a 501c3 non-profit with a mission centered around economic and cultural vibrancy in Downtown Nashua, NH
 
 
The Downtowner
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Dear –FNAME–,

Like many of you, we’ve been taking the time to reflect on what it is that we are thankful for this year and we wanted to share just some of that with you in this week’s Downtowner.

♦  We are incredibly thankful for area musicians who have filled the air with music in Downtown Nashua this year during more than 60 performances at our Saturday Sidewalk Sessions, and Dancin’ in the Park events.
♦  We are filled with gratitude for everyone who helped to support our Gate City Community Gardens renovation project this year, where we installed 12 new galvanized steel-raised beds that will host eager green thumbs for many many years to come. We especially thank our donors, our partners at Grow Nashua and the Nashua Police Athletic League, and more than 75 volunteers from service groups at Rivier University and Bishop Guertin High School.
♦  Thank you to all of our customers at the Nashua Farmers Market – we had one of our best seasons yet, and it is because of your support for local producers that we have been able to continue to grow the program.

♦  We’re thankful for our partnership with Solution Health, and being able to bring a beautifully painted piano – created by local artist Eric Escobar â€“ to the hospital lobby on Prospect Street, to bring a little extra joy to patients, staff and visitors at the hospital. Thank you to our healthcare workers, both in-patient care and public health, who have been working so hard to keep our community health and safe.
♦  Thank you to everyone who has been involved with developing the Nashua Performing Arts Center project. We have been so excited to see the work unfold at 201 Main Street, and can’t wait for performances to begin in our Downtown next fall!
♦  Thank you to all of our volunteers, gardeners, artists, scarecrow makers, cookie bakers, decorators, city workers, organizations, businesses, and others who have all pitched in this year to make our Downtown beautiful and welcoming.
♦  We’re thankful for dozens of artists who worked for many hours to bring more public art to life in new and exciting ways in our downtown, including four new sculptures from the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium, new murals from Beyond Walls and Positive Street Art, and an eclectic array covering nearly a mile of pop-up murals on the barriers along Main Street as part of the expanded outdoor dining program.
♦  We are thankful for a community that rallies around our small businesses and chooses local whenever possible. Their success, in spite of all obstacles, had been due in great part to your support. Thank you each and every one of you who believes that Downtown Nashua is the heart of our community, and for all you do to support Nashua’s vibrancy and success.
♦  Finally, I am thankful for the team here at Great American Downtown – our staff and board – who has worked together tirelessly to put on an array of great programs for the community this year. Thank you so much to Nico, Mary, Jenn and Kath for all of the passion and dedication you have brought to the organization. Because of you, our Downtown is a community that has been that much more fun, exciting, engaging, and magical to be a part of.

There’s so much more to be thankful for, but I wanted to share some of the things that stood out most for me this year. We hope your holiday season is filled with blessings and good health, and that you have a very, very Happy Thanksgiving!

On behalf of all of us here at Great American Downtown,

Paul Shea
Executive Director
Great American Downtown
 
 
 
 
Photo of the Week
 
 
 
 
Our photo of the week was taken by Dorothy Perrucci

She writes “One of Nashua’s most recent art murals is on a building in the rear of Clocktower Place. From time to time, we’ve been fortunate to see herons flying across the river from our 5th floor apartment. Over the weekend, this one was standing close to the Main Street bridge.”

Thanks for sending it in!

 
 
 
 
Do you have some great pictures of our vibrant Downtown you’d like to show off? Post them to our Facebook page, or send them to us by email! We love to share images that capture the beauty and excitement of Downtown Nashua. 
 
 
 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
 
 
 
 
PLAID FRIDAY IS UPON US!
 
 
 
 
Plaid Friday
10 am–5 pm Friday, Nov. 26
There’s still time to reserve your FREE swag bag!
Nashua’s alternative to Black Friday!
Shop local this holiday season! Why battle the chaos and frenzy of big box stores and frantic malls, when you can stroll beautiful Downtown Nashua, and enjoy unique, locally made products and support your neighbors who are our small business owners?
You can walk Main Street and shop, enjoy a meal or beverage, and enjoy the ambiance of all we have to offer. Visit our webpage to sign up for your swag bag – registration is free, but we only have 400 bags to give out. They have deals inside, as well as a walking tour suggestion to help you plan your visit. We’ll even have copies of our kid bakers’ recipes in our Nom Nom November Recipe Booklet. And if you wear plaid, you will score even more deals!
Read all about Plaid Friday, see the participants, sign up for your swag bag and more, by clicking HERE!
for being our Presenting Sponsor for Plaid Friday!
 
