Phil the groundhog saw his shadow, which means we can't escape winter yet. If you’re like me, you are probably looking for any excuse to stay inside, instead of out in the blistering cold. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to have fun (and stay warm) in Manchester.
I recently had a perfect night out in Manchester going to a country concert at the Verizon Wireless Arena with one of my best friends. We started our night early down on Elm Street. (Although apparently not as early as everyone else because the bars were PACKED with plaid shirts and cowboy hats!)
We headed over to one of my favorite places downtown, Ignite Bar & Grille. Ignite is a tiny little bar and restaurant on Hanover Street with amazing food at very reasonable prices. If you have never been, I highly recommend a visit. We settled into our seats at the bar and spent a little over an hour chatting and eating before it was time to head over to the concert.
We squeezed through the crowds of fellow country music lovers at the Verizon to find our seats. I somehow managed to score incredible seats for the concert, but I am sure the experience was amazing no matter where your seat was. The concert began with a few songs from Tyler Farr, and then a few more from country duo Florida Georgia Line. Finally it was time for the main act, Jason Aldean.
All of the acts were amazing and entertaining. We spent hours dancing in our seats and singing along to old classics and new country hits. We had had the time of our lives and before we knew it, the concert was over.
We didn’t want the night to end! Unfortunately, the fun couldn’t carry on forever. I went home with no voice and ringing ears, and fell into a long and blissful sleep.
Although I had an amazing time, it is not every week that huge artists have concerts at the Verizon Wireless Arena or other local venues, so music lovers like me have to find alternatives. Fortunately, there are plenty of spots around Manchester that offer more laid-back musical fun.
The Shaskeen Pub, a personal favorite of mine, hosts live bands Thursday through Saturday nights. In fact, many of the bars in Manchester include some sort of music entertainment. Strange Brew, Milly’s Tavern, and Murphy’s Taproom to name a few. Many of our local cafés, like Bridge Café on Elm Street, have local musicians and open mic nights as well.
So while this cold winter weather will, unfortunately, continue for the next couple of weeks, head inside to one of Manchester’s local establishments. Take advantage of all of the great venues and restaurants that we have just up the street from our campus. Head out with your friends and get lost in the music and the fun for a night. And don’t let these last few weeks of winter get you down!
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Olivia Pollock is a senior at UNH Manchester graduating in May 2014 with a B.A. in Communication Arts.
