Fat Tuesday in Dover
On Tuesday, Feb 28, join Dover’s fifth annual Fat Tuesday celebration when nine downtown restaurants celebrate Mardi Gras with what Barley Pub owner Scott Mason—who founded the event—calls the Pub and Grub Crawl. Starting at 6 p.m., revelers can hop from restaurant to restaurant, sampling New Orleans-style appetizers and snacks, knocking back festive libations, listening to live music, and possibly winning prizes like snowboards, golf-course passes, and ski-lift tickets. Participating restaurants, offering everything from oysters to crawfish boil to etouffee, include the Barley Pub, Crescent City Bistro, Kelly’s row, Dover Brick House, Orchard Street Chop Shop, Dover Soul, Cartelli’s, Blue Latitudes, and La Festa Brick and Brew. 

The event has grown from just three participating restaurants the first year, and Mason says it was always his goal to see it grow bigger, maybe someday including a New Orleans-caliber parade. He points to Burlington, Vt.—which this year will host its seventh annual Mardi Gras parade complete with floats and krewes—as proof that Creole spirit is alive and well in northern New England. “If Burlington can do it, why can’t we?” he asks.

Live music starting in most spots at 9 p.m. (music at La Festa will begin at 6 p.m.). Tickets, which are $15 in advance and $20 the day of, will get you into all nine restaurants, including snacks and music. Non-ticket holders can pay $5 at each restaurant. The first 300 ticket buyers will receive a souvenir logo pint glass and a T-shirt, and anyone who visits at least five of the nine restaurants will be eligible to win an as-yet-to-be-determined grand prize. Tickets are available at all participating restaurants. 

Gourmet Dinners at UNH
The University of New Hampshire presents “Gourmet Dinners” on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, at 6 p.m. The seven-course dinners, which are open to the public, are part of the curriculum at The Department of Hospitality Management at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, giving students the opportunity to show off their skills. The dinners are part of a week-long event that includes professional development sessions, a lunch reception/networking opportunity with senior managers and executives from leading hospitality businesses, and silent auctions. After Saturday’s dinner, UNH will present its first Hotelier of the Year Award to Tom Walsh, founder of Ocean Properties Ltd., a company that has grown from Walsh’s original purchase in 1975 of five hotels in Florida to its current status as operator of more than 100 hotels throughout North America. One of his company’s hotels is the 125-year-old Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in Rye, which the company purchased and restored in 2003 after it had been closed for 25 years.

Tickets for Gourmet Dinners are $50 per person and are on sale at the MUB ticket office, 603-862-2290. Ten-seat sponsor tables are available for $5,000. To inquire about a sponsor table, contact Donna Stickney at 603-862-3303 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

noshing for a cause
On Friday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m., a wine tasting will be held at the Red Ginger in Rye to support WomenAid of Greater Portsmouth.

WomenAid is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 by a group of women who realized that while there are many organizations available for people in need, there are sometimes small expenses which are needed quickly and may not be covered by those organizations. WomenAid helps with small expenses, such as $75 for car registration to ensure reliable transportation, or $100 to help offset travel expenses, such as gas or airline tickets, for someone helping a family member in crisis.

Sandra Cox of Jewelry by the Sea in Rye is cohosting the event and says, “admission to the wine tasting is free, but donations are welcome.” She explains that, while raising funds is a primary goal, this is an opportunity to increase awareness for WomenAid and to let people know what the organization is about. For more information, contact Acox at 603-969-4790 or visit www.womenaidportsmouth.org.