 
 
 
 
HAVE YOU VOTED? VOTING ENDS THURSDAY!
 
 
 
 
Nom Nom November
Kids’ Cookie Contest!
Presented by Dan O’Donnell, Keller Williams Realty
Voting is now active! Nov. 17-25
Great American Downtown‘s second annual Kids’ Cookie Contest is live and our aspiring young bakers are hoping for your vote!
Winners will have their creations celebrated in one of our pro baker businesses downtown, get a trophy, and be featured in a compilation recipe book. 
How to vote: 
1. Click on one of the smiling faces of our contestants. The contest page will “reload”, and when you scroll down, you’ll see only that contestant. 
2. Check out their recipe and decide if it sounds delicious!
3.  If you want to choose that contestant, click the “Vote for this Recipe” bar below it.
IMPORTANT: This year, we are allowing voters to only vote ONCE for the entire contest (just like real life!). Be sure to check out all the enticing recipes before you commit your vote!  🙂
THANK YOU for showing our young contestants some support! We’re proud of their hard work!
CLICK BELOW FOR FULL CONTEST DETAILS!
 
 
OM NOM NOM!
 
 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
 
 
 
 
 
FEATURED EVENT I: GERALD CHARLES DICKENS IN NASHUA!
 
 
 
 
Gerald Charles Dickens with Jody Gage, owner of Fortin Gage Flower & Gift Shop.
Nashua Senior Center, Fortin Gage present
Gerald Charles Dickens
Court Street Theater
12:30 pm Thursday, Dec. 2
Legendary author’s descendant comes to Nashua
for an engaging experience of live entertainment!
Gerald Charles Dickens, great-great-grandson of you know who, has delighted audiences around the world with his dramatic, humorous and completely engaging live readings of the classic literary works his ancestor is known for. If you’ve never seen him, you simply must grab your ticket and not miss this opportunity!
​​​​​​​Thursday, Dec. 2, Gerald will present a dramatic reading of Dickens’ classic ghost story, The Signalman, at the Court Street Theatre, right off Main Street in Downtown Nashua. This fundraising event for the Nashua Senior Activity Center is graciously sponsored by Byers’ Choice Carolers and locally by Fortin Gage Flower and Gift Shop. 
Tickets through Fortin Gage Flowers & Gifts are only $20. You will not be disappointed by this charming and humorous English gentleman!
 
 
GRAB TICKETS!
 
 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
 
 
 
 
 
FEATURED EVENT II: SYMPHONY NH’s HOLIDAY BRASS
 
 
 
 
Symphony NH’s Holiday Brass Concert
at Nashua’s Coptic church
7:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 27
Symphony NH‘s Holiday Brass concert is back by popular demand!
 
Join Symphony New Hampshire’s Brass musicians for a festive program that includes both sacred and popular music of the holidays, on Saturday, Nov. 27 at St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, 39 Chandler St. in Nashua.
 
Gabrieli and Holiday Classics featuring Symphony NH Brass – Roger Kalia, Conductor
 
Concert starts at 7:30 pm; Doors open at 6:45 pm.
The concert will also be held the next day in Manchester. See our online calendar for details.
Tickets are $10–$30 and FREE for kids younger than 18!
 
 
*HEALTH AND SAFETY: Proof of vaccination and masks are required for this event. Please visit www.symphonynh.org/safety for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
 
 
 
 
 
HELP NASHUA HAVE A DAZZLING DECEMBER!
 
