General Stores - the way people used to shop...and still can

In this age of big-box stores, you can still step back in time to another generation and experience an old fashioned New England country village store.

In the Monadnock Region there are still many of these General Stores with soft worn wooden floors, a bell jingle as you open the front door and a warm welcoming smile from the merchants.  Make sure to stop by and pick up some items you need, get information on the town, and stay a while to get the flavor of an old time village store.  Many make great lunch stops with their delicious deli counters, small dining areas...and some have even more sophisticated menus.

Your local innkeeper can point you in the right direction but there are General Stores in most towns.

Bookstore Tourism in the Monadnock Region

Travelers who are bibliophiles can’t help but wander into local bookstores when visiting a new place. Visiting an independent, used, or antiquarian bookstore is an exciting adventure for book lovers … the thrill of the “local authors” section, the delight in finding a rare book, and then there’s the relaxation of sitting down and reading the first page of a coveted hardcover.

According to Larry Portzline, the author of “Bookstore Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other Bookshop Junkies”, bookstore tourism is a growing grassroots travel niche that encourages book lovers to plan group trips to cities and towns with interesting, fun and unique independent bookshops.  “It taps into this thirst for literary adventure,” he writes. Portzline suggests combine your bookstore trip with other literary attractions, such as writing retreat centers, sites of well-known books and tours of famous authors’ homes.

Here are some bookstores along the way if you plan a literary adventure in the Monadnock Region. Asterisked (*) booksellers are open by appointment or by chance only, so make sure you call ahead. And don’t miss the upcoming “Round the Mountain Book Sale” on April 11-14, 2013. For more information about this sale and participating bookstores visit:

Aard Books*
31 Russell Ave., Troy NH
603-242-3638.

Bequaert Old Books*
37 Rt 119 W, Fitzwilliam, NH
603-585-3448

Callahan & Company Booksellers*
Rte. 123, Sharon, NH
603-924-3726

Eagle Books*
19 West St., Right off Central Square in Keene, NH

603-357-8721 


Homestead Books
221 East Main St. (Rt 101), Marlborough, NH

603-876-4213


Hurley Books, Inc.*

1752 Rte. 12, Westmoreland, NH 03467
603-399-4342 


Ray Boas, Bookseller*

On the Common, 44 Elm St., Walpole, NH 03608

603-756-9900


Ted Cole Books*
7 West Street, Antrim, NH 03440

Books also for sale at New Hampshire Antique Coop in Milford, NH
603-588-3145


The Book Preserve*
33 North Main St., Antrim, NH
603-588-4020


Toadstool Bookshops
3 Locations:
  12 Depot Sq., Peterborough, NH
  222 West St., Keene, NH
  586 Nashua St., Milford, NH


Winter Farmers’ Market

Just because the snow is falling and the ground is frozen solid doesn’t mean there isn’t fresh food at the farmers’ markets. While you won’t find local basil or tomatoes at a Monadnock Region winter farmers’ market, you will find lots of ingredients to make what you crave most this time of year – soups and stews. We’re talking potatoes, garlic, onions, turnips, rutabagas, celery root and carrots. Many farmers markets also sell meat, eggs and milk – and some sell wool products such as yarn and felt for winter crafting.

So visit a local winter farmers’ market during your winter stay in the Monadnock Region. You’ll go home with fresh ingredients for the comfort food you need this time of year.

Keene Winter Market
Colony Mill Marketplace (near Elm City Restaurant & Brewery entrance)
Saturdays (2nd & 4th of the month).
Nov. 10-Apr.27 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Milford Winter Market
Milford Town Hall
Saturdays (most 1st and 3rd of the month).
Oct. 20-Apr. 6 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Peterborough Winter Market
Peterborough Community Center
Wednesdays, Oct. 17-Apr. 24 (3-6 p.m.)

Walpole Winter Market
Walpole Town Hall
3rd Saturday of the month.
Jan. 19-Apr. 20 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Snow Fun – Skiing and Snowshoeing -- in the Monadnock Region

The Monadnock Region doesn’t have the big (read: crowded) downhill ski resorts that the White Mountain region to the north of us does. But we do have some of the most beautiful and serene cross country and snowshoeing trails in the state.

Snow can be found in our region from about early December until March – and the latest snowstorms have dumped a foot or more of light powdery snow all over our region. It is a winter wonderland here in the Monadnock Region right now! Perfect for a jaunt out into our woods and forests on cross country skis or snowshoes.

There are endless Monadnock Region hiking trails waiting to be discovered by ski or snowshoe this winter.  You could also ask your local innkeeper for tips as there are too many trails to list in this blog posting.  If you prefer groomed trails, here is a list of maintained trails (some have facilities for rentals and lessons as well):

Granite Gorge Ski Area, Keene/Roxbury: Downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing park. Lessons and rentals.

The Inn at East Hill Farm, Troy: Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Road's End Farm and Ski Touring Center, Chesterfield: (603) 363-4703. Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Stonewall Farm, Keene: Snowshoeing. Daily snowshoe rentals: adults $3, kids $1.

