New Wedding and Event Space to Open in Dover

DOVER—
Anyone who’s ever tried to hold a large indoor event in Dover will tell you that there simply aren’t a lot of choices, which makes the opening of Rivermill at Dover Landing a welcome addition to the burgeoning business and social landscape in the Garrison City.
“We’ve had a flood of inquiries already,” notes Britt Schuman, one of Rivermill’s five founding partners. “We’ve taken calls from wedding planners, non-profit organizations, business professionals, bands and comedians, and of course brides, and without fail, they’ve all expressed excitement about our space, many without even the benefit of having seen a picture.”
The early enthusiasm is no surprise. With room to accommodate up to 350 guests for a seated dinner event, Rivermill will instantly become one of New Hampshire’s largest event facilities when they open their doors to the public in February.
Its sheer capacity alone is enough to give an event space a leg up on the competition, but size isn’t the only distinctive characteristic that sets Rivermill apart. Located in downtown Dover in the artfully refurbished mill facility that was once home to Clarostat, Rivermill is elegantly situated on the banks of the Cochecho River in the heart of one of America’s oldest cities, just steps away from literally dozens of shops and restaurants, and within easy reach of convenient lodging and transportation options.
“We felt all along that Dover needed something like this,” reflects Schuman, “and once we got a good look at this space and saw its potential, we knew we had to make it happen.”
Once inside Rivermill, guests are treated to something much different than anything that the typical contemporary ballroom offers. There are no electric chandeliers or giant, folding room dividers, but instead, an impressive example of classic 1800s brick and beam architecture: lofty ceilings; rugged brick walls; and soaring, arched windows that offer layered views of the river, the adjacent, grassy expanse of Henry Law Park, and the peaks of Dover’s historic downtown edifices, including the picturesque Clock Tower atop City Hall.
“It’s just an amazing space,” says Anna Boudreau of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, a Dover-based non-profit, which is holding a fundraiser in May that will be among the first events held in the new facility. “Our office is just upstairs, so we’ve had the unique opportunity to watch the day-to-day progress as Rivermill has been transformed from an abandoned warehouse to an inviting community treasure. We couldn’t be happier to be hosting an event here.”
Boudreau isn’t the only person to jump at the opportunity to utilize the new facility. During a recent photo shoot, local photographers, florists, and stylists converged on the space, including highly touted international wedding planner Kate Parker, who helped choreograph the shoot. Rivermill has also begun to align itself with notable area caterers like Galley Hatch and Kelley’s Row, along with Evan Hennesey, renowned chef from the 100 Club, The Dunaway restaurant and 43 Degrees North, and founder of Flavor Concepts Catering.
“Things are really beginning to happen quickly,” acknowledges Michelle Clancy, another of the Rivermill partners, who adds, “We’ve already booked several weddings right out of the gate, and we’re exhibiting at the bridal expo at UNH this weekend, so we’re hoping to generate even more interest and exposure at that event.”
In the meantime, Rivermill has scheduled an Open House for Saturday, February 5, a Valentine’s Dance on February 12 featuring beloved local band The Spectras, and is also targeting several front-line comedians for upcoming performances.
“At this point, it’s all about getting people in to see the space,” remarks Clancy. “Everyone who’s seen it to this point has had the same positive reaction, so our goal is just to let people know we’re here. If we can get them in, we’re confident that they’ll come back again and again.”
For a tour of the Rivermill space, or to book an event, please visit www.rivermillnh.com.
Photo caption: Rivermill at Dover Landing is situated on the banks of the Cochecho River, just steps away from Dover’s finest downtown shops and restaurants. (Courtesy photo)

