower seem always on the verge of giving up the ghost. Health care is an unaffordable luxury. The daily grind pales, though, as real tragedies pile up and provide what one reviewer sees as the grist for the weepie factor in this film.

Are there nits to pick? Yes. It’s hard to tell this story in a couple of hours, where the tragedies come thick and fast and seem resolved in only a few minutes. And of course, while based on a true story, certain artistic liberties were taken and there is a corny line or two. The character of Mike has a few annoying verbal mannerisms and a woeful wig that made me wish, at times, that I was watching Hugh Jackman perform as himself rather than filtered through the character. All the same, it’s Jackman’s undeniable charisma and energy that rips across the screen when Mike/Lightning is on stage.

While the story centers on the twosome, there is a supporting cast—an endearing oddball family of sorts—who portray impersonators of other performers of the era. Claire herself delivers initially as Patsy Cline and there is a sliver of James Brown (Mustafa Shakir), with his trademark near-moonwalk.

Critics have been mostly positive, some in an admittedly grudging way, as though they were surprised to have been won over despite themselves by the story’s sweetness. In its first week, the film did something remarkable—scoring a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. My guess is that audiences are falling in love with a love story between the no-glam, no longer young protagonists, who introduce the viewers to their working class life and their tended dream. It’s hard not to cheer on Lightning and Thunder (shades of Rocky). We all love to pull for a would-be winner. And there are lots of opportunities to sing along, if only to yourself or on the car ride home.

Currently playing at the Nugget Theater in Hanover, NH.

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Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3200 subscribers.

And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.