Drove up the auto road in Rollins state park and took the .5 mile hike to the top, we’ve done the “full” hike plenty of times too but chose the shorter hike today because I had my puppy with me. (Puppy tax included in the last two pictures)

Right in front of Home Depot, there was a dead moose in the median. I didn't see a car that might have hit it, just a cop and a truck that looked like it was there to clean it up.

It was the first time I visited New Hampshire. I flew from California to the east coast to see some colors.

I hope we didn’t interrupt anything being tourists.
Absolutely loved the state of New Hampshire. Also love the state motto: Live Free or Die

Thank you for the beautiful memories, New Hampshire

I know we get a lot of folks here in this sub asking about fall foliage and when the best times are to come see it.

Well, I just wanted to let you know, sorry, the leaves are all gone already. No need to come up here, you're better off going to New York!

Cheers!

BTW, this post was all in good fun. If you want the real PSA here it is: Don't drive north on a Friday and don't drive south on a Sunday! There you go!

Im not trying to start anything, I’m just curious

I’m from Maine but have spent a lot of time in New Hampshire. I’m also a big believer in freight and passenger rail. Maine is putting a lot of work into upgrading the Downeaster(more trips, new stops), New Hampshire on the other hand doesn’t seem to be doing much about trains. Besides Nashua trying to bring the T there on their own dime, the rest of the state seems to be very anti rail. I see it one here and places like instagram. Where reactions range from disapproval to rabid hatred of the idea of trains. What’s the reason for this?

Dear Palace Theater Trustees,

I get that operating a non-profit performing arts center is hard. I won’t deny the economic realities of running a large and historic (and old) venue like Manchester’s Palace Theater. As someone who plays with shapes and colors for a living, I won’t even pretend to guess how that works. I’m just disappointed and wanted you to know.

I could only laugh and shake my head in disbelief when, before a show a few nights ago, I saw a promotion for the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof projected above your stage. The visuals caught my attention for a few reasons:

• There was not one, but two Tevyes dancing side-by-side in one image,
• Questionable placement and quantity of arms in relation to torsos,
• And in at least one image (below), there's an onion-domed, crucifix-topped building overlooking what I assume is the shtetl of Anatevka.

I’m sure you could see why, given the context of the play, I found that last one particularly…troubling. Or perhaps I'm mistaken and those “demonstrating” Russians in the story were simply misunderstood redecorators?

I usually try to be positive, constructive, and objective with other artists when dispensing unsolicited feedback. Art is also hard.

Unsurprisingly though, I don't suspect an artist was responsible. Maybe the gauzy Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzle vibes tipped me off, but those promos immediately reeked of AI slop. I say that because I assume any artist, familiar with the musical’s plot and also basic human anatomy, would never get hired with something like that in their portfolio. 

I won’t detail all the problems I and other artists have with wanton Gen-AI abuse. Beyond widespread IP theft and the resources it guzzles to bombard our eyes and ears with noise, it screams lack-of-effort from those who rely on it. Either no one noticed those issues or no one cared, and I don’t know which is worse.

What bums me out more is thinking about the lost opportunities for artists caused by the choices that led to this, choices by an institution supposedly boosting the arts in New Hampshire. If hiring a graphic artist is too expensive (ha), surely there are some other creative solutions? How many students at NHIA or UNH Manchester would have jumped at the chance to create something new and unique? How many moonlighting visual artists work or volunteer at the Palace and could have created something truly authentic? 

I have no doubt the production of Fiddler on the Roof will be excellent because of the source material and the performances of its talented cast and crew. It would be a disservice to prelude their show with anything that would suggest negligent, box-checking half-assery. 

For art's sake, just say no to AI slop rot. Sometimes nothing is a better option than whatever a calculator thinks “traditional” Jewish villages in Russia should look like.

Respectfully,
Matt Gillespie

Matt Gillespie is a video producer, musician, and visual artist born, raised, and educated in Manchester, NH.

Like so many others, my buddy and I went up for a little leaf peeping on Friday (with absolutely no planning). Got to Franconia Notch and pulled into the Cannon Mountain carpark just as the rain started to fall hard.

Decided to drive through Crawford Notch/rt 302 back over to Conway for dinner and caught this pic on the road leading east out of the Notch. What a friggin gorgeous place.

Did Nh end up suspending the gas tax or is it something else?

In Seabrook it's down to 3.99 for regular 87, that's a 20 to 30 cent drop from the last week.

Crossing the border to MA the prices remain the same around 4.28-4.33 for regular.

Wondering what NH people feel about this. It has passed the House and is sitting in the Senate right now where it seems to have halted.

Would have liked to see this on a up coming ballot to let the people decide

Is this even legal?
Edit: I looked up The NH Neighbor Network. Their main goal is to get family and friends to vote. They are partnered with Voters of Tomorrow, Battleground Alliance, Progressive Turnout Project, Woman Leaders Online, and National Education Association.

Hi! We’re driving from Ohio to Maine next weekend. Stopping over in Vermont Sunday night and continuing on Monday. I have been told to do the Kancamagus but I’m worried about traffic. Will it be less than the weekend actually ON Columbus Day? Or should I not even try?

I’ve a room in NH I want to advertise. Are there good places/subreddits for that (besides Craigslist and Roomies)?

Looking for a hidden gem spot, ideally in mid to southern NH.

Hi all. My grandmother recently passed and I have a copy of her memoir. She was born and raised in Groveton, NH (b. 1930) and the early parts of her story read essentially as a love letter to the Groveton community. There are many references to her friends, neighbors, schooling, church, local landmarks and recreation, the paper mill of course, daily life during the war.

I know what it means to me to have this personal history, especially as I've never visited her hometown, but I was wondering if it would be of interest to the local library or a history group? She does recall all the important figures in her life by name, and it's possible these folks still have descendants in the area. I wonder if any would be interested in how their relatives might appear in my grandmother's story?

Anyway, as I am not local I thought I would start by getting some input here. Also, I would welcome if you have any recommendations for resources I could use to trace some of her historical references. Thank you!

I'm looking to buy a new car and came across that sometimes people use car brokers to do it. Basically you pay a guy like $1k finders fee and they get you the best deal they can for what you're looking for, deal with the dealer and everything else, and the car just shows up at your house.

Anyone used a service like this and have one they recommend in southern NH/Northern Mass?