NH Jazz Center - Laconia

[fatlazyless]

Ok.....r u totally bored out of your mind and looking for something to do this Thursday, 8-pm, for just ten bucks.......plus it's byob! Just because you are a totally unemployed, local loser; the wife/girlfriend has got a j-o-b, so's between now and then, go get on her good side and talk her into taking you out to:

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/story...day-october-13


What's not to like? What a plan......see you there! Least you can do is go buy a six of Pabst Blue Ribbon-lite....for about five bucks at wallyworld......you no-good, cheapie-loser!


www.judisilvano.com

[Shore Driver]

Noticed the cool, jazzy blue lighting inside when I went by yesterday...sounds like a neat place and I hope they do well. Let us know how it is.

[CateP]

This is SO great to know about. I was hoping there was a jazz venue in the region and it looks like it just got started this year.

What is not to like about the lakes region!??
It is SO COOL.

[mcdude]

Pitman Manufacturing of Laconia was one of the largest hosiery manufacturers in the State in the 1800’s. In 1890 they built a track-side freight depot at 94 New Salem Street. The freight room was sold in the 1940’s and after several different owners, we purchased it in 1988. We did a first stage renovation and used it as an Antique Store until 2009. The second stage of renovations: new insulated roof, heating system, complete re-wiring, third bathroom, kitchen and a five-sided hickory dance floor are now complete for its next incarnation – Pitman’s Freight Room.

94 New Salem Street
Laconia, New Hampshire
03246


603-527-0043

[brk-lnt]

I just wish they would expand beyond only Thursday nights.

The owner gave my wife and I a tour of it a few weekends ago, seems like it could be really successful if they did something on weekends too.

[CateP]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

I just wish they would expand beyond only Thursday nights.

The owner gave my wife and I a tour of it a few weekends ago, seems like it could be really successful if they did something on weekends too.

Agree. Maybe if it becomes popular they will expand the schedule.

[Gatto Nero]

My wife and I went last night and had a great time. I know next to nothing about jazz but we brought a bottle of wine, sat in a couch in the back, and watched a great show for $20. And free popcorn to boot. We will most definitely go back. Thanks for the heads up FLL.

[fatlazyless]

Here's their schedule www.nhjazz.com/id37.html for Thursday nights, except for November 4, which is a Friday night, when Delfeayo Marsalis http://delfeayomarsalis.com is scheduled.

Ten dollars to watch and hear these musicians play from up-close......down in Manhatten....it might cost......I don't know.....maybe $125....to see the same musicians in what's probably a very different venue than Pitman's freight room....to say the least.

[mcdude]

This Thursday a 17 piece "Big Band-type" jazz orchestra. "Reminiscent of when Duke Ellington and Count Basie played at the Winnipesaukee Gardens".

http://ayninserto.com/jazzorchestra.php

See article in today's Laconia Sun

The Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra (AIJO) is a full big band based in Boston that has recently performed with Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone, Joe Lovano and Frank Tiberi at venues such as the Berklee Performance Center, The Zeitgeist Gallery/Lily Pad, the Western Front Club and Jazz at Lincoln Center Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in NYC. The ensemble performs originals and arrangements of Ayn Inserto, who is highly influenced by Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider and Jim McNeely. The jazz orchestra recently finished a recording with Bob Brookmeyer and George Garzone. Ms. Inserto thrives to make her music swing with a modern twist and her orchestra will not fail to produce a thrilling performance.

[mcdude]

Laconia Daily Sun

After fire, Pitman's Freight Room hopes to be open again in few weeks

Published Date Tuesday, 01 October 2013 04:01

LACONIA — The owner of Pitman's Freight Room said yesterday that he expects the live music venue to reopen after Sunday morning's fire within a matter of weeks.
Richard "Dick" Mitchell said the fire that is still under investigation could have been a lot worse.
"It would have killed me," Mitchell said. "We put so much into it."
Mitchell said he was told the fire started around 2 a.m. Saturday in the back side of the building, on what used to be a freight loading dock. He said the Laconia Fire Department was returning to the station from extinguishing a suspicious dumpster fire near Hector's Restaurant when Pitman's fire alarm sounded nearby.
He said firefighters were there within one minute and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. He said a portion of the back wall will need to be rebuilt and there is smoke damage throughout the building.
"It's a miracle that the fire department was so close," he said.
Pitman's, on New Salem Street, is a function hall and live entertainment venue that features live blues and soul music, comedy shows and other events.
According to their Webite, in 1988 Mitchell and his wife Connie bought the former freight station that was built in 1890 by Pitman's Manufacturing — one of the largest hosiery manufactures in New Hampshire in the 1800s.
The first stage of renovations saw the opening of an antique store in one end of the store. The live entertainment portion of the renovation started in 2009 after the Mitchell's renovated the remaining portion of the building, and installed heating, air conditioning, a third bathroom and a 5-sided hickory dance floor.
Pitman's averages one to four shows weekly and is a BYOB venue.
Mitchell said he can't thank the Laconia Fire Department enough for responding so quickly.
"These guys are wonderful," he said.
He said he also wanted to thank his many friends and his manager for the work they did on Sunday re-securing the building and being there when the insurance company came.

