In true #PortsmouthLOVE fashion, there are just simply far too many amazing things to do in Portsmouth, NH on a Friday night. Here are just the highlights of what’s going on tomorrow. I defy anyone to try to make it to ALL of these events.
#1—The Women’s Motorcycle Exhibition—The Real Women Who Ride, Photographs by Lanakila McNaughton.
Location: BUOY Gallery in Kittery, ME
(Okay, the show’s not IN Portsmouth, but a short walk across the bridge, and it’s sponsored by Portsmouth companies Toboggan USA, Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside, Trigger House (Remember #3SArtbash?! Yeah, THOSE guys), Great Bay Motorcycles, Port City Peds, and bigger brands like Triumph, Iron & Air Mag, and Art in the Age.)
#2 — Allison May Kiphuth: Shelter Opening Reception
Location: Nahcotta Art Gallery, Congress Street, Portsmouth
Nahcotta is usually THE place to be for Art ‘Round Town. Either that, or I just start there and never leave because absolutely everyone awesome in town stops in, and one conversation leads another between drooling over the amazing art on display. Also wine. And this artist in particular—these cool boxes! I’ve seen a few at previous shows, and this is JUST these boxes for ALL THE SHOW! YAY!
#3 — Inner Truth Massage Open House
Location: Inner Truth Massage, Custom House building (Above Book & Bar)
A new office ope house doesn’t sound fun? WELL. This is my masseuse, so I’m obviously partial, but let me tell you how amazing the office is. Le Sigh. An oasis in downtown (photos don’t do the high ceilings justice). Plus, there is wine, you can buy one get one massage free (that equals 50% off the best feeling ever—I can do math!), and you could even win a 100% FREE massage. Sold.
#4 — Electric Sunglasses Welcome Party
Location: Summer Sessions downtown shop at Vaughn Mall
If there were a running theme here, it would be FREE! In this particular case, FREE BEER! And a chance at cool new free shades. Anyhoo, these guys ALSO know how to throw a party, so this is guaranteed to be a good time, too.
#5 — Art ‘Round Town
Location: Galleries all over town! List of many participating galleries here.
This is one of the few chances you have to see the Bellamy exhibit at Discover Portsmouth for FREE! Other great stops are The Portsmouth Athenaeum (ask to see the whale eyeball!), Piscataqua Fine Arts (Don Gorvett’s woodblock shop!) Kennedy Gallery, and NH Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery.
#6 — The Last 5 Years Opening Night
Location: Seacoast Rep
I heard the synopsis of this plot from the stage manager, Jamie Bradley, a few months ago and have been dying to see it. Check it out:
This emotionally powerful musical explores the five-year relationship between two New Yorkers, Jamie Wellerstein (played by Graham Bailey), a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt (played by Christine Dulong), a struggling actress. The show uses an unconventional form of storytelling in which Cathy’s story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie’s is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters only meet once during the entire performance, at their wedding in the middle of the show.
#7 — Matt Taibbi: The Great Divide
Location: South Church on State Street
That’s right, Matt Taibbi, of Rolling Stone renown, is coming to our fair city, brought to you by the amazing folks at RiverRun Bookstore, in partnership with Seacoast Local. This city has such great literary acts coming through, it’s a great town to be a writer, reader, or otherwise literarily-inclined personage.
Really? You want more? Well, here are some more things:
- Couple-a shows going on at the Music Hall
- Little bit o’ jazz at Demeters
- Sarah Blacker and Connor Garvey at Book and Bar
- Club d’Elf at The Press Room
And just to make the night super perfect, I’m topping of the night by staying in the dreamiest place ever, the new Hotel Portsmouth! I live RIGHT down the street, but this is that much closer to downtown and JUST LOOK:
Yeah.
What are YOU doing this Friday evening?
