Good morning, Manchester! In today’s edition: Rock of Ages, city hall pay raise clash, crow roost counting, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Cozy, local refresh: Skip the algorithm and browse locally made decor: candles, prints, mirrors, even small furniture, at Manchester Craft Market. This New England makers hub hosts low-key workshops when you’re feeling crafty. An easy way to give your place a winter glow-up.

City Hall compensation clash: A plan for Manchester’s first Aldermanic pay raise in 48 years drew a negative committee recommendation, despite proposal from outgoing Alderman Chris Morgan. The full board will decide in January — get all the details.

A mother’s meaningful birth experience: Catholic Medical Center celebrated one of New Hampshire’s first 2026 births at The Mom’s Place, welcoming John Thomas. Sydney Colombo praised compassionate care as her family prepares to relocate abroad — read the full birth story.

Local board advances housing plan: Mammoth Road’s 30-unit townhouse project was approved with conditions. Concerns included stormwater and construction traffic, and the developer must prepare a snow removal plan with the Department of Public Works — see what conditions were set.

Community memories take center stage: Ted Menswar Jr. was introduced to a group preserving Manchester, New Hampshire, sports history, set to mark 20 years in 2026, with stories the publication will archive — read the full story.

Meet the Crow Patrol cofounder: Photographer Craig Gibson has been observing Manchester’s crow roosts, joining birder Mark Timmerman to count thousands of birds, mostly American Crows and smaller numbers of Fish Crows — see how they count roosts.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

✂ Adult DIY: Greeting Cards and Upcycled Bookmarks @ Manchester Library-West Branch | Tuesday (1/13) at 1:00 PM – Got a stash of cards and wrapping paper you swear you’ll use someday? Grab an adults-only DIY kit at West Manchester Library to turn them into greeting cards and bookmarks, with cardstock, decorative paper, and ribbon; add scissors and glue, snag one before they’re gone.

🍽 Supper Club Plus @ Diz’s | Tuesday (1/13) at 4:00 PM – If your weeknight routine tastes like reheated resignation, head to Diz’s for Supper Club Plus, Monday through Thursday nights. Mondays mean small plates, Tuesdays bring Fisher Cats swag and a suite drawing, Wednesdays talk news with Carol Robidoux, and Thursdays serve REX surprises.

🐟 Merrimack River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Meeting @ Sweeney Post 2 | Tuesday (1/13) at 6:00 PM – If your idea of a night out is feathers, thread, and fish stories, Trout Unlimited has you covered. Fly tying the micro egg-sucking leech at 6, Scott Biron on Lake Sunapee at 7, all at Sweeney Post in Manchester; email [email protected] to claim a vise.

🔮 Tarot Master Class @ Beyond the Realm | Tuesday (1/13) at 7:00 PM – Ready to trade horoscopes for real skills? Beyond the Realm on Elm Street is running a 6½-week Tarot master class for just five students, materials included, with schedules set by the group. You’ll learn the full deck, read with confidence, and finally stop asking Google.

🌸 Magical Bloom Cloche @ Green Envy | Thursday (1/15) at 6:30 PM – If your coffee table deserves better than the remote pile, this workshop has you crafting a 6” x 8” cloche with moss, wood and dried flowers, and fairy lights. Dye the wood blooms your color, get step-by-step help, and leave with a long-lasting centerpiece.

🎨 Paint Night: Manifesting Moon Blooms! @ Chunky’s Cinema Pub Manchester | Friday (1/16) at 7:15 PM – Bridget is back at Chunky’s, guiding us through a full-size Manifesting Moon Blooms painting while the bar keeps cocktails flowing. Tickets are $45 with limited seats, so claim yours before your muse wanders. Come early for dinner, then paint like you mean it.

🎸 Rock of Ages @ The Palace Theatre | Friday (1/16) at 7:30 PM – Channel your inner 1987 Sunset Strip and let the Aqua Net fly at Rock of Ages, the gloriously over-the-top musical packed with anthems from Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, and Foreigner. It’s campy, loud, and unapologetically fun, the perfect excuse to sing along without shame.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📣 Own or manage a local business?

Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.

How it works:

• Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
• We’ll manually verify your business is legit
• Once verified, you’ll be able to share events, news, and special deals with us any time

Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Manchester locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.

We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.

Click here to get started (it’s free) →

📻 Manchester report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 43°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 10%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. North wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: A chance of rain before 7pm, then rain and snow between 7pm and 9pm, then sleet and rain and snow between 9pm and midnight, then sleet and a slight chance of snow between midnight and 1am, then rain between 1am and 5am, then sleet and freezing rain. Cloudy, with a low around 32. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 36°F – Low: 23°F – Precip: 79%

Snow and sleet before 9am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Northwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: A chance of snow before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Most popular house this week

An 1880 farmhouse on an oversized 0.44 acre lot spans 1,365 square feet with wide pine plank floors, three bedrooms, two full baths, central air and natural gas heat. Systems are updated, with a heating system about 10 years old, central air about 9, and a hot water tank about 8. Historic detail and a comfortable layout balance character with modern convenience.

A wraparound porch anchors outdoor living, and a six month old above ground pool brings instant summer. Town water and sewer plus natural gas add everyday ease. The $88 per month solar lease transfers. In a sought after school district, charm meets updates.

Take a peek inside →