Windblown Cross Country Ski Area, New Ipswich:  Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Woodbound Inn, Rindge: Cross country and snowshoeing trails. (No trail fee for guests of the inn)

5 Local Gift Ideas for Your Last Minute Christmas Shopping

You’re all done with your Christmas shopping, right? No? Well, lucky you – there’s an extra weekend of holiday shopping this year.

Still, there are many of us at a loss for what to give our co-worker, neighbor or mother. Have no fear – there are plenty of ideas from the Monadnock Region’s independently-owned businesses. And, of course, there’s the added benefit of NH tax-free shopping!

Here are 5 gift ideas to get you officially “done” with your shopping this weekend:

1. Bee Line Skin Care, by S Formulators, a small bath and body company based in Henniker, NH. This line includes natural beeswax or honey, which helps soften and re-hydrate dry skin (we all need that in the winter!) The line includes skin mists, glycerin soaps, lip balms and soy lotion candles. Beautiful spa-like scents in lovely packaging. Available in downtown Keene at Hannah Grimes Marketplace, a treasure trove of local products.
2. A Fine Art Painting by Kristina Wentzell. Don’t think you could afford to give an original work of art? You can with fine artist Kristina Wentzell’s special holiday “100 paintings for $100 (or less).” Wentzell creates colorful and whimsical oil paintings of landscapes, fruit, birds, landscapes and flowers. Paintings range in size from 8”x8” (for $75-$100) down to 4”x4” (for $30). Her home studio is walking distance to downtown Keene.
3. Hand-Knit Wool Socks at Crescendo Acres Farm, Surry, NH. Who doesn’t appreciate some warm socks in the winter, especially a pair lovingly hand-knit by a farmer’s wife? These comfy socks are sheep’s wool or alpaca blend.  Price range is $25-35 per pair. A trip to the store in Surry could also give you more gift ideas – the farmers carry many unique items made from the farm’s fiber including snowmen, angels, cat toys, hats, mittens (also a hot item), shawls; plus local farm products including preserves, eggs, meat, mustards, breads, pies, honey and more.
4. A Gift Certificate to Your Favorite Monadnock Region B&B or Inn. The Monadnock Region is filled with a bed and breakfast or inn to suit individuals or families. Peruse our listings to find the best one for your gift-recipient's needs -- many have gift certificates available.
5. A Mail Basket by Peterboro Basket Company, Peterborough. This is one of the most popular baskets produced by this local company. It is hand-woven “one-of-a-kind” design with a leather handle on the back for hanging – can be used for mail, toiletries, dog leashes and more. Available in honey, cherry or natural stain and comes with the famous Peterboro brass medallion and lifetime warranty. On sale for $34 (buy 2 for $31 each).

Catch a Holiday Concert

Many local holiday concerts and chorus performance have already come and gone – but there are still three major ones coming up this weekend that are guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Two choral and one band performance – take your pick!

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Animaterra’s Winter Concert: Song of Soul

Animaterra is a women’s chorus that performs music of the world’s traditions. The group performs two winter concerts this weekend:

Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7:30-9 p.m. Saint James Episcopal Church, 44 West Street, Keene.
Sunday, December 16, 2012, 4-5:30 p.m. Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord St. (Rte. 202), Peterborough.

$10 for adults, $6 for children and seniors. 

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The Cheshiremen Chorus: A Holiday Festival of Harmony

The Cheshiremen Chorus sings in the barbershop harmony tradition. Their holiday concert features seasonal favorites performed by the chorus and quartets and a sing-along with the audience. A light reception follows the concert.

Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7 p.m. United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene.

$8 advance tickets, $10 at the door.

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Nelson Town Band’s Holiday Concert

A quintessential local town band made up of musicians of all ages from the town of Nelson. Its holiday concert features one hour of holiday music – with cookies served afterward.

Sunday, December 16, 2012, 4 p.m.

No charge.

O Christmas Tree: Cut Your Own Trees in the Monadnock Region

Sure, you can unceremoniously pick up a Christmas tree in a lot. Or buy an artificial tree.

But there’s something magical about going out to a tree farm, walking through rows of evergreens, selecting a special one, and sawing down your very own Christmas tree.  Add to that the crisp winter air, the beauty of the Monadnock Region scenery, hot chocolate, cider and homemade donuts and you have Christmas memories that will last a lifetime.

While many trees may have already been tagged by now (die-hard cut-your-own tree fans were already out at the farms early this fall picking their trees) there are still wonderful trees to be found, cut, tied to your car, and taken home. If you are from out of town you can select from many fine B&Bs and inns throughout the region to make cutting your tree a relaxing pre-Christmas weekend getaway.

Here’s a list of the popular cut-your-own tree farms in the Monadnock Region. You may want to call ahead for hours, refreshments available and availability of trees. Many farms will provide saws and roping free of charge.

Keene
Monadnock View Farm * 603-352-7892
Wright’s Tree Farm * 603-352-4033

Richmond
Windswept Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm * 603-239-4005

Rindge
Sunny Slopes Farm * 603-899-3169

Surry
Crescendo Acres * 603-352-9380

Walpole
Homestead Farms * 603-756-4800

Westmoreland
Farmstead Acres * 603-352-8730
Old Ciderpress Farm * 603-399-7210

Winchester
My Old Farm * 603-239-6751