There's been a lot of snow in the mid-Atlantic lately, and it has made me appreciate winter in New England and in Portsmouth in particular. Why? We deal with it.
Last year, I thought I was getting old (yeah yeah, shut up Heather) when I really started to hate winter for the first time. You know it happens - when snow goes from fun to work. But this year... something is different. Maybe it's that our winter hasn't been so bad, maybe it's because I live on my own and don't have to really shovel living so close to downtown, but something about this winter has been more magical than most. Last night, it reached its pinnacle.
Winter ain't so bad. To plow the streets, Portsmouth issues a "snow emergency" parking ban. To know if one is in effect, just call 603-766-7669 (603-SNO-SNOW hahaha get it? SNO-SNOW?) at any time and they will let you know of an advanced warning or if one is in effect, or if it is over (I've had conflicting reports over whether or not they actually ticket and tow you, but I know at least two people who have, so that's good enough for me). If you don't have off street parking and don't feel like fighting for a municipal lot space, you can go to city hall and enroll in the Snow Ban Parking Program, which lets you park in the Hanover Street Parking Facility for only $3.00 for the duration of the snow ban (plus 2 hours before and 2 hours after). The real benefit from this is that when you get to your car, it is snow free.
Needless to say, I needed to take advantage of this last night, when 2009-2010 winter magic in po-town reached its pinnacle.
I parked my car in the garage (I mean... parking facility...) and headed out on the town. Luckily, two bars in Portsmouth have decided to cheer us up when the weather gets frosty. The Portsmouth Gas Light Co. offers Guinness for $1 per draft when it snows 2 inches or more, and $2 when it snows at Ri Ra's. After some much needed venting with a good friend, I ended up at Ri Ra's for said Guinnessessesses.
The walk home had that magic silence that snow brings, as well as snowing a WHOLE LOT. The iPhone doesn't take great shots, but it looked something like this:
Awaking bright and shiny in the morning, I had to go back to the garage to get my (clean) car and go to work. The morning walk was no less perfect, and quite a contrast to the night before. While getting a coffee, I saw a woman taking pictures of the beautifulness with much better skill than I and my iPhone. So, I asked her to send me some of the shots. Thanks Jessica!
Anyway, winter in Portsmouth - more reason to be here, not less.
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Last year, I thought I was getting old (yeah yeah, shut up Heather) when I really started to hate winter for the first time. You know it happens - when snow goes from fun to work. But this year... something is different. Maybe it's that our winter hasn't been so bad, maybe it's because I live on my own and don't have to really shovel living so close to downtown, but something about this winter has been more magical than most. Last night, it reached its pinnacle.
Winter ain't so bad. To plow the streets, Portsmouth issues a "snow emergency" parking ban. To know if one is in effect, just call 603-766-7669 (603-SNO-SNOW hahaha get it? SNO-SNOW?) at any time and they will let you know of an advanced warning or if one is in effect, or if it is over (I've had conflicting reports over whether or not they actually ticket and tow you, but I know at least two people who have, so that's good enough for me). If you don't have off street parking and don't feel like fighting for a municipal lot space, you can go to city hall and enroll in the Snow Ban Parking Program, which lets you park in the Hanover Street Parking Facility for only $3.00 for the duration of the snow ban (plus 2 hours before and 2 hours after). The real benefit from this is that when you get to your car, it is snow free.
Needless to say, I needed to take advantage of this last night, when 2009-2010 winter magic in po-town reached its pinnacle.
Good call, weatherpeople
I parked my car in the garage (I mean... parking facility...) and headed out on the town. Luckily, two bars in Portsmouth have decided to cheer us up when the weather gets frosty. The Portsmouth Gas Light Co. offers Guinness for $1 per draft when it snows 2 inches or more, and $2 when it snows at Ri Ra's. After some much needed venting with a good friend, I ended up at Ri Ra's for said Guinnessessesses.
This guy was standing outside welcoming us in. Punk.
The walk home had that magic silence that snow brings, as well as snowing a WHOLE LOT. The iPhone doesn't take great shots, but it looked something like this:
WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH - Hear the wind?
Awaking bright and shiny in the morning, I had to go back to the garage to get my (clean) car and go to work. The morning walk was no less perfect, and quite a contrast to the night before. While getting a coffee, I saw a woman taking pictures of the beautifulness with much better skill than I and my iPhone. So, I asked her to send me some of the shots. Thanks Jessica!
Anyway, winter in Portsmouth - more reason to be here, not less.
Pictures courtesy Jessica Hulseman
