Cruising Downtown

August 30, 2025 — The show called Cruising Downtown in Manchester, New Hampshire, is becoming one of New England's largest shows. I was there a few years ago when they announced they had over 1,100 cars. There may have been even more than that in recent years since they opened up the Notre Dame bridge to the cars of New Hampshire Muscle Cars.

Besides the bridge, the show fills about six blocks of Manchester's main drag Elm Street, several side streets and a park. All businesses on Elm Street are open, including restaurants. In addition, many independent food vendors show up for the show. Three live bands take turns playing. A jaws of life demonstration is staged by Manchester Fire Department. I didn't shoot it this year but I did in 2024 and videos and stills of it are still under last year's show on my site.

Take a look the 2025 show at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/cruising2025/ 

Hollis Hills Farm Car Show

August 25, 2025 — It was my first time at Hollis Hills Farm Car Show in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. As I walked onto the huge, sprawling field carpeted with cars I thought I was in for possibly the biggest show so far this year. But as I began exploring, I discovered it was dominated by customs and street rods. Nothing wrong with that, but that's not my favorite car category. I always include a few of that class to give my collections more general interest, but I'm primarily interested in the brass era through the '50s, preferably in original condition or at least restored to original.

It won't take you long to get through my small collection. Hollis Hills is a working farm and you'll find almost as many cows and chickens as cars. Just click or touch this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/hollishillsfarm/ 

Cruisin' the '50s

August 21, 2025 — The annual show called "Cruisin' the '50s" in Newburyport, Massachusetts, has been one of my favorites for the 13 years of its existence. An afternoon and evening show, it's held in historic Newburyport, once a major seaport and shipbuilding center, home of the Maritime Museum and birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard. Whenever in Newburyport, take some time to stroll along the waterfront and admire the boats, enjoy the parks and check out the many excellent restaurants, many offering dining al fresco.

Their annual car show, beginning after 4 p.m., runs out the best picture-taking light too soon in the second half of August. This year we were keeping a wary eye out of hurricane Erin but it remained far out to sea and posed no problem. Check out my collection of photos at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/newburyport25/ 

Old Truck Meet

August 16, 2025 — The Granite State Old Truck Meet returned to its original location in Barrington, New Hampshire, behind Calef's Country Store, after four years at Hawthorne Feather Airport in Deering. I was pleased to hear of this homecoming, but after the show I had some misgivings.

As far as the number and variety of trucks, it was an excellent show. There were trucks from a 1911 Mack all the way up to the '90s. But they filled the allotted field to near capacity. I have to wonder if there's adequate room for future expansion. That wasn't a concern at the sprawling airport.

Skip McKean's fleet of beautifully restored bright yellow Macks from Henniker, with the boast "The Only Henniker on Earth," painted on every truck," added color and humor to every show. They were nowhere to be found at this show, a disappointment.

With spectator parking no longer available at Calef's, parking was at a slightly hard to find lot a moderate distance from the show field. Not a long walk if you're in reasonably good shape, but a bit more tiring after a few hours on your feet at the show than it was at the beginning.

In spite of those complaints, I came away with a generous collection of photos of a variety of trucks, some you probably have never seen, nor even heard of. You can see them all at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/granitestate25/

"Once on This Island"

August 12, 2025 — The complicated story of Ti Moune, told almost entirely in song, can be difficult to follow, but let me try to give you a synopsis of what I saw in this production of Once on This Island at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire. A little girl in the Caribbean is frightened by a storm one night. To calm her, storytellers relate the tale of a peasant girl who sets out to save the boy she loves. She believes he loves her too, but that's the complicated part.

The talented cast pleased the nearly sold-out theater with music, dancing and drama in spectacular fashion. A standout was Adeera Harris as Ti Moune with her strong voice and sometimes heartbreaking performance. Noah Lyle played Daniel Beauxhomme, the subject of Ti's perilous journey. Mama Euralie (Tiffani Grace) and Tonton Julian (Timothy Adams, Jr.) were Ti's adoptive parents. Collin Geter, Felicia Fields and Arin Francis play multiple roles. The gods are portrayed by KJ Nugin, Jada Bennett and Najim Muhammad.

I'm giving the little girl who really charmed the audience anonymous mention. She appeared to be about 10, and I have a policy of not putting the names of minors out on the internet without permission, as much as I'd love to give her credit. At curtain call at the end of the play, she got the loudest cheers.

Once on This Island book and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens with music by Stephen Flaherty. Kira Sarai Helper directed the Winnipesaukee Playhouse presentation, with music direction by Jay Teamer and choreography by Ellicia Clayton. Scenic design was by Seth Howard and costumes by John Beltre.

1A Auto & Yankee Chapter

August 9, 2025 — On the third weekend in a row of perfect weather I headed for the 1A & Yankee Chapter Car Show in Pepperell, Massachusetts. I had been debating with myself whether to go to that show which I had never seen, or the VAE show in Waterbury, Vermont which I had been to at least a dozen times since 2008. The Vermont show was observing its 68th anniversary, in Stowe until 2018 when it moved to Waterbury. The show has been in decline ever since the move, a mere shadow of its glory years.

I decided on Pepperell and it was the right decision. It featured some of the most glamorous cars of the season so far, in large numbers, enhanced by the gorgeous weather. The turnout was huge, the variety impressive, from beautifully restored '40s and '50s models, to a 1912 Buick, to the usual customs and personal cars, something to please every automotive taste.

You can view my photographic choices at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/1aandyankee/ 

Vintage Racing Stable

August 3, 2025 — Cars & Coffee at the Vintage Racing Stable, a morning show in Sanbornton, New Hampshire, has continued to host some interesting shows in recent years since they ceased the concours d'elegance show a few years ago. They now invite others to come to bring their cars to a three-hour morning show. 

This has been fairly successful. Three hours is enough for car viewing and photography. Being a racing museum, they tend to attract many race cars, but you'll usually find all classes of vehicles. Besides that, the Stable brings out some of their own cars, and more cars may be seen in an open car barn.

Take a look at my photos from this year's show. It's well worth a visit if you're in the vicinity. It's usually on a Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. My pictures can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/vintageracing25/ 

Kingston Heritage Day

August 2, 2025 —Third weekend in a row of perfect weather! Could Mother Nature be done punishing us after thirteen Saturdays in a row of rain? Let's hope so.

This is the day Kingston Heritage Day returned its show to its former home on the Kingston Plains in Kingston, New Hampshire, and it was met with huge success as the spacious plains were filled almost to overflowing with show vehicles. Spectators were so numerous we were occasionally bumping into one another.

Seventy photos, my second largest collection this season, await your inspection at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/kingstonheritage25/