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NH Chronicle: Cool Cafes

One-of-a-kind spots to stop and sip and get more than a cup of Joe

NH Chronicle: Cool Cafes

One-of-a-kind spots to stop and sip and get more than a cup of Joe

STREET IN MANCHESTER, TAKE A FEW STEPS BACK IN TIME AT RESTORATION CAFE, WHERE TONICS AND ELIXIRS TOP THE MENU. THEY HAVE GONE FULL APOTHECARY THEMED, INCLUDING THE BEAKERS OVERFLOWING WITH HEALTHY JUICE SERVED IN THE OUTDOOR COURTYARD WITH OUTSTRETCHED -- WITH OUTSTRETCHED ORANGE UMBRELLAS. . JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. >> RESTORATION CAFE IS OUR CHEERS. IT IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY KNOW OUR NAME, OUR ORDER, AND WHEN WE COME, IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE PART OF A LITTLE CAFE FAMILY. JEAN: WHERE DOGS LIKE HANK ARE WELCOME. >> YOUR -- WE LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING HIM FOR A QUICK LUNCH OR A SATURDAY BRUNCH. HE HAS SPECIAL LITTLE DOG TREATS. >> IT IS NOT JUST THAT DOGS ARE WELCOME. DOGS ARE ENCOURAGED. JEAN: INSIDE, THE DECOR IS AUTHENTIC APOTHECARY COLLECTIBLES SALVAGED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> ELIXIRS ARE COMING. NEAT. LONGTIME RESTAURATEUR TOM BHASKAR RICH WANTED TO HONOR THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING. >> I WANTED A PLACE THAT LIKE IN THE 1890’S WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT, INTO A APOTHECARY DRUGSTORE THEME OF THE TIME. JEAN: I LOVE IT. >> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE THE JUICES OR THE MODERN TONICS, IN THE ELIXIRS, AND WE PUT THEM IN THE BEAKERS. I HAVE MY SMOOTHIES, WHICH I CALL MY SNAKE OIL SMOOTHIES. JEAN: THERE IS A DEVOTION TO EVERY POTION. THE FORMULA HERE, ALL FRESH. >> WE ALL HAVE A VERY HEALTHY SLANT TO OUR FOOD HERE. I KNEW THE FOOD THAT I WANTED TO DO, IN THE FOOD WAS GOING TO BE RESTORATIVE. AND THEN THEY RESTORED THE BUILDING, AND NOW I’M GOING TO RESTORE YOUR SOUL AND BODY, AND LANDED ON RESTORATION CAFE. OUR THEME IS CLEAN FOOD, REAL PEOPLE. JEAN: THAT IS A REAL DRAW FOR CUSTOMERS TO COME READ ON A COUCH, OR PAINT THE DAY AWAY. >> I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT STAYING HERE TOO LONG. I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IS HAPPY TO HAVE ME. JEAN: TAKING THE NAME TO HEART, RESTORATION CAFE. >> WE SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF DIETARY FLEXIBILITY. WE WANT TO HAVE IT IN AN ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT. JEAN: IT IS DEFINITELY COOL. . YOU HIT COOL ON THE HEAD. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THINGS I WOULD NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE SAID ABOUT ME. JEAN: ONE MAIN REASON TO STOP ON MAIN STREET IN NEWMARKET, CRACKS. COFFEE AND BOOKS -- CRACKED SCHOOL COFFEE AND BOOKS. YOU GET A DISCOUNT IF YOU BRING IN A BOOK FOR THE SHELVES. >> ALL OF THESE BOOKS ARE DONATED OR EXCHANGE FOR STORE CREDIT BY THE COMMUNITY. SO IT IS KIND OF LIKE,’S EVERYBODY LIVING ROOM BOOKSHELF -- EVERYBODY’S LIVING ROOM BOOKSHELF COMBINED INTO ONE SPACE. THEY CAN’T HELP BUT COME BACK AND TAKE A PEEK, AND THEY END UP TAKING SOMETHING HOME WITH THEM. I’M ACTUALLY AN ENGLISH MAJOR, SO IT WORKS OUT PERFECTLY FOR ME. JEAN: CRACKED SCHOOLS OFFERS LOCAL COFFEES, TEAS, AND TREATS, AND LOTS OF SPECIALTY LATTES TO SIT AS YOU BROWSE ROWS OF BOOKS AND BINS OF VINYL RECORDS, OR FEAST YOUR EYES ON THE FEATURED ART. >> CRACKED SCHOOLS HAS LOOSELY BEEN TERMED A LIVING ROOM OF NEW MARKETS. . IT IS A HUB OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, OF FRIENDSHIP, OF FIRST STATES, SOMEWHERE TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS. BUT IT IS ALSO REALLY COZY. JEAN: FLY ON OVER TO THE NEST FAMILY CAFE IN LONDONDERRY, WHERE A UNIQUE IDEA IS TAKING FLIGHT. HALF CAFE, HAVE CHILDREN AT PLAY. >> WE STARTED THINKING, WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF WE COULD GO SOMEWHERE, WHERE WE COULD MEET UP WITH A FRIEND AND BRING OUR KIDS, BUT WE WOULD NOT BE CHARGED BY THE HOUR TO DO THAT? AND WE GOT TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE WERE LIKE, WE CAN’T BE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT. JEAN: JAMIE AND RYAN HAVE THEIR HANDS SO FULL WITH NORA, PAPER, AND WHY IT, JADEN TRADED IN HER JOB IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BUILD THE NEST. >> THE KIDS GO AND PLAY IN THE NEST, PLAY ON THE CHALK WALL, UP IN THE CHILDREN’S LOUNGE AREA, AND THE MOM CAN FINALLY GET 45 MINUTES, MAYBE ONE HOUR TO JUST SIT AND ENJOY A CUP OF COFFEE. >> IS DIFFICULT TO TAKE THE KIDS OUT AND HAVE THEM BE ENTERTAINED WHILE YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF AS WELL. REPORTER: THERE IS A PICK YOUR OWN SNACK STATION AND PICTURE MENUS TO HELP KIDS CHOOSE A NEST BOX. THE PIGGLY WIGGLY WITH HEART-SHAPED CHEESE IS POPULAR. SO ARE NEST-WICHES. >> WE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR SIGNATURE NEST-WICH. JEAN: ALMOND, BUTTER -- ALMOND BUTTER AND JELLY, A FAVORITE. >> ABOUT THAT MUCH IS PERFECT. JEAN: I MIGHT HAVE PUT TOO MUCH ALREADY. >> PUSH IT DOWN. YOU SHOULD GET A PERFECT NEST- WICH. JEAN: I LOVE IT. THERE IS PRIVATE SPACE HERE FOR NURSING OR QUIET TIME, ALONG WITH A BLESSING CORNER. , DONATE WHAT YOU CAN TAKE WHAT YOU NEED. GEORGE SWEET BRINGS HIS DAUGHTER, SOPHIA, AND OFTEN LEAVES GIFTS FOR OTHER FAMILIES. >> I THINK THAT EVERY KID DESERVES TO JUST FEEL LOVED AND COMFORTABLE. ♪ JEAN: THERE ARE ALSO EVENTS OUTSIDE, LIKE SING-ALONGS ON THE LAWN. >> A COUPLE OF MUSIC TEACHERS THAT COME AND BRING THEIR GUITAR, THEIR UKULELE. . PARENTS LOVE IT. THEY COME BACK. THEY ARE STARTING TO BRING PICNIC BLANKETS AND SET UP A HALF-HOUR BEFOREHAND. JEAN: AFTER ALL, BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER. >> IT’S BEEN AWESOME TO HAVE THIS COMMUNITY. I HAVE MET SO MANY MORE MOMS. >> THIS IS WHAT OUR FAMILY DOES FOR A LIVING, AND WE GET TO EXPERIENCE THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS OF JOY EVERY DAY, IN GETTING TO GIVE BACK. BIRDS, WHEN THEY CREATE A NEST, IT IS THEIR SAFE SPACE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO THAT NEST AND IT IS WHERE YOU FEEL AT HOME. ♪
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NH Chronicle: Cool Cafes

One-of-a-kind spots to stop and sip and get more than a cup of Joe

Tonight, we set out in search of a few cafes in New Hampshire that are overflowing with creativity. These places serve up more than just a cup of Joe. Plus, New Hampshire's first pro-wrestling school opened up last fall in Manchester and it's training the next generation of stars. Legendary trainer Mike Hollow who is behind some of the WWE's biggest names is the head coach. Karen Meyers introduces us to the high-flying antics of pro wrestling. On Fritz Wetherbee's New Hampshire: First settlement in NH.For more information on tonight's stories:Restoration CafeCrackskull’s Coffee & BooksThe Nest Family CafeNext Gen Pro Wrestling CenterHosting this week from:Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard Greenville, NH

Tonight, we set out in search of a few cafes in New Hampshire that are overflowing with creativity. These places serve up more than just a cup of Joe.

Plus, New Hampshire's first pro-wrestling school opened up last fall in Manchester and it's training the next generation of stars. Legendary trainer Mike Hollow who is behind some of the WWE's biggest names is the head coach. Karen Meyers introduces us to the high-flying antics of pro wrestling.

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On Fritz Wetherbee's New Hampshire: First settlement in NH.


For more information on tonight's stories:

Restoration Cafe

Crackskull’s Coffee & Books

The Nest Family Cafe

Next Gen Pro Wrestling Center

Hosting this week from:

Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard

Greenville, NH