THIS & THAT

Did you know that January is New Hampshire Mocktail Month? Non-alcoholic drinks are all the buzz, and New Hampshire Liquor Commission has started teaming up with Brown-Forman and nearly 40 local restaurants to promote mocktails throughout the state during January. Past creations have included The Rooftop at the Envio in Portsmouth’s “Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose”, made with seedlip spice, raspberry syrup, rosemary honey, lemon and Q Mixers Club Soda, and The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord’s “Forest in the Meadow,” made with maple syrup, orange spritz, orange soda and cola. The month’s libation festivities include an online recipe guide, featuring recipes from each participating restaurant, complete with all of the ingredients, garnishes and tips needed to create your own craft mocktail from home. explore.liquorandwineoutlets.com

There’s nothing like a good café — but not all cafés are created equal. There’s that rare, special café, filled to the brim with neighbors and community members happy to be sipping beverages, nibbling on pastries, talking shop and at leisure.

Newmarket’s Crackskull’s Coffee and Books is, indubitably, that special café. The odd, mismatched furniture, typewriter (inexplicably) glued to the wall, rows of carefully-curated used books and bins of carefully-curated used records concoct an ever-soothing potion that could cure even the worst of days. Over 20 years in business, and home to an ever-growing number of community meetings and events, Crackskull’s is a lovely space to slow down, read a book, play a boardgame or simply converse with a friend or stranger. It’s that rare, special café that feels like home. crackskulls.com

The Highland cattle at Loudon’s Miles Smith Farm are all Scottish at heart (or at least have not denied it) but none quite as Scottish as Curious Bleu. Bleu was singled out early for his charming demeanor (and immortalized in the children’s book: The Curious Little Calf Named Bleu) but this young bull is most famous for clopping into the NH Scottish Highland Games opening ceremonies each September wearing a N.H. Tartan sash and carrying a young Scottish lass on his back. Afterwards he sits in the shade to pose for photos with hundreds of kids each year. His next parade might expand his fame, nationally. Organizers are hoping to bring Bleu to New York City for the Tartan Day Parade that put Scottish pride on display in all its many colors (and species) NHscot.org

Steve Paquin of Concord has almost single-handedly (actually, he uses both hands) added a new artistic dimension to the music festival experience. While concert-goes squander billions of pixels on thousands of bad digital photos and movies, Paquin sits quietly in view of the stage and creates permanent works of art — paintings on canvas — that immortalize the ephemeral bliss of noodle-dancing in a field while a jam band cuts a deep groove. He posts the images he creates and sells prints to fans (and often to band members) as colorful tributes (and useful reminders about when and where a favorite concert took place). He also livepaints for other events, weddings and such. Find him on Facebook under Steve Paquin Art. steviepaquin68@gmail.com

North Country Hard Cider in Dover produces seven hard ciders that can also be enjoyed in their Tasting Room year-round. The cidery recently was recognized as the first one in the New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage Program for their work to produce eco-friendly beverages. The cidery takes great pride in the apples they use to make their delightful ciders and,roduces nine winter ciders, three fall ciders, 11 summer ciders and seven spring ciders northcountryhardcider.com