NORTH CONWAY NH - As our way of saying thanks to our customers our annual Countdown to Christmas Discounted Gift Card Sale is starting December 1st and will last until December 24th, but don’t wait too long the great deals are happening now.
Veteran barkeeps Sandy Sanborn (left) and Randy Mosson (right) have been pouring spirits at Horsefeathers and other establishments in the Mount Washington Valley for a combined total of 70 years. Stop by and say hello next time you’re in the neighborhood for some sustenance and cheer — and some good sports viewing on the big screen TVs.
(TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)
By Tom Eastman
Conway Daily Sun
CONWAY NH— Like a smooth-running and well-maintained old Ford pickup truck, Them Fargo Brothers purred along their song list of country rock classics from the 1970s and 1980s at their sold-out reunion shows, held at Horsefeathers’ Windows on Main Street Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14.
They were older, and so were their fans, many of whom said they had not gone out to see live music in years, but it didn’t matter: For last Friday and Saturday, Horsefeathers seemed like a time warp, and the music was crisp as ever as in the old days.
Taking pages from the country songbooks of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, to the Doors and the Allman Brothers, to name a few, Them Fargos rolled through both nights before an appreciative crowd of those who remembered their days playing at the old Oxen Yoke, the William Penn Tavern, Barnaby’s, the Red Parka Pub and Brothers II.
“I’m tired. I need to sit down!” joked the group’s founder, rhythm guitarist, front man and smooth-sounding lead singer Bill Madison, now a landscaper and musician in Florida, after he had played his second set Saturday night prior to returning to lead the group’s ensemble of past members through a climaxing final set that left the dancing crowd yelling for more, ending the show at 12:30 a.m.
From “Mamas Don’t Let Your Boys Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and the classic, “Don’t The Girls All Get Prettier (At Closing Time),” to “Ghostriders Of The Sky,” “Riding On The City Of New Orleans,” “Try To Put The Shovel Down,” “Stormy Monday” and their own 45 hit, “Ain’t No UFO Gonna Catch My Diesel,” the band members showed they had not lost their groove in the 15 years or so since their last much smaller reunion show at Black Mountain’s Shovel Handle Pub. Read the rest of this entry »
NORTH CONWAY NH — As a result of a small kitchen fire Nov. 4 that has forced the Wildcat Inn and Tavern to close for repairs for the month, Hoot Night is being moved to the Windows on Main Street at Horsefeathers on Tuesdays for the month of November starting Nov. 10.
Co-owner Stu Dunlop said the inn will be closed until after Thanksgiving to make way for installation of a new sprinkler system as well. So, Dunlop said, Hoot Night for the month of November will go on, just in a different location: the Windows on Main Street at Horsefeathers in North Conway. “Jonathan Sarty and the White Mountain Boys will host, and the same tavern crew will be there — Rane Peterson and Kate Saunders behind the bar, Sitch Samia at the door. Just like at the tavern Hoots, there will be free pizza for all performers,” said Dunlop. He added that renovation work has already begun at the tavern kitchen areas.
In other Horsefeathers news, bartender Marie Oliver says that tickets for the upcoming Them Fargo Brothers reunion Nov. 13 and 14 are selling well.
For further information, call 356-6862.
By Tom Eastman
The Conway Daily Sun
NORTH CONWAY NH — The Eastern Slope Ski Club
is gearing up for its 39th annual ski and snowboard sale at the North Conway Community Center in North Conway Village.
The sale will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, 3 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
After sale, come on over to Horsefeathers for some sustenance and cheer. Horsefeathers is featuring reunion shows by Them Fargo Brothers Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and are available in advance.
“This is a great opportunity for those looking to purchase alpine, nordic and snowboard gear at very reasonable prices. There are new and used skis, snowboards, clothing, gear and accessories available as well as some great kids stuff. The sale is one of the largest in the area,” said Bob Tagliaferri, vice president and board member of the club. He said the sale is also a great opportunity for those who have good equipment to sell their merchandise. Individuals may bring their clean, new or used equipment for consignment sale to the North Conway Community Center Wednesday, Nov, 11, and Thursday, Nov. 12, 6 to 9 p.m. Each item submitted for sale will require a small tag fee. Sale tags can be purchased in advance at Bob and Terry’s Sports Outlet in North Conway. The ESSC reserves the right to reject any equipment deemed unsellable.
Unsold equipment must be picked up at the North Community Center Sunday, Nov. 15, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., or the item will be considered a donation to the ESSC. A 15 percent commission will be retained by the ESSC on each item sold.
All proceeds go to the Eastern Slope Ski Club and to support the Junior Ski Program for the Mount Washington Valley.
“We would like to thank our 450 volunteers, the local ski areas, businesses and friends of the program around the valley,” Tagliaferri said. “Without the entire community this program would not be possible.”
For further information, call Sports Outlet at 356-3133 or Horsefeathers at 356-6962.
By Tom Eastman - Conway Daily Sun
NORTH CONWAY NH — 
Given their rough rider Old West image, no one would be surprised if the extended members of Them Fargo Brothers rode in on horseback for their upcoming reunion shows at Horsefeathers Nov. 13 and 14.
Instead, they’ll be coming from points far and wide via airplane and automobile, but they’ll bring that old-time country rock flavor nonetheless to the two shows, both of which are slated for 8 p.m. at the Windows on Main Street venue on the second floor of Horsefeathers.
Tickets went on sale at Horsefeathers Nov. 1 at $10 each. Dinner will be served for ticket holders upstairs from 5 to 8 p.m., with time allotted for the setting up of the stage at 7:30 p.m. The ticket-required reunion shows are being organized by former Oxen Yoke owner David Peterson, now owner of Horsefeathers, and former Fargo Brothers drummer John Dudli.
With the economic downturn in the Sunshine State, the latter has been back in the valley this summer from Florida, working for local painting contractor Rickie Tibbetts of RLT Painting. That’s when he and Peterson began talking about a reunion show for the once popular band, who attracted a loyal following for their appearances at the Red Parka Pub, the Oxen Yoke and the now no longer standing Barnaby’s, site of today’s Staples in North Conway. “Yes, yes, it was all the doings of my sick mind,” said Dudli, who now lives in the Fort Myyers-Sanibel area of southwestern Florida, where he works as a bartender and painting contractor. He said he and former Them Fargos bassist Jim Merrill got to talking about getting together this summer, and that led to a conversation with Peterson, and voila — it ain’t necessarily the reunion of the Beatles, but it’s bound to be a big two nights for those who loved the band in the day in the 1970s and 1980s. Read the rest of this entry »
Tom Eastman - The Conway Daily Sun
NORTH CONWAY NH — “Work with and mentor young people of Mount Washington Valley.”
In accepting the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council’s 2009 Bob Morrell Award for civic entrepreneurship Oct. 22, Red Parka Pub Steakhouse co-owner Terry O’Brien pledged to continue to work with local young people to get them involved with the comings and goings of the valley.
“If there is any way I can help mentor any of the youth of this community, that’s a great thing because we have some great people in this town,” said O’Brien to the audience of 250 who packed the Red Jacket for the first-ever joint annual business and dinner meetings of the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council and the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.
She thanked her late father, Dewey Mark, who founded the Red Parka in 1972 with his then wife, Jean Melczarek, and their then partners, Lois and Al Nelson.
Al and Lois later sold their interests in the Red Parka to Tony Ferruolo.
“One of the things my father most told me is that you need to get involved. That if there is something you don’t like, you need to speak up, and that you need to vote, because that’s your only voice. He taught me that, and he taught me the joy of living. I miss him every day — I know most of you do — and somehow I think he’s up there pulling strings for me,” said O’Brien.
She said the Red Parka and other Valley Originals are committed to the valley. The Valley Originals are a group of 23 independent restaurants who give back in many ways to the community, most notably to Jen’s Friends cancer organization. Horsefeathers, Decades and the Wildcat Inn and Tavern are part of the group. Read the rest of this entry »
By Tom Eastman - The Conway Daily Sun
JACKSON NH — Cranmore skimeister Herbert Schneider was the toast of the valley at a reception held at the Eagle Mountain House Saturday, as the 89-year-old beloved former Cranmore Mountain Resort general manager and past owner was honored by the New England Ski Museum with its fourth annual “Spirit of Skiing“ award.
Schneider — who was saluted in addresses by sons Hannes and Christoph as well as by ski museum president Bo Adams and Cranmore Mountain Resort general manager Ben Wilcox — was visibly moved by the accolades.
In his remarks, Wilcox saluted Schneider for his commitment to youth skiing through the Eastern Slope Ski Club’s Junior Ski Program, and noted that because of that commitment, the valley has been the training ground for several past and future Olympians.
In the audience were a few fellow members of Schneider’s 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops of World War II fame.
In his brief remarks, Schneider — like his famed a father a member of the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame — said having won the bronze star while serving in combat with the 10th in Italy in April 1945 was the award that he is most proud of in his lifetime of commitment and service to the sport of skiing. He celebrated his love for skiing, especially teaching, and the joy of the sport. “As my father used to say when people asked him what else is there to do but ski when there is snow on the ground, father would say, ‘Yes, what else is there to do but ski when there is snow on the ground!’ ”
He then ended his speech with a humorous aside, noting with typical grace and understated wit: “I can see your eyes are all glazing over so I will end my remarks now with something I once heard in church: If you want to be heard, speak up; if you want to be seen, stand up; and if you want to be loved, shut up!” Read the rest of this entry »