 
 
 
Dazzling December:
Nashua’s Holiday Lighting Contest
Submissions open through Dec. 5
Great American Downtown invites residents and businesses alike to participate in our second annual Dazzling December: Nashua’s Holiday Lighting Contest
The Dazzling Details:
  • Submissions open Nov. 20–Dec. 5 â€“ email a HIGH-QUALITY .jpg photo of your lighted display to us at [email protected]. Night time photos are tricky, but get your best, sharpest image. Cell phone is fine. Be sure to include your name and address, and business name if applicable!
  • Voting will take place from Dec. 7–Jan. 2.
  • FREE to participate! Let’s just have fun and share the beauty of the season!
Contest will be open to all those within Nashua’s city limits in our Residential category; our Business category will be focused on Downtown Nashua businesses within a walkable one-mile area from City Hall (229 Main Street).
Once submissions are closed, we’ll generate a printable online map of participants, so voters can enjoy traveling around the Gate City enjoying the dazzling display! Then, vote online for your favorites, and see who claims the top spots!
Trophies will be presented to the top three online vote-getters in each category. There will also be a special award for Santa’s Choice!
 
 
LET’S LIGHT UP NASHUA!
 
 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
 
 
 
 
 
NASHUA PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS!
 
 
 
 
A golden anniversary for the Nashua Public Library
In 1971, the Nashua Public Library moved from the Hunt Memorial Building to its current home at 2 Court Street. This November and December, make a point of stopping by the library to enjoy a display of photos, posters, furniture, architectural drawings, and memorabilia celebrating 50 years in the building.
Get a free anniversary-edition library card
Soon the library will have 50th-anniversary library cards, available free! If you already have a library card, you can exchange it at the front desk for one of these new ones. If you don’t have one, bring ID so you can sign up. Call 603-589-4600 to see if they’ve arrived.
Try a virtual breakout room
Kids: Try our Blast From the Past virtual breakout room. Test your knowledge by answering questions about the history of the library, so you can unlock the locks and “break out” of the room!
Nashua in the Year 2021
Did you grow up in Nashua? Then perhaps you entered the library’s 25th anniversary essay contest in 1996, “Nashua in the Year 2021: How I See My City.” Some of those entries are on display. You’ll get a kick out of these budding writers’ visions of the future.
A celebration in photos
Come watch a nostalgic slideshow of more than 100 old library photos. Or watch online HERE

More about the celebration on the 50th anniversary web page.
 
 
 
 
 
‘FALL INTO’ LIVE MUSIC IN DOWNTOWN NASHUA!
 
 
 
 
Downtown Nashua is still serving up food, drinks and live entertainment. Whether it’s musicians, comedians, trivia night or more, the options for a fun night out are increasing. If you know of a bar or restaurant featuring live music, shoot us an email so we can promote them here every week!
Here are some of the artists slated for performing this weekend. Call to confirm times and musicians.
Casey Magee’s Irish Pub – 8 Temple St.
Thursdays – Open Mic night, 7:30–11 pm
Fridays –  Karaoke night, 9:30 pm–close
Saturdays â€“ Fall Music Series, 9 pm–midnight, through Dec. 11.
This week: Reverend JJ and the Casual Sinners
Fratello’s – 194 Main St.
(live music Mon.–Thurs. 5:30–8:30 pm; Fri.–Sat. 5:30–9 pm)
Thursday â€“ Thanksgiving; no music
Friday â€“ Justin Jordan
Saturday – Ralph Allen
Liquid Therapy – 14 Court St.
(occasional live music Sat.; check their Facebook page)
Millyard Brewery – 25 E. Otterson St.​​​​​​
(live music on the outdoor patio, Sat. and Sun.)
Saturday: AB/CZ Band (5 pm)
Stella Blu – 70 E. Pearl St.
Wednesday: Jodee Frawlee, 8 pm 
The Peddler’s Daughter – 48 Main St.
Saturday: Vere Hill, 9 pm 
 
 
 
 
ARE YOU A DOWNTOWN VENUE
PRESENTING LIVE MUSIC?
LET US KNOW!
Please email us at [email protected] with your upcoming musicians, so we can share the info with our readers!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you for being a subscriber to The Downtowner!
 
 
 
 
Great American Downtown is a Nashua based 501c3 Nonprofit Corporation that provides coordination, collaboration and partnerships that unify the entire Nashua community around a common vision for an attractive downtown that is vibrant, viable and truly reflects the character of our city. Learn all about our wide variety of programs here.
We’re happy to share information about your upcoming event in and around Downtown Nashua! If you would like to submit an event to be featured in The Downtowner, or are interested in any other sponsorship and marketing opportunities through Great American Downtown, contact our Downtown Marketing Coordinator at [email protected].
 
 
 
 
DowntownNashua.org    â€¢   [email protected]   â€¢   603.883.5700