Merrimack Valley Magazine

Hot Drink Recipes From the MV’s Coolest Restaurants – Stones #1 Social

December 17, 2021 by Adam Tokarz

As the temperature continues to drop in the Merrimack Valley, folks are looking for ways to stay warm. ’Tis the season for dusting off our sweaters, donning fashionable scarves, and pulling those comfy woolen mittens from the back of the closet. For our money, the best defense against the cold is mounting a strong offense in liquid form, imbibing hot cocktails that’ll warm up even the frostiest New Englander.

We’ve scoured restaurants in the Merrimack Valley, sampling every pumpkin sugar rim (in the name of research, of course), and found incredible drinks designed to keep your insides cozy. And, as a boozy bonus, we’ve included full recipes for each of these craft creations so you can take the DIY approach and build a fire in your belly, cinnamon stick by cinnamon stick, from the comfort of your own home.

After nine years working at various restaurant groups and living in Chicago’s innovative food and beverage scene, Aislyn Plath, a Lowell-area native, returned home to apply some Midwestern inspiration to Stones #1 Social, a bar-focused restaurant in southern New Hampshire that opened in June. Featuring creative comfort food, the restaurant boasts a large wood-burning stove, a “beautiful feature that makes our space smell like your grandmother’s fireplace,” Plath notes. When building out her seasonal drink menu, she wanted to highlight warm liquids like bourbon, scotch and spiced rums, and is now featuring a twist on a warm apple cider, with locally-sourced apples from Lull Farm in Hollis. “I love talking about cocktails and I love the accessibility of it all,” Plath says. “Anyone can bartend, and anyone can go home and make drinks.”

WARM APPLE CIDER

1 quart favorite apple cider (unpasteurized is best)
3 ounces orange juice 3 cinnamon sticks
1-inch piece fresh ginger 6 slices fresh orange
2 teaspoons clove 2 teaspoons white peppercorn

Put all of the ingredients into a slow cooker or pan on low heat for 1-2 hours, which will bring an amazing aroma into your space. Serve as is or with your choice of bourbon, spiced rum or brandy. Stones serves it with a rum that is smoked in-house.

If you want to avoid sipping on the bits, wrap your smaller spices in cheesecloth or a coffee filter and tie them in a bundle before placing them in the cider.

Aislyn Plath
Beverage Director, Stones #1 Social
Nashua, N.H.
(603) 943-7445
StonesSocial.com

New Hampshire’s Runner – Henri Renaud

August 28, 2020 by Alyson Aiello

It was April 19, 1909, when Nashua’s Henri Renaud won the 13th running of the Boston Marathon, the first and only resident of New Hampshire to win the race. Renaud was 19 years old and working at the Nashua Manufacturing Company when he registered for the marathon a mere two weeks before the race. He had only recently completed his first road race, a four-miler, in the late summer of 1908, in a time of 29 minutes, 30 seconds, according to a Nashua Telegraph article dated April 20, 1909. Renaud went on to run his first marathon in January 1909, and told the Telegraph that his father convinced him to run in Boston. In addition to beating his first marathon time, he won, in 2 hours, 53 minutes, 36.8 seconds. Today, Renaud is still considered a local hero to New Hampshire runners. Each May, the Gate City Striders running club honors the top male and female finishers from New Hampshire in that year’s Boston Marathon with its Henri Renaud Memorial New Hampshire Marathon Awards. The Henri Renaud Awards were first presented in 2009—100 years after his acclaimed win.

Henri Renaud crossing the finish line at the 1909 Boston Marathon.

Let the Music Play

May 18, 2020 by Kristin Cole

Nashua Band Ruby & The Groove Bring Positive Vibes to the Gate City

Looking for a band with feel-good tunes and positive vibes? The up-and-coming trio Ruby & The Groove, which formed in 2018, fits the bill. The band consists of three veteran musical artists: Ruby Shabazz, the lead vocalist, is originally from Boston and now lives in Nashua; percussionist Bill Fee is a Lowell native; and rhythm guitarist Tom Bean was born in Nashua.

The three were friends before they became a band and performed in their first official gig at the 2018 Nu Muse Festival in Nashua. Shabazz and Fee met in college at UMass Lowell and have been a loving couple for two decades. Fee and Bean have known each other for just as long. Shabazz and Bean only met a few years ago, but say it feels like they’ve known each other forever.

“We always say that we were all doing separate things, but for some reason, when the cosmos aligned, it just exploded,” Fee says. “We’re not the best classically trained musicians, [but] we have chemistry.”

The band originally formed to help Shabazz promote her solo dance music projects. She wanted a live musical element at the release party for her first solo musical project, and Fee and Bean were there to help. It was intended to be a one-time gig, but they won the audience over.

L-r: Tom Bean; Ruby Shabazz; Bill Fee. Photos by Bruce Hilliard.

Since their debut, the band has played at many bars, restaurants and festivals throughout the Merrimack Valley, with Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar in Nashua and Mill No. 5 in Lowell among their favorite venues. For these three friends, the thrill of performing comes from the enthusiasm of the audience. “The crowd really responds to the three-dimensional live element of listening,” Shabazz says. “It’s poppin’, it’s dance music, but we do it with acoustic bare-bone instruments that still drive the beat and get people moving.”

Each member of Ruby & The Groove holds a special appreciation for the city of Nashua, and they are often found performing at popular restaurants there, including Rhum and Stella Blu. In fact, the band’s first original song, “Let the Music Play,” is an acknowledgment of the embrace it’s felt from the Nashua music scene.

“That was a tribute to the community,” Shabazz says. “It was putting into words and song our experience playing out here, up and down Main Street in Nashua — the response that we get from the audience, practicing for our gigs, performing out for the patrons of Nashua, hanging out afterwards with people, hitting the different bars and breweries.”

“We said you know what, people are showing us love, let’s show the love back, and that’s why we did that song,” Bean adds. “We want to show even more love back and [eventually] align with a charity or an organization … to give back to the community that’s been great to us.”

Ruby & The Groove make it a point to mingle with the audience after performances. “We have to get out, and we like getting out and enjoy meeting people,” Shabazz says.

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a tumultuous year, but Ruby & The Groove plan to persevere, even as their opportunities to perform have temporarily evaporated. The band is recording new music, has scheduled radio shows, and is continuing to impact the community by working with adults with developmental disabilities and voicing strong support for an art center in Nashua.

What is it about Nashua, and the Merrimack Valley, that is so special to Ruby & The Groove?

“It’s home,” Shabazz says. “They say if you can’t make it at home, you can’t make it anywhere. We wanted to build something here.”

Ruby and Bill of Ruby & The Groove also performed live on The 495 podcast:

NoteWorthy – 1/12/20

January 12, 2020 by Jaden Mendola

AROUND THE VALLEY

‘Parties With A Purpose’ Teen Volunteers Help To Feed Those In Need

On the Saturday night before Christmas, Lazarus House volunteer Paula McKenna stood in the kitchen of a North Andover home, effortlessly managing a group of animated teens cracking eggs and shredding loaves of bread.

The group made French toast that provided breakfast for more than 100 guests in the Lazarus House Soup Kitchen.

“The kids came to us and said, ‘How do we help?’” said McKenna. While it was her idea to cook for Lazarus House, enormous credit goes to the teens who meet about once a month and have now made nearly 3,000 meals.

UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall Undergoes Major Renovation

Photo credit: Ed Brennen for UMass Lowell

Extensive renovations to UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall, built in the 1890s and the campus’ oldest building, are being completed in time for the university’s 125th anniversary. Modern features have been added, including technology-enabled “smart classrooms” and research space overlooking South Campus. The building will be home to the College of Education and Department of Psychology when it reopens for classes this month.

With the project comes the restoration of a 64-foot by 10-foot mural that was painted in the 1930s, but has been covered under coats of beige paint since the 1980s. Rediscovered in 2015 by a UMass Lowell art professor, the mural’s restoration emerged as a priority in restoring Coburn Hall. Leading that effort is the chief conservator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, who has worked to uncover and repair the mural, which depicts a range of images, including iconic scenes around the city of Lowell and its people.

Scott Plath Plans New Location For 2020

Scott Plath of Cobblestones and Moonstones is planning a new location in Nashua, according to a recent announcement to employees.

The plan for a new location has been cooking in Plath’s mind for the last five years — as he and his wife, Kathy, look for a concept to offset the many challenges facing the restaurant industry. Located on Route 101/Amherst Street, the busiest thoroughfare in New Hampshire, the restaurant duo plans on building upon the reputation which has sustained them over a combined 36 years — one of quality food, hospitality and a commitment to community and team.

Millyard Bank Opens For Business

After meticulous planning, Millyard Bank, Nashua’s newest community bank is open for business on Northeastern Boulevard. The bank is led by longtime banking executive and Nashua native G. Frank Teas.

In addition to Millyard Bank’s retail office and operations space, the bank features a 500-square-foot conference room dedicated for public use. “The Boiler Room” will be used for educational opportunities for the community.

GLCF Announces Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund

As a new year begins, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship provides funds for an individual of Cambodian decent who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communication.

Soben Pin, co-founder and publisher of the KhmerPost USA, established the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Joel Javier Named 2019 Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence

Joel Javier, who is widely recognized at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence as a role model for younger youth members, was recently selected as the 2019 Youth of the Year.

Established in 1947, Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club of America’s premier recognition program for club members 14 to 18 years old, promoting values of leadership and service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles. The National Youth of the Year, who is installed by the President of the United States, serves as an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and a strong voice for all of the nation’s young people.

Merrimack Valley’s Oldest Living Female Veteran Honored at Methuen Municipal Inauguration Ceremony

Theresa Skorupka (99), current resident at Methuen Village Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support, was honored during the Methuen Municipal Inauguration Ceremony on Jan 6. According to the Veterans office, they believe her to be the oldest living female veteran in the Merrimack Valley.

Skorpuka was escorted in a police car to the event, accompanied by Beth Haydon, director of community relations at Methuen Village. At the ceremony, Skorpuka was officially honored as a Methuen Veteran.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Windrush Farm Announces New Board President

Windrush Farm, a leading therapeutic riding center, announced that the board of directors has elected Lucy Vaill as the new board president.

A lifelong equestrian, Vaill succeeds Boxford resident Bob Gore, who served as president of the board of directors for seven years.

Workingman’s Christmas

December 16, 2019 by Christine Lewis Leave a Comment

Back in the early 1900s, unmarried mill workers became holiday orphans when Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around. Lodgings for single men didn’t supply holiday meals, and restaurants were closed, forcing the workers to turn to the one place they would be guaranteed a cheerful spread: the local bar. Here, Christmas loners could dine with like-minded company and escape the seclusion of their rooming houses. And though it wasn’t legal for taverns to be open on holidays, the law didn’t seem to object to discreet conviviality.

Cy Brown’s children, Bernice and George, remember their father, the proprietor of the Genoa Café in Lawrence, asking his wife, Winifred, to cook two turkeys each Thanksgiving and Christmas: one for the Brown family and one for the Genoa Café family.

After their holiday meals, men from our local mill cities attended Christmas boxing matches. A rare occurrence in fistic annals, and somewhat surprising for our staunchly Catholic communities, Christmas Day boxing was popular in Lawrence, Lowell, Haverhill and Nashua, N.H.