We're not lost, you just can't find us!

You know how, when you're in a crowd, you know that you're fine, but others may not know where to find you? We just discovered that we were lost in a crowd, but all along we've been just fine! While we're fixing that, if you want to get information on what's going on in Downtown Laconia from the people who are right there, check us out here, give us a thumbs-up, and stay in the know. The 2015 New Hampshire Coffee Festival is coming up in September, and we'll be posting here about that. If you use Twitter, you can follow us there, too! We're not lost, you just can't find us!

Main St Bridge Update 4/4/14 - NOTE SATURDAY CONSTRUCTION!

 

 

 

The first full week of construction is coming to an end, and here is today's update from Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty:

 

According to Paul’s [Moynihan] morning update, the general work for today is:

 

n  Demolition of sidewalks within construction zone is primary work item

 

But, please take note of this poignant item:

 

n  Contractor (R. M. Piper) crew will work Saturday (4/5) from 7:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. inside barriers of work zone

 

It appears there shouldn’t be any impact on Saturday traffic flow or pattern.  If anything think of this as an opportunity for more customers.  Construction workers will occupy parking spaces normally available on Saturday however.

 

John Moriarty, president

Main Street Initiative of Laconia

john@mymoriarty.net

voice, cell, text 603.455.2084

 

Remember, you can get connected to the Main Street Initiative on both Facebook  and Twitter, or email us to be added to the mailing list. Let us know if you have questions or concerns!

Main St. Bridge Update 4/2/2014

The latest news; there will be more later from Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi All – Update this a.m. (Wednesday 4/2),

 

n  Phase 1 Detour in effect
 
n  Construction Progress Meeting # 1 at City Hall today at 8:00 a.m. – Room 200-A

 

n  Bridge Work essentially confined to the Beacon St. East construction area

 

n  Work proceeding in prep for existing concrete deck removal in the Phase 1 area

 

n  Some work on the perimeter of the work zone but traffic should flow unimpeded.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please call.  -- Paul

World Championship Sled Dog Derby!

 

Thanks to the fresh snow, conditions could hardly be better for the World Championship Sled Dog Derby happening in Laconia this weekend. If you're coming to town to check out this great event, don't forget to head into downtown to visit the shops and restaurants that are here - plenty of new things to see! For more information on the Sled Dog Derby, go to their website. To stay connected with Downtown, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter! Mush!



We love a parade! And we love Small Business Saturday!

                               

Saturday November 30th is the Downtown Laconia Holiday Parade, presented by the Laconia Main Street Initiative and the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and sponsored this year by the Bank of New Hampshire, Franklin Savings Bank and the Soda Shoppe Laconia. Beginning at 11 am in the south end by Wyatt Park, the parade proceeds down Main Street to Veteran's Square for the tree lighting. Join us for marching bands, vintage cars, prancers, dancers, floats and more - and don't forget Santa and Mrs. Claus! Chef Kevin Halligan of the Laconia Village Bakery and Laconia Local Eatery is our Grand Marshall this year! All your favorite downtown merchants will be open, too, celebrating Small Business Saturday. Make sure you visit your favorite shops, check out the new ones, and see what a difference buying local can make! 

Something's Brewing this Weekend in Downtown Laconia...

NH COFFEE FESTIVAL -- All Things Coffee! DOWNTOWN, this Saturday Sept. 14th from 1-5 p.m. free admission rain or shine           The Main Street Initiative aims to wake up downtown by staging the first ever New Hampshire Coffee Festival sponsored by the Bank of New Hampshire this Saturday, September 14, from 1 - 5 p.m. John Moriarty, president of the organization, said that as home to three coffee roasting enterprises, Laconia was the ideal venue to celebrate one of the most popular beverages in the world.  Altogether nine coffee roasters will be among the more than two dozen vendors at the event offering coffee in all its many guises as well as "everything coffee," including popcorn, cup cakes, ice cream and even soap. Entertainment will feature the music of the Jonathan Lorentz Trio playing their own brand of what Moriarty called "coffee house jazz."  The Grace Capital Church will stage the "Java Games," a series of coffee sack races, coffee bean bag tossing and coffee tic-tac-toe capped by a coloring contest.  "There is something for all ages," Moriarty said.   Nate, 13, and Derek, 11, who work with their Dad, Jim Daubenspeck, at his Main Street shop, LaBelle's Shoe Repair, sneak in some intense training for the coffee bean sack race.  The race will be one of the premier contests of the Java Games, a family-friendly component of the inaugural, statewide, N. H. Coffee Festival to be held Saturday September 14, 2013.  There will be talk about how to brew a great cup of coffee - and what makes the difference! Dan Demers owner of D Squared Java of Exeter, New Hampshire will present a demonstration of "latte arts," or carving decorations to embellish a cup of latte. Of course there will be a place to sit and just enjoy the coffee and the ambiance! Moriartiy said that "building community before commerce is the mantra of the Main Street Initiative and a festival celebrating the most social and convivial of drinks provides an occasion for people to come together and share a common experience.  At the same time, he said that the festival is part of the Main Street Initiative's fundraising campaign, which aims to enhance the holiday lighting downtown as well as provide a scholarship to a start-up business.

New Hampshire Coffee Festival!

 

 

Join us for this fun event!

September 14th is the date for the inaugural New Hampshire Coffee Festival in downtown Laconia. From 1 pm - 5 pm, join us for live music by Jonathan Lorenz of The Jazz Bar in Weirs Beach, fun and games, latte art and all you could want to learn about coffee...not to mention the opportunity to try different brewing methods and coffee in many varieties. There will be food and personal care products and great fun walking around Laconia's beautiful downtown. Area merchants will be open, some with specials for the day, and we're looking forward to seeing you here to celebrate coffee with us! Call 603-455-2084 with questions, or email Laconia Main Street for more information.

Would you like to be a vendor? Here's the application:

See you at the New Hampshire Coffee Festival!

An Interview with Bryce Moore

 Note: This is from an article that appears in the Laconia Citizen on Monday, July 15th.

A CONVERSATION WITH

BRYCE MOORE

Wash & cut--$19.00; hair color--$60.00; perm--$65.00; a local young lady staying in Laconia to support her career & downtown--Bryceless....

By all accounts Bryce Moore, age 19, is a real go getter.  She has joined the Main Street Initiative and has not let her shortage in years be a shortage of ideas or results.  She takes this proactive approach to everything she does. The Main Street group sat down with Bryce recently and here’s what they learned:

Q: Tell us about yourself; what do you do?

Bryce: I'm a stylist at the Mr. Paul’s Hair Affair Salon on Canal St. in downtown Laconia.  I work right down the street from where I was raised!  

Q: Was styling\beauty always a career goal?  

A cardiologist friend of my parents saw my promise and suggested that I consider a career as a cardiovascular technician, so I started planning on that in high school.  In the back of my mind I found I was always thinking about hair.   Some of my relations worked in hair care, and I spent a lot of time in salons growing up.  A week before I was supposed to start my medical studies, I changed paths. It was a natural choice.  I enjoyed beauty school so much.  I met great people who became my best friends.

Q: Was it difficult to find employment in your field?  

I got a chance at a spot at Mr. Paul’s Hair Affair through some people who knew about my skills and referred me to Lori Chandler who gave me a shot and is now my boss.  I’m grateful to Lori for recognizing my potential.

Q: What does Laconia represent to you?  

My grandfather was a part time policeman here for 38 years. He also owned Bud's Gulf gas station on South Main Street.    When I think of Laconia, that's what first comes to mind.  Everybody knew Bud and my father too.  The sense of community is still strong here today.  It’s amazing how connected and caring this community is.

Q: Why have you chosen to stay in Laconia?  

I've lived here all my life, and I like it.  My parents are still here, and I'm close to them.  They've been big supporters of mine through everything.  My parents were not upset when I decided not to go to cardio-tech school.  They just said I should follow my dreams.  I really appreciate my parents unconditional love.

Q: What do you like about downtown?  

It's cute. There are all these cute little shops and my home is right around the corner too, so you can walk wherever you want...though I like to drive!  

Q: What one thing would you add to downtown?  

Maybe a store for people my age, with clothes and jewelry for my age group. Nothing too fancy, maybe something like this store my parents told me about, the old Junior Deb shop.  The sort of stores, that might carry things like what American Eagle carries, but in stores like they used to have in our downtown.  Maybe a coffee shop for people my age, with Wi Fi for the college students, so they wouldn't have only the library, where they usually have to wait for computers.

Q: What do you do on a Saturday night?  

It's always the same!  Every Saturday night since I was 15, I play pool with my dad at our friend's house. It's like my bonding time with him!  Then sometimes we go listen to live music afterwards.  Weoften go to listen to Lisa Guyer especially her solo performances.

Q: What else do you do in your spare time?  

I go shopping a lot.  I'm a hair nerd!  I don't get enough at work! I go shopping for hair care products.  No matter where I am, I’m always connected.  I hunt down new styles and cuts online.  Continued professional development is important but real growth happens when you take the initiative to learn yourself.

Q: What else do you do on the internet?  

I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. I talk to friends and look up stuff, mostly about hair. I like to watch movie trailers more than I like watching movies themselves. I listen to music. You can find almost anything online!  

Q: What music is on your playlist?

I listen to just about anything--any type of music.  My parents like '80's music, so I listen to that a lot. And I'm a big country fan; though I also listen to rap...so Credence Clearwater Revival, Journey, Zac Brown Band, but also Wale, and Tyga, because my brother likes him a lot....I think he's good too though.  

Q: What would we find surprising about you?

I go target shooting a lot!   I like shooting a Walther P-22 and recently my grandfather's 45 caliber police revolver.  That was cool!  I’m not the best shot, but I’m good enough.

Q: Tell us about your talents.

I sing pretty well, except I don't like to sing in public.  I took voice lessons for about a year, but the teacher made me study show tunes and I'm not that interested in Broadway, so I stopped, but to this day I use what I learned.

So maybe Bryce might seem at first glance like a typical young adult finding her fledgling wings.  But underneath that everyday exterior are exceptional abilities and startling accomplishments which are beyond price....but not beyond Bryce and are in short -- BRYCELESS.