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Author Comes to Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH—
Writers on a New England Stage, the celebrated author series presented at The Music Hall with partners New Hampshire Public Radio, Yankee Magazine and RiverRun Bookstore, welcomes Elizabeth Gilbert to the stage on Thursday, February 3, 2011. In her only New England appearance this winter, the bestselling author of “Eat, Pray, Love” will discuss her latest work of nonfiction, “Committed,” which will be published in paperback in early February. The new book, which also topped the New York Times bestseller list, is a true “love story” and a favorite of readers across the country.
“We encourage Gilbert readers who don’t yet have tickets to act fast as the night is nearly sold out. You won’t want to miss hearing from one of today’s best-loved authors, a voice that has resonated with generations of women,” said Writers on a New England Stage Executive Producer Patricia Lynch.
“Committed” begins where Gilbert’s # 1 New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love ended—just after Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who’d been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both were survivors of previous bad divorces.) But providence intervened one day in the form of the U.S. government, which—after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing—gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again.
Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Elizabeth and Felipe spent the next ten months wandering haphazardly across Asia, traveling with limited resources and waiting for word from their immigration lawyer as their case languished in bureaucratic uncertainty. Gilbert used this time to investigate the concept of marriage: examining what historians, psychologists, sociologists and poets have written about the subject, interviewing everyone from housewives in Vietnam and Thailand to family members and friends, and looking closely at how marriage has evolved to reflect our social needs and how it is so often intertwined with religion, politics, class, and money.
“Committed” tells the story of one woman’s efforts to make peace with marriage before she enters its estate once more. Told with Gilbert’s trademark wit, intelligence, and compassion, the book attempts to turn on all the lights when it comes to matrimony by frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, tradition, economic realities, divorce risks, and social expectations. Myths are debunked; fears are unthreaded; historical perspective is found; and romantic fantasies are ultimately exchanged for vital emotional compromises. In the end, Gilbert’s book is a clear-eyed celebration of the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.
Tickets to Writers on a New England Stage: Elizabeth Gilbert are $13 ($11 for members of The Music Hall), available through The Music Hall Box Office, located at 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, over the phone at 603-436-2400 or online at www.themusichall.org. Autographed copies of “Committed” (paperback edition) are available on the evening at The Music Hall or in the days following at RiverRun Bookstore.
Photo caption: Renowned author of “Eat, Pray, Love,” Elizabeth Gilbert, comes to The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Feb. 3 to discuss her new book, “Committed.” (Courtesy book cover image of “Committed”)

Seacoast Children’s Chorus Presents Winter Concerts & Auditions

RYE/STRATHAM—
On January 22 and 23, Sandpipers, the Seacoast Children’s Chorus, will present concerts for the entire family. The programs features both the Senior (ages 9-16) and Preparatory (ages 7-10) divisions of Sandpipers, and has something to appeal to all musical tastes, including both secular and sacred music in a variety of styles.
The Senior Chorus will perform a setting of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening,” arrangements of Shaker and Quaker hymns, as well as other choral gems, both traditional and contemporary. The Prep Chorus’ selections will include a set of Dominican Folk Songs and pieces by Copland and Britten. Two of the chorus’ talented pianists will perform movements from the keyboard works of Beethoven and Bach. The chorus is accompanied by Michelle Enos.
Sandpipers was founded in 1993 by Dianne Colby Dean, to give children exposure to the finest choral literature and to provide them with musical training and performance opportunities. Sandpipers has given annual concerts ever since, and has sung for local retirement communities, at The Music Hall in Portsmouth with Celtic fiddler Natalie McMaster, at the Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel’s Illumination, for Tree Lightings, and for many other community events over the years. These January concerts will be the first performances under new director Tamara Rozek.
“It’s a privilege to direct such a talented group of young singers,” says Rozek. “The kids are very supportive of one another and enthusiastic about learning.”
In addition to the upcoming concerts, Sandpipers is auditioning singers for Term 2 (January 31-May 22), and auditions are ongoing for the 2011-12 season. Auditions are an informal assessment to determine your child’s readiness and acquired musical skills. It is a simple process, and does not require any preparation.
One 8-year-old participant, Alba, says about her Sandpipers experience, “It gives me an opportunity to let my voice fly out of my mouth.”
The concerts will take place Saturday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Stratham Community Church, 6 Emery Lane in Stratham, and Sunday, January 23 at 3 p.m. at Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Rd in Rye. Donations will be accepted at the door; the suggested donation is $8 for adults and $3 for children over 12.
For more information about the concerts and auditions, visit www.sandpipers.com, or contact director Tamara Rozek at 436-4226 or tamara_rozek@yahoo.com.
Photo caption: Sandpipers Seacoast Children’s Chorus will perform concerts on Jan. 22 and 23, and are also auditioning new members for the 2011-2012 season. (Courtesy photo)