[mcdude]

Laconia Daily Sun

Pitman's appears to be arson target; 2nd time this fall

LACONIA — For the second time in a month, it appears Pitman's Freight Room on New Salem Street has been the target of an arsonist.

At 3:05 a.m. yesterday, firefighters again responded to the live entertainment venue and function hall to extinguish a fire that started and burned in the exact same area as a fire that that burned on September 28.
Firefighters also responded at the same time to three additional fires that were apparently set in two dumpsters and a wooden fence behind the Beacon Street West building (Streetcar Place) that houses Hector's restaurant and other businesses and offices.
"This is really upsetting," said Pitman's manager Maureen Bienairz-Pond as she surveyed the damage around noon yesterday. "This is my second home."
Last night there was supposed to be a Halloween party at Pitman's that was slated to be the grand re-opening. This weekend a blues band was scheduled to perform, but Bienairz-Pond said yesterday that all upcoming events again needed to be canceled.
At least three representatives from the N.H. Fire Marshal's Office and Laconia Fire Chief Ken Erickson and Deputy Charlie Boffo were at Pitman's yesterday morning.
The calls came in to Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid and were reported as two building fires burning at the same time — one on Water Street and one on New Salem Street. Red smoke could be seen billowing from the area as city police cruisers crawled slowly around the nearby streets and neighborhoods looking for anyone who may have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary.
Firefighters from Laconia, Gilford, Belmont worked for about an hour to extinguish the fires in what seemed to be an otherwise vacant city.
Erickson said yesterday that the smoke was so thick when the first firefighters arrived at Pitman's, the lieutenant in charged was barely able to see the building. He also said the smoke alarms didn't sound. The fire was reported by a passerby.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames that charred the porch on the railroad tracks side of the building – away from the street — and shot up through the heating system, that had just been replaced because of the September fire.
This time, the fire burned through a corner of an attached building owned by David Gammon, and Sheila and Steve Bartlett. The September fire didn't reach that building.
Erickson said the September fire set off the smoke alarms that alerted firefighters who were nearby because they were returning from a different calls. Last night, firefighters responded initially from the main, North Main Street, station.
Gammon, a former city councilor, said yesterday that he has no idea what's going on but said having someone apparently running around the city setting fires is very unsettling.
He said the only hidden place around Pitman's and the adjacent antique shop run by his sister is the back porch where both of the fires have been started. He also said that as far as his building is concerned, he knows it's going to get somewhat wet during the rain but said he will have to replace the corner of the roof and the flashing around the chimney.
Erickson estimated the damage done to both buildings at around $30,000.
Councilor Matt Lahey also went to see the damage yesterday and called the fires "disconcerting."
Counting the fires last night, there has been four multi-alarm fires in the city — starting with the September 22 three-alarm blaze that gutted the commercial building on the corner of Fair and Court Streets. A second fire during the same time charred a garage on Bay Street.
The next weekend a two-alarm blaze destroyed the former motel of the Christmas Island Steak House that had been slated for demolition. The same weekend, Pitman's Freight Room burned the first time and three other smaller suspicious fires were extinguished around the Water Street area.
Police Capt. Bill Clary is leading the city's investigation.
"We are obviously seeking the public's help," Clary said yesterday afternoon. "This is is priority for us right now and we're committing lots of resources to it."
"We're hoping we can find anyone who saw anything or anyone before or after any one of these fires," he said.
He said there's is a lot of different psychology regarding arson and said all angles are being actively investigated. He noted that spite, thrills, and financial gain are all motives for arson but declined to comment specifically about any of the recent fires.
Clary said there is up to a $1,000 reward for arrests and convictions that come from the Greater Laconia Crime Line at 524-1717 which is anonymous. Police can also be reached by calling 524-5252 or by going to www.laconiapd.org and clicking on the anonymous tip icon.
CAPTION - (Pitman's burning 006) Firefighters put a ladder up to the back on the of Pitman's Freight Room while fighting a second suspicious fire within a month at the live music and entertainment venue early Thursday morning. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Ober)
(Pitman's second fire) A second suspicious fire burned the outside of Pitman's Freight Room at 3:05 a.m. yesterday, damaging the same area as was damaged in a fire on Septmeber 22. This time the fire reached the back of the antique store connected to the live music venue and function room. